First named HELO, the cinema was built in the ruins of an apartment building in 1955. Because of its location between the American and Russian sectors, many of its first guests come from the nearby eastern part of Berlin. After all, it was a place to watch "western movies". The pragmatic naming (its founders HErkenrath and LOhde acted as "godfathers") is typical of the time.In 1986 it becomes part of the Yorck family and gains its current name Babylon. Always an individualist, it becomes legendary for its long movie nights. Today, the Babylon is an established cinema for Original-language programming. It hosts the Porn Film Festival and is also home to the Surffilmnacht. Once you sit under the spiral starlight of the large auditorium, you know you've captured a real piece of cinematic heaven.