The Grand Théâtre opened in 1929 with a French musical called "No, No, Nanette", adapted from a Broadway success. The theatre later hosted the Comédie Française, the Ballet des Champs-Elysées, the Egyptian Ramses Group, and concerts by Abdel Wahab and Um Kalthoum. The Grand Théâtre also screened international movie productions and catered for major literary and charity events. From the 1960s onwards, it operated solely as a movie theater. During the Lebanese civil war the building was used for various purposes (pornographic movies projection, field hospital). It was damaged and was progressively abandoned due to the heavy fighting in the area.