İPEKÇİ AİLESİ: İstanbul İmparatorlarının Acı Sonu..!

THE İPEKÇİ FAMILY: The Tragic End of the Emperors of Istanbul! The İpekçi brothers, who were engaged in the silk trade in Thessaloniki at the end of the 19th century, made a bold decision in the 1890s to move their family business to Istanbul. The Selanik Bonmarşesi (The Salonika Bonmarşesi), which they opened in Eminönü, was not only a store selling silk fabrics and luxury goods; it also became the place where the people of Istanbul first encountered motion pictures. With the proclamation of the Republic, the family shifted from trade to the world of entertainment. The Elhamra Cinema, which they opened in 1923, marked the beginning of modern cinema culture in Istanbul. They soon opened the Melek (later Emek) and Opera cinemas, transforming Beyoğlu into a "cinema district." Their theaters screened European and Hollywood films, and live orchestras accompanied silent films. In 1928, they took a step further and founded the İpek Film Studio. They shot the film Ankara Postası (Ankara Postası) with Muhsin Ertuğrul; This highly successful film represented the public's long-awaited encounter with a domestic production. Subsequent productions included landmark films such as "Istanbul Sokaklarda" (the first Turkish sound film) and "Bir Nation Awakens." İhsan İpekçi's filming of Atatürk and his recording of historic moments further strengthened the family's cultural legacy. However, in the late 1930s, the economic depression and the shadow of war struck them as well. Debts mounted, and they struggled to stay afloat through a partnership with İş Bankası. The truly devastating blow came with the 1942 Wealth Tax. They lost their most valuable theaters, including Melek (Emek) and İpek Cinema. Thus, the heart of the cinema empire was ripped out. By the mid-1940s, the İpekçis had almost completely withdrawn from the film industry. Subsequent generations of the family rose to prominence in other fields. Abdi İpekçi became known for his pacifist stance as editor-in-chief of Milliyet newspaper, but he was assassinated in 1979. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, İsmail Cem İpekçi became Turkey's diplomatic face, easing relations with the EU and neighboring countries. Cemil İpekçi achieved international fame with his bold designs in the fashion world. Writer Leyla İpekçi and artists associated with the family also contributed to the family's cultural scene. Ultimately, the İpekçi family's story can be interpreted as the silk trade, which began in Thessaloniki, transforming into the birth of cinema in Istanbul; the empire rising to its peak, shaken and disintegrated by economic and political upheavals, only to blossom again in culture, media, politics, and fashion in subsequent generations. Their story mirrors both a family's and Turkey's modernization process. To Support Our Channel:    / @laststorybender   #ipekçifamily #documentary #successstories