masterwordsmith-unplugged

If I am not blogging or doing housework or skyping with Angela, I normally while away my time Facebooking. Yesterday, I went down memory lane with my old friend's brother T.O. who lives in Hertfordshire.

It all started when I posted the youtube link of Do You Love Me? from Fiddler on the Roof.

We started talking about movies and this is how it all started:

T.O.: I remember going to see this movie in Capitol Theatre (Penang) - demolished long ago.
Yesterday at 4:03pm · Unlike · 1 person

Me: Ah - I also watched it there!! Think it was in early 1970s!! Have a wonderful Sunday!
22 hours ago · Like
Phil Y:  Yep, The Capitol definitely. Just diagonally across the road from where I lived. Many memories of movies caught there.
19 hours ago · Like
T.O. : 3rd class 65 sen, 2nd class $1.00, 1st class $1.40 and balcony $2.00.
19 hours ago · Like
Phil Y: Yep ;)
19 hours ago · Like
T.O:  ‎3rd class - first 3 rows in front of big screen.... there was a Chinese school adjacent to Capitol... and Paramount, Royal, Eastern and Rialto (?) further down the road....
19 hours ago · Like

And on and on we went....

Subsequently, I asked TO to share his input on Great World Park and this is what he wrote in a few emails. He also sent me a sketch of the area!

Here's what TO wrote:

Rialto was very adjacent to that carousel (I still call it merry-go-round).

When riding on the carousel (as a kid), one could see that Rialto cinema in full view.

Rialto was the “cheap” cinema – lowest ticket prices (as in Globe within New World Park). It only showed re-runs of old Chinese movies.

Those who paid for entrance into Great World Park, got option to see movie for free at Rialto, if prepared to stand at the sides of the auditorium.... sort of open-air but for the roof and side and back of the cinema.

And those who paid to see a movie in Eastern got to enter Great World Park without any further charge.

Eastern was attached to Great World Park and there was a cheap cinema inside of Great World Park... those didn't buy seats could watch from the sides of "open" cinema....

The one in Campbell Street was Sun cinema (showing Chinese movies only)... now a "disco" for a long time.

There was Oriental Emporium adjacent to Capitol....

Lido was at NEW World Park in Swatow Lane. With Globe actually inside of New World Park.

Royal was outside of Great World Park... adjacent and opposite the big ferris-wheel. Rialto was inside of the park and adjacent to the merry-go-round. It was without walls on two sides, so those who already paid for entrance into the park could stand and watch the movie for free. Globe was the same sort of cinema inside of New World Park. Royal was also adjacent to Paramount (which only showed Indian movies).

And dodgem cars! My mum took me to ride the merry-go-round when I was a child. From the top of the ferris-wheel one could see Royal opposite the road (i.e. outside of the park). Rialto only showed re-runs of old Chinese movies.

Same in New World Park.

If you paid to watch a movie in Lido, you could also enter New World Park.

And Globe (within New World Park) was same sort of cheap cinema as Rialto in Great World Park.

Paramount Cinema only screened Indian movies only.

Royal nearby also showed predominantly Indian movies, but changed later (i.e. showed non-Indian movies).

Remember the wrestling matches and Rose Chan at New World Park?

Don’t forget the annual “Trade Fair” held in New World Park.

A major event in Penang in those old days!

We thought so much to see at the Trade Fair then. I first saw televisions at the Trade Fair!
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I think Great World Park (along with Rialto and Eastern cinemas) closed down to make way for the development of Komtar at that time (I was already in England). Remember the Indian stalls selling used books and magazines along that road where Eastern was sited?

Those Indian bookstalls were once on top of the big drains outside of St John's.

-written by TO WONG-

Thanks, TO, for sharing these beautiful memories.

I invite Penangites who have fond memories of these places to leave a comment to share their memories.

Thanks! Have a lovely evening!