Down Memory Lane: Movie Theatres of the Olden Days

The lobby of King's Theatre in 1949. Ruby Theatre of To Kwa Wan had a one-of-a-kind spiral stairway with alternate aluminum-and-steel-pipe handrail, the style of 1960s. Queen's Theatre after renovation. The original lounge in the dress circle was partially preserved with the old couch bringing back fond memories. This photo was taken in 2006. At the entrance of Victoria Theatre back in 1974, it was very common to see people pack at the hawker stalls to grab a bite. In 2011, the huge relief featuring Diao Chan and Dong Zhuo at the facade of State Theatre and the parabola-arched structures on its roof can still be seen, highlighting the East-meet-West architectural style of old Hong Kong.

The seating charts of stall and dress circle in the opening brochure of Kam Wa Theatre published in 1954. The seating charts of stall and dress circle in the opening brochure of Kam Wa Theatre published in 1954. Alhambra Theatre in Yaumatei opened in 1934. The opening brochure had the seating chart of front, middle and back stalls and dress circle. The ticket price of Majestic Theatre's matinee show at 12:30pm at front stalls was HK$0.4 in 1966. The ticket price of Liberty Theatre's evening show at 9:30pm at middle stalls was HK$1.2 in 1965.

The ticket price of Olympia Theatre's afternoon show at 2:45pm at back stalls was HK$1.7 in 1969. South China Theatre had a matinee show at 10:30am when it was newly opened in 1966. The ticket price of its back stalls was HK$0.7. In the 1960s, the ticket price of the 12:15pm matinee show of Astor Theatre's front stalls was HK$0.4. On 28 January 1968, the eve of Chinese New Year, the Shaw Brothers theatres put the new film Hong Kong Rhapsody on for 7 consecutive nights. National Theatre fronted the "Kam Kwok Circuit". This photo was taken in 1955, when The Story of Iron Monkey, the Sequel, directed by Wu Pang, was showing.