Astor was built after Po Hing was knocked down, not just a rename. There was the Royal Hotel at the front of Astor while Po Hing was just a cinema. This photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pahtz/4773453511/
shows the large National neon sign was on the side of the hotel. This photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoting2000/4285387129/
shows the Royal hotel at the front of Astor.
Lai Sun was located in Cheung Sha Wan, only a block away from my school. The two screens showed movies under the Golden Harvest chains (both Cantonese and English dialogues). However the area is not popular and full of factories. No suprise that the business never took off and Lai Sun closed its door within 10 years.
@YBF. Great World was on the west sid of Nathan Road and, traditionally, the location was less busy than the east side, particularly in Mong Kok. Cinemas on the west side, Great World, South China, Ritz, and even recently Dynasty, were not as busy as those on the east side, Royal, Empress, Gala, Hollywood, and recently Broadway Mong Kok. Rex was the only exception but helped by its location closed to Argyle Street and the MTR station. The further south you go, the effect started to reverse.
Apollo was situated less than a 5 mins walk away from the council estate I grew up and I had my first movie experience there when I was 5. Can’t remember which movie but it could be a Walt-Disney product.
In the early 80s, Nam Cheong showed Cantonese films under the GH circuit. I thought the tickets were margainally cheaper than the main cinemas (eg. Golden Harvest in Jordan) but my brother paid for the tickets (so I didn’t know). However, the front-stall used to fitted with wooden seats with no cushions. It was painful to watch a film for 2 hrs sitting on “planks” even when I was a kid.
When it opened to business, the Chinese name of Empire was é‡'è²æˆ²é™¢, which followed the clan of Royal, Empress, Prince, Princess etc. (so as the “royalty” of their English name) and most of them were developed by the giant developer SHK in Hong Kong.
Golden Theatre was a landmark in the Shamshuipo area and the name is still used around the area a lot. A medium size shopping/residential complex was build on the plot of land surrounding Golden Theatre (see Cineplex Theatre) in the late 70s and the shopping centre in this complex is called Golden Shopping Centre, now a world famous tourist spot for computers and Hi-tech accessories. Golden Theater itself was rebuilt as a smaller residential/shopping complex and the shopping arcade is called “New Golden”, not to be mixed up with Golden Shopping Centre next door. Although the cinema is long gone, “Golden” is still used, particular to minibuss and taxis, to refer to the block the cinema used to stand.
Here is a high res picture of Kwun Chung theatre: View link
It says in Catonese that the films are shown from 12:30 pm non-stop everyday. It sells day-ticket so you guys can go in anytime, stay as long as you wish! For those really want to know where EXACTLY, it is #30 (said on the photo). Be quick!
the photo was taken in 2009. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27747234@N04/3365065665/
Here is a rare photo of Peng Chau Theatre: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soed/503522297/
Raymond: Do you know if Imperial is going to be re-opened as a cinema again?
Wrong photo. This is Triumph in Tsuen Wan.
This is a good photo to show the scary side of Golden Valley. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lookluk/6000986067/
Here is a good photo of Golden, possibly in the 80s. http://www.flickr.com/photos/old-hk/5934441496/
Astor was built after Po Hing was knocked down, not just a rename. There was the Royal Hotel at the front of Astor while Po Hing was just a cinema. This photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pahtz/4773453511/
shows the large National neon sign was on the side of the hotel. This photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoting2000/4285387129/ shows the Royal hotel at the front of Astor.
Raymond, is this the old Po Hing, the first generation, not Astor, the second generation?
This picture really upset me…
Superb photos.
Lai Sun was located in Cheung Sha Wan, only a block away from my school. The two screens showed movies under the Golden Harvest chains (both Cantonese and English dialogues). However the area is not popular and full of factories. No suprise that the business never took off and Lai Sun closed its door within 10 years.
NO
now photo updated.
Raymond: corrected… feels like driving the #14 bus on Google Earth.
Suwanti, photo corrected.
corrected now… it took me minutes to drive Google earth from Kowloon Tong to Yaumati.
@ Suwanti. I know. I couldn’t believe it was so wrong that Windsor’s now near Tai Mo Shan! Who’s going to a cinema there??
@YBF. Great World was on the west sid of Nathan Road and, traditionally, the location was less busy than the east side, particularly in Mong Kok. Cinemas on the west side, Great World, South China, Ritz, and even recently Dynasty, were not as busy as those on the east side, Royal, Empress, Gala, Hollywood, and recently Broadway Mong Kok. Rex was the only exception but helped by its location closed to Argyle Street and the MTR station. The further south you go, the effect started to reverse.
Apollo was situated less than a 5 mins walk away from the council estate I grew up and I had my first movie experience there when I was 5. Can’t remember which movie but it could be a Walt-Disney product.
Columbia Classic was on the ground floor of the Great Eagle Centre alongside Fleming Road. It’s now a sushi bar and a Starbucks.
In the early 80s, Nam Cheong showed Cantonese films under the GH circuit. I thought the tickets were margainally cheaper than the main cinemas (eg. Golden Harvest in Jordan) but my brother paid for the tickets (so I didn’t know). However, the front-stall used to fitted with wooden seats with no cushions. It was painful to watch a film for 2 hrs sitting on “planks” even when I was a kid.
When it opened to business, the Chinese name of Empire was é‡'è²æˆ²é™¢, which followed the clan of Royal, Empress, Prince, Princess etc. (so as the “royalty” of their English name) and most of them were developed by the giant developer SHK in Hong Kong.
Golden Theatre was a landmark in the Shamshuipo area and the name is still used around the area a lot. A medium size shopping/residential complex was build on the plot of land surrounding Golden Theatre (see Cineplex Theatre) in the late 70s and the shopping centre in this complex is called Golden Shopping Centre, now a world famous tourist spot for computers and Hi-tech accessories. Golden Theater itself was rebuilt as a smaller residential/shopping complex and the shopping arcade is called “New Golden”, not to be mixed up with Golden Shopping Centre next door. Although the cinema is long gone, “Golden” is still used, particular to minibuss and taxis, to refer to the block the cinema used to stand.
The theatre is now an office for the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, which is powerful in the To Kwa Wan industrial area.
Here is a high res picture of Kwun Chung theatre:
View link
It says in Catonese that the films are shown from 12:30 pm non-stop everyday. It sells day-ticket so you guys can go in anytime, stay as long as you wish! For those really want to know where EXACTLY, it is #30 (said on the photo). Be quick!