Astor Theatre
Nathan Road,
Yaumati,
Hong Kong
Nathan Road,
Yaumati,
Hong Kong
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The Astor Theatre was situated in the Yaumati district on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the Po Hing Theatre.
The theatre opened to business on 24th December, 1957 with Doris Day in “Pajama Game”.
Its opening advertisement said:
“Be sure to make the Astor your choice
–for perfect comfort
–for the finest in film entertainment"
It showed first run English language films except a period between 1963 and 1977, when selected films were shown.
The theatre had a stage, and Cantonese operas, Peking operas and Mandarin vaudeville shows were always performed in the 1960s and the early 1970s.
It closed its doors on 1st October, 1987.
A hotel with two mini cinemas was built on the site of the theatre.
Contributed by
Raymond Lo
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Chinese name of the Astor Theatre was the same as the Po Hing Theatre.
Form 12th September to 18th September,the theatre suspended business for the mourning of the death of Chairman Mao of the People’s Repubic of China.
The Po Hing and later Astor Theatre was located on the east side of Nathan Road, on that triangular piece of land bounded also by Kansu Street. One of my favourite movies watched there is Sayonara starring Marlin Brando.
Correction:
From 12th September,1976 to 18th September,1976,the theatre suspended business for the mourning of the death of Chairman Mao of the People’s Republic of China.
Here is a 1968 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yaoevv6
Astor used to be a landmark on Nathan Road as the hotel building (Chung Hing Hotel?) had a giant vertical orange neon light billboard for National electrical appliances. It could be seen from miles along Nathan Road from the north. In the 80s, when it was paired up with Pearl in Causeway Bay, Astor has shown many Hollywood films, many from Fox. I watched Octopussy there. At the time Astor closes, it was the forth largest cinema in Hong Kong, behind Paris, Sunbeam and Ruby. It has always been in the top 10 ticket sales in the 80s.
Its Chinese name is 普慶戲院.
Raymond, is this the old Po Hing, the first generation, not Astor, the second generation?
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.
The Chinese name of Po Hing Theatre and Astor Theatre is the same,普慶戲院.