going to the movies...then and now

Just love going to the movies since I was a boy and that would be in the 60's and 70's. It was a great form of entertainment then and of course entertainment was so scarce in those days...unlike today. We even had a movie club in my primary school...Hutching's School and I was definitely a very loyal member of the club...attended every single meeting of the club where all we did was to simply...watch movies...yeah! Mmm...they don't have such clubs in school anymore, do they? And yes I watched movies of all genres then...spy thriller, horror, adventure, western (cowboys and red Indians), comedies and musicals (The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Fiddler On The Roof, My Fair Lady....) Really enjoyed those movies...

But then the cinema scene in those days was so unlike what we have today. Back then the cinema halls only had one screen each. Seats were quite uncomfortable with wooden arm rest and some having wooden seats. The seats were divided into two main classes...upstairs (called the 'dress circle' then...RM2.00 per ticket) and downstairs. The downstair seats were further sub-divided into 3 classes...first (RM1.40 for a ticket), second (Rm1) and third class (65 sen...yes you heard me...65 sen for a third class ticket!) The cinema floor was quite flat and it would be your rotten luck if you had a tall guy or a couple-in-love sitting in front of you. You will have a hard time straining your neck to the left or right just to follow the movie. Still remember a story told by David Arumugam of the Alleycats whereby he said his hair was full of 'kuaci' skin after he had come out from a cinema hall...David has an afro hairstyle...he still has...and the guy behind him must have vented his frustration on David's hair...

Below are pics of some of the more popular cinemas in Penang in those days...the Odeon Cinema which is still standing and screening movies today...but only Tamil and Hindustani ones I think; the Cathay Cinema building is also there but it has been converted into Mydin Emporium (it was my favourite cinema then...saw lots of great movies there) and of course the Capitol Cinema which has been torn down for the Komtar project. If you look carefully at the last pic, you'll see the Capitol Cinema in the background advertising 'The Exorcist' which was a really frightening movie. Story had it some movie-goers fainted while watching the movie...remember Linda Blair and her head-twisting stunt...gosh! I saw that movie in-between my HSC exam! That was in 1974...35 years ago!


The Odeon Cinema on Penang Road

The Cathay Cinema also on Penang Road

The Capitol Cinema at the junction of Maxwell Road and Penang Road

A cobbler plying his trade ...Capitol Cinema is in the background

But today going to the movies is just heaven compared to what we had in those days. The cineplexes are so clean and comfortable. The seats are fully-cushioned and because of the sloping floor your view will not be blocked even if the couple in front of you decides to be well..kinda intimate...(of course you'll be mumbling why didn't they book a couple seat instead!) And of course the sound system...THX and all those stuff...is simple superb! You have to pay a little bit more for all these...no more RM1.40 seats...but you get value for your money...check out movie day on Wednesdays. To ensure you get a seat, you can even book your tickets online or by phone.

Now that's what I call progress:)

Well I guess that's all for this post...till then...

Have a great time at the movies!

p.s. Looking forward to watching Obsessed, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Public Enemies, The Taking of Pelham 123, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and The Proposal...yep I do watch romantic comedies....