I can’t help but notice how much our cinemas have changed over the years. What do we have back then ? Let’s go back 20 years from today …
- The theater was divided into 2 classes. The normal class and special class. Normal class was situated at the ground floor and special class at the upper floor… both facing the same screen. The difference ? You get to watch your movie at a better viewing angle (sloper) if you’re in special class … and for hooligans, they get to spit at the normal class viewers from the upper floor.
- Cost of ticket per movie entry for normal class was just merely 3 bucks. Addition 50 cents to upgrade to special class. But they don’t allow advanced bookings though. To get a good seat, one have to either come earlier to queue up or have some intimate relationship with the ticket seller. If you’re late, not only you’ll get shittier seating but have to endure the hot musty air that reeked of perspiration of some unwashed armpits from the crowd as well. (no air conditioning at lobby)
- You are allowed to bring your own food into the cinema. Groundnuts, fruits, noodles, steamed corns, meat floss buns, you name it. But the most popular tidbits of them all was melon seed (local name = “Kuaci”). It’s fairly a common sight to see melon seed husks being littered all over the cinema floor. Sometimes, unfinished food as well… supplying a rich diet to roaches and rats alike. (yes, we would sometimes see big-ass rodents parading across the cinema hallway like some chingay possession …)
- The cinema seating system was primitively managed by a lady with an attitude, who looked as if she rode a broom to work. No computers or any technological doohickeys. The lady would select seats randomly by referring to the seat plan, and scribble the seat number on some standard tickets … then strike off the ‘used’ number accordingly on the seat plan with her crayon - so that she won’t make a mistake of issuing the same seat twice.
- The seats were extremely uncomfortable and somehow distastefully discriminating for blimps or tall people alike. They’re partially made of wood and sponge. Some even had holes on it due to vandalism, and it’s hole houses a haven for microscopic critters that has accumulated from thousands of asses through the years. It’s smell alone was believed to be strong enough to crowbar an adult whale’s consciousness…
- There weren’t any audio standards like THX, SDDS, KNNCCB, etc back then. The audio requirement was just very simple - LOUD. The louder it is, the better. And I remembered that Rex was the cinema (in Penang) that took all the cakes of motherfucking loud audio system. If you’re in for movies like Indiana Jones or even Rambo at Rex, you’ll be guaranteed a roller coaster ride inside it…
Although the whole thing might sound like a big bummer to most people today, but back then, watching a movie in such kind of cinema was a damn nice experience. It wasn’t the tidbits, it definitely wasn’t the crowds nor the rats… it’s … something… that words can’t describe.
“it’s … something… that words can’t describe.”
-The word is “OLD”.
“The louder it is, the better.”
-Awesome.
“You are allowed to bring your own food into the cinema.”
-Years back then I remember my parents used to smuggle the foods into the cinema since the “No Taking Ouside Food” “law” applied.
classic? timeless? badass?
Wah, 20 years back meh? Can remember meh? The very first time I went into Tiong Nam cinema (Air Itam) was to watch Spiderman. Ya lah, no air-cond one.
I remember watching Titanic at Federal Cinema at Dato Keramat….. half way through the movie, my legs have to be brought up to give way to rats that ran past..
oh ya, btw, i’m a lurker. ;>
something that words can’t describe? let me guess.
the absence of handphones.
the noise of the kuachi is louder than the sound system. especially before the movie starts, the whole cinema is loaded with kuachi cracking sound. it is damn loud. but it is fun.
ken - Ask your parents back when outside food were allowed in the cinema… it’s even more awesome.
din - Nope. Can’t describe.
Primrose - I’ve been to that Tiong Nam cinema before to watch Wong Fei Hung (the older version starred by Kwan Tuck Hing). The cinema was later converted to a roller skate disco, then a snooker center, and today, video game center.
eyering - Titanic, that wasn’t too long ago, right ? I remember Federal alright. Been there many times.
metalrage - Not really…
KK - Yeah, as if it’s our national food. The memories …
Reading this made me remember I had to go to the clinic for a jab after being bitten by a rat! The little fella probably thought my big toe was a chicken drumstick or something…hehhehehehhe.
it reminisced the good olde times of james bondages, starwars, indy etc etc
rex penang, however, features one special item. bbq bishop’s nose, damn it, that’s original. stole a piece from my fren’s stick of 5, real awesome. no more then, left penang shortly after studies.
The louder the better- I remembered watching Jurassic Park in such low class cinema, that was awesome!!!
Juan - I think the rat’s trying to hint you something. Probably 4D tips or something…Rats are not known to feast on humans …
keatix - Steamed peas, peanuts… omg, they’re damn good…
100 - Same here. I watched Jurassic Park with the BODs at Penang’s Cathay theater. It was great.
The building has now turned into an Indian movie theater…
haahahhaha… I don’t think the rat deliberately bit me. Think it got a bit lost amongst the kuacis and leftover food near where my feet was *grin*. My fondest memory were the jagungs and popcorns sold right outside Ruby theatre. Oh, and the restrooms were more accesible; now, the toilets are situated near the entrances and we waste precious screen time whilst taking a leak:P
i miss eating papaya and jambu inside the cinema…
and i miss the nasty chewing gum too…
the last time i was in an old school cinema i watched Beauty and the Beast. can’t remember which is it. those wheel crackers were yummy.
wheel crackers = UFO
that was a looooooong time ago…
Federal is closed now right? I used to walk there very frequently for all the chinese martial arts film! Best thing I remembered bout old cinemas were the roti bahkua
Yummy. Hard to find nowadays even. The only one standing is probably cathay. Odeon, Rex and Dalit all gone!
Those were the days my men. These days kids are lucky to catch show like every week, striking off valuable RM8-9 or double that if they have a date. Last time in order to watch a movie, we planned for a week before going. And we never seem to watch the movie every week. Only those good movies then we tend to go watch.