China Town Rama theater
The building is said to be seventy years old and the theater
is still running business nowaday!
China Town Rama theater
It is a cheap theater with only 50 bahts to pay to watch two full length movies.
But need to pay 5 bahts to use the toilets!
China Town Rama theater
Mainly international movies are shown in China Town Rama theater. On that day a Chinese movie
and US movie were projected.
China Town Rama theater
Some small stalls inside the theater small lobby are selling books and VCDs / DVDs.
China Town Rama theater
Photographers are not welcomed in the upper part of China Town Rama theater. There
are rumors that some hidden activities shall remain undocumented...
China Town Rama theater
The signs indicate "China Town Rama theater : opened whole day, two movies 50 bahts".
China Town Rama theater
Photo taken from the first floor. Staff are not so keen to let people take pictures
except the lobby.
China Town Rama theater
Here is today's program! No modern smart display and no English name :-)
But only 50 bahts for two movies so much cheaper than modern cinema complexes in malls.
China Town Rama theater
Before being called China Town Rama theater, the building name was
Sri Meuang (ศรีเมือง) theater.
China Town Rama theater
Some Chinese characters can still be seen as it used to show Chinese opera in
decade 1940s and 1950s.
China Town Rama theater
The Chinatown Rama is located on Yaowarat Road in the Heng Seng Li Building.
Parking lot
Another old theater transformed into a parking space!
It shall be พัฒนาแร theater
located in Yaowarat district.
Yaowarat Road
Other famous former theaters in Yaowarat district include Cathay - โรงหนัง คาร์เธย์,
Sin Fa Center - สินฟ้าเธียเตอร์,
ศรีราชวงศ์,
เทียนกัวเทียน and many others.
The sign where movie name was displayed is still present on former Sin Fa theater.
Electrical fan standalone theaters were called
โรงหนังพัดลม. Such theater was often made of wood.
When it was too hot, the owner was buying ice cubes and put them in front of the fan
in order to cool the atmosphere.
Theater Chaleum Buri
The Theater Chaleum Buri - โรงหนังเฉลิมบุรี
doesn't exist anymore. It is now a parking space.
Price of a seat in a standalone theater was different depending
on the location inside the building (orchestra level and balcony level). In the past, there were also
various sub level prices. If big theaters in Bangkok, there was music orchestra playing before
the movie projection so the seats in the front cost higher.
Theater Chaleum Buri
Nevertheless, the prints of Theater Chaleum Buri on adjacent
buildings can still be seen!
When a cinema session time was full, foldable chairs could still be
purchased to watch the movie. In Bangkok a whole sequence cost 20 baht and last 4 to 4 hours and half as it included music,
comic sequences during two hours and then the movie!
Capital Cinema Hall
The Capital Cinema Hall (โรงหนัง แคปปิตอล)
is another former theater in Yaowarat district.
In the past, there was a 7 days test. If the movie
was not successful, then it was replaced. There was only one copy for the Bangkok
area and one copy for each main Thai region (North, Northeast, South, Central Plains).
All theaters suffered when video tape era happened.
Theater Chaleum Buri
It is now part of Klongthom market, a place where many electronic goods and
pirated movies can be found.
In the past, movies magazines (หนังสือบันเทิง)
cost 3.5 to 5 baht. They told the whole story. There was also movie story telling
(ละครวิทยุ) on the radio. So knowing already the story,
people would go to see their favorite stars acting.
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