Dara cinema
Dara cinema is closed since more than twenty years ago. The standalone theater is
still here.
Dara cinema
Dara cinema was the last theater in Trat. Others standalone theaters are now supermarkets
bought for 10 to 20 millions baht.
Dara cinema
It is not possible to go inside but according to some locals, there are no
more seats inside.
Dara cinemaDara cinema
Dara cinema
It looks like the Dara cinema former lobby is sometimes used by
squatters as a bed can be seen.
Dara cinema
Dara cinema's walls are already tagged as building is now unused since many years.
Dara cinema
The former ticket booth still indicates a price of 50 baht.
Dara cinema
The sign to display the movie shown in the theater can still be seen but the theater name
marquee is now gone.
Dara cinemaDara cinema
Dara cinema
Dara cinema is still a huge building. Certainly a few hundreds people or more
could sit and enjoy movies in this standalone theater.
Dara cinema
Dara cinema's lobby size remains impressive despite its closure many
years ago.
Dara cinema
Entrance doors are still covered with Singha beer or water advertisements.
Dara cinema
There are stalls in front of Dara cinema so a temporary market is certainly
still hold regularly.
Dara cinemaDara cinema
Dara cinema
Dara cinema is nowadays closed. Maybe Dara cinema closed due to competition
from theaters in malls with multiple screens or due to competition from VHS
that people could enjoy at home?
Dara cinema
Sad end of the Dara cinema. As the owner doesn't care of the building,
some people just throw their rubbish around.
Dara cinema
Dara cinema building is still here. One day, it will disappear if the area
is renovated or upgraded with new neighbourhood.
Before Dara cinema was also known as a
หนังเร่ (local form of popular folk theater).
Movies companyMovies company
Movies company
Just near Dara cinema, there is a company keeping and renting movies
for open-air cinema (หนังกลางแปลง).
Movies company
This movie company is called Phet Films (บริการหนังเพชรฟิล์ม).
Movies company
Phet Films company stores their movies in a wooden house having two stories.
Movies company
Phet Films company was storing movies for the Dara cinema in Trat and
renting movies to open-air cinema local companies in Trat.
Movies companyMovies company
Movies company
Phet Films company is still storing around 200 movies.
Those are 35mm format movies.
Movies company
Most of these old Thai films are from 1980s and 1990s decades.
Movies company
Old rewind Film Reel tool is remaining on this table. With digital movies replacing film
movies, such equipment is becoming very rare.
Movies company
Inside the Phet Films company's hangar, various equipments related to cinema can be found such
as this old projector.
Movies companyMovies company
Movies company
All the movies located in the hangar are damaged due to heavy rain. As above
roof is damaged, rain has poured over the years on the cases.
Movies company
Normally each case contains three reels. A reel lasts around twenty minutes.
So a movie is stored into two cases.
Movies company
The wooden roof of the first floor is falling apart making a curtain! Humidity
and heat doesn't help for old movies preservation...
Movies company
Some movie boxes are made of leather. When opening those boxes, better beware potential snakes
inside. In humid condition, the leather boxes are often eaten by small white termites
(ปลวก).
Many old Thai movies could be seen such as "Boonchu 9" or
ตามฆ่า.
Movies companyMovies company
Movies company
As the movies had no commercial values anymore, they remained in this building for more
than twenty years. Unfortunately the building started to fall apart gradually.
Movies company
Some parts of the old building already collapsed, letting rain and humidity impact the old movies
reels.
Movies company
Local people are checking the old movies reels. Once a film is touched by water,
image deteriorates fast. Once the film is wet but then dries later, then the film
breaks easily and the image remains damaged.
The movies films have no value anymore. Some people refuse to sell them
at cheap price as they believe the metal reel has still some market value. Normally it is not worth more
than 150 baht.
Movies company
Reels of The cambodian movie The Snake Man (งูเก็งกอง) from 1970
could be seen. This was the 16mm version with Dy Saveth in cinemascope version.
As the movie was in a wet environment, the film pellicule was stuck together.
The film was damaged for sure.
Movies company
Too sad that the owner kept the old movies but didn't not take care. Normally cinemas have no movies stock as they just
rent a movie for a short time and then the movie is shown in another theater. Only film companies have stock as they
rent to open-air cinemas (บริษัทหนังกลางแปลง).
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