“From when the cinema started in the 1960s with screenings of films by Connie Chan Po-chu to the era of Bruce Lee and later on Sammo Hung Kam-bo, and then the classics of the 1980s and 1990s, [the cinema] has transcended generations,” he famous.
“It’s a loss for Hong Kong and its audiences.”
Newport Circuit introduced on its social media web page on Saturday that the cinema, which used to be opened in 1966, would close on April 30, and expressed gratitude for the people’s aid. Tickets for the latter display on the cinema have been bought out.
Lo thought to be the cinema a Hong Kong landmark and a testomony to historical past, arguing its closure signalled basic adjustments in people.
“There’s a shift in the whole phenomenon when there are so many different types of entertainment that come in different forms of media. Would the audience still choose films? It might not be the obvious choice any more,” he mentioned.
“In the past, everyone would be watching the same films, such as those by Stephen Chow Sing-chi, and would share common topics. But now entertainment is much more individualised and customised, catering to different people’s tastes.”
Schoolteacher Michael Chan and his spouse got here to look at the Hong Kong movie In Extensive Sunlight and recalled getting to the cinema on dates.
“I’ve forgotten how many films we’ve seen here together. We used to watch many more films back then,” Chan, who’s in his fifties, mentioned. “Now, film tickets are more expensive and we’re busier at work so we don’t watch as many.”
Hongkongers name for extra cut-price cinema price ticket days to spice up trade in town
Hongkongers name for extra cut-price cinema price ticket days to spice up trade in town
A movie lover since adolescence, Chan recalled how the cinema had advanced from a venue at the garden flooring boasting a massive capability to a smaller field that required lifts to get entry to.
Chan mentioned the closure of the President Theatre made him miracle whether or not any enhancements might be made to higher maintain the business, reminiscent of expanding the number of movies.
A baby sitter in her forties who didn’t need to be recognized mentioned she had fond reminiscences of getting to the cinema together with her oldsters and grandfather.
“It was back in the 1980s and 1990s. There were used to be many hawkers selling snacks at the door of the cinema. There used to be shops selling silverware, leather products, as well as cosmetics, in the complex, too,” Leung mentioned.
Causeway Bay resident William Lau mentioned he had long past to the President Theatre for greater than 3 a long time and had perceptible over 200 movies there.
Can Alibaba’s HK$5 billion plan put Hong Kong movies again at the world degree?
Can Alibaba’s HK$5 billion plan put Hong Kong movies again at the world degree?
Lau mentioned it used to be no longer just a park to catch the untouched movies, but in addition part of the blonde past of the native film business. He recalled ocular God of Gamblers starring Chow Yun-fat two times when it got here out in 1989.
Within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, cinemas have been virtually all the time packed, he mentioned, including price ticket costs have been “very reasonable”.
“There were tickets under HK$100 (US$12.79), which made going to the cinema more affordable and provided a balance to the extortionate prices elsewhere. It helped the healthy development of the industry,” he mentioned, including that the closure marked “the end of an era” as President Theatre used to be as soon as a prominent cinema in Causeway bay.
The closure got here a day later GH Kai Tak close ill on April 21. Alternative operators were pressured to related later the business used to be crisp strike through the coronavirus pandemic.
