During its prime, Queenstown Cinema and Bowling Centre housed modern facilities which few could match in Singapore. There was a cinema (with two halls), a bowling centre, fast food restaurants and private karaoke lounges. The 18-lane bowling centre and the 1715 seat cinema were favourite among residents in Queenstown and students from the secondary schools nearby. Built in the 1977, Queenstown Cinema was of the first cinemas which incorporated soundproofing by minimising the use of wood-wool slabs, acoustic ceiling boards and carpeting. Seats in the cinema were arranged in a hexagonal manner so that cinema goers could watch the movie without any obstruction. Closed in 1999, it remained as Queenstown's most iconic feature today.
Former Queenstown Cinema & Bowling Centre
While redevelopment plans for this cinema remained secretive, the private developer owning this cinema, Crescendas, did consider demolishing the cinema in the coming year. Hence, MyQueenstown would like to bring residents and frequent visitors to a trip down memory lane where we explore the restricted areas within the cinema and the bowling centre.
The familiar corridor of the Former Queenstown Cinema
Mud pools and falling concrete greeted our correspondent as we enter the restricted zones of the former cinema. Corrosion and the lack of maintenance had caused part of the cinema to be waterlogged. A deep, stale smell perked us up when the metallic entrance pulley was pulled up. Windows and metallic grilles at the ticketing counter were removed for convenience during the demolishing process. The familiar "snacks" and "popcorns" booth were likewise different from its former appearance.
View of the Booths from Exterior
View of the Ticketing Counter from Exterior
Ticketing Counter
Closer look at the Counter
We tried to scavenger for traces of the movie tickets but we could not. It looks as if the cleaners have done a good job in maintaining the cleanliness of the cinema.
The red colour dustbin is still there!
The interior of the bigger cinema hall was beyond expectations. Seats were removed. Screens were torn down. And the carpet had disintegrated into bits and pieces. Former patrons could only recognise its features from its iconic colour of the wall. MyQueenstown Team understood that the hall was converted into a billiard room after the cinema operator left. Frequent billiard competitions were held in the cinema and hence, the seats were removed.
Present State of the Larger Cinema Hall
Front View of the Cinema-Seats Removed, Carpet Disintegrated and...
Screens Removed
Speakers were kept here previously
Stairs leading to the screens
Until the multiplex era, the screens of the cinema were typically covered by a traditional curtain manually. Curtains would cover part of the screen during advertising and trailers and then be fully draw to reveal the entire width of the screen when the movie started.
It always appear ironic when we are allowed to wander freely in the premises of the cinema after it was shut. The cinema projection room, a place where projections, cinema reels and other relevant sophisticated equipment were kept, looked forlornly empty and bizarre, unlike the conventional modern projection room.
Entrance to the Projection Room
Place where the reels are kept
Where the Cinema Projectors would beam the movies
Yeah that's Hall One!
Private screenings took place on several occasions at the smaller theatre hall located in the third level in the past few years. The seats were untouched but the screen was removed only recently. Unlike the bigger hall, this smaller cinema was much well maintained and cracks in the walls were not so obvious. The flight of stairs leading to the hall was litter free except for a few graffiti, believed to be painted by passerbys accessing into the cinema illegally.
Flight of Stairs to the Smaller Cinema Hall
Entrance to the Cinema
Torn Signages at the Door
Toilets where Cinema Goers will patronise before the movie
Interior of the Smaller Cinema
Removed Screens
Found Your Seat?
Queenstown Cinema simply could not compete against bigger multiplexes operated by Golden Village or Cathay. They were not equipped to beam the latest 3D animated movies or provide a Dolby Surround sound quality to win the hearts and pockets of the cinema goers. It was inevitable that it lost the "cinema" war. As the curtain falls on the Cinema, our memories of this recreation site would certainly remain at the stage where we queued for its popcorn gleefully with our former school mates and enjoyed a wonderful evening watching the action movies...
What happened to Palace KTV and the Bowling Alley? Don't Forget to Read Restricted Access@MyQueenstown next Sunday!
What are your memories of the Cinema? Tell us now at our facebook page now!
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