The cinema continues to be the place where Malaysians of all stripes gather to watch the latest offerings by the local and international film industry.
Even if you’re not particularly interested in the plot, going to the movies can be a social activity – albeit with distancing these days – and sharing a bucket of popcorn is still a joy for couples and families.
Malaysia, of course, has no shortage of cinemas. In fact, there are nearly 170 theatres throughout the country – though did you know Perlis and Kelantan don’t have any? – and a drive around the Klang Valley will reveal cinemas at almost every turn.
The Malaysian cinema is older than the country itself, with the still-operating Coliseum Theatre having opened its doors in 1920.
Even so, to suggest that the moviegoing experience has not changed over the decades would be a great misconception. Here are some of the differences between cinemas of today and those 50 years ago.
1. Cinemas were standalone establishments
Today, most cinemas belong to one of two well-known chains, with a handful of theatres like the aforementioned Coliseum operating independently. And you might have noticed it’s difficult to find a cinema within a single building these days – most tend to be multiplexes in shopping malls.
In the past, cinemas were often prominent landmarks. In older cities throughout the country, one can find their remains, such as Kuala Lumpur’s Odeon Cinema, Ipoh’s Rex Cinema, and Kota Bharu’s Lido Cinema.
Some of these buildings have since been demolished or refurbished and repurposed.
Most of these theatres had their own identity: Odeon was regarded to be for the upper-class, Rex often showed Chinese films, and Lido was priced for the average Malaysian.
2. Popcorn was not the iconic cinema snack
Today, the one snack everyone associates with the movies is popcorn – you’d be hard-pressed to find a cinema that doesn’t sell this salty or caramel-coated treat.
In the olden days, however, the average moviegoer would munch on sunflower seeds, better known as kuaci. They were a cheap snack, and a loud one, too!
They would also leave behind quite the mess of shells – many of which would’ve been spit out from between salt-dried lips – on the floor, as exasperated ushers of the time would attest to.
3. Tickets cost about 50 sen
On average, the current cost of a movie ticket is RM20. Of course, prices differ based on the location of the seats, and the type of movie hall you’d be occupying.
Back then, things were far cheaper – folks often forked out 50 sen for a third-class ticket, which would entitle them to a seat uncomfortably close to the screen, forcing them to crane their necks.
The third-class seats were uncomfortable wooden chairs; if you wanted a cushioned seat, you would have to pay a little extra for a first- or second-class seat instead.
In some cinemas, there was the added excitement of balcony seating – that is, chairs on the upper level of the auditorium, overlooking those on the ground floor.
And of course, for many mischievous youngsters, sneaking into the cinema without paying or getting caught was a rite of passage.
4. Coming attractions were announced in print
In “old” Malaysia, people only found out about new films through traditional means. Newspapers often carried entertainment gossip and movie listings, which, for the literate, was often how they learnt of upcoming releases and checked for showtimes.
Advertisements were occasionally shown on national television, but not every family would have had access to a TV in the first place. Sometimes, movie announcements would also be made on the radio, a more popular medium back in the day.
Others depended solely on the posters pasted outside cinemas, often beautifully hand-painted works of art. Whether a local film like P Ramlee’s “Seniman Bujang Lapok” or a Hollywood production like “The Exorcist”, these posters often built up a sense of excitement among the moviegoing public.
5. Moviegoing was a truly unique experience
Without intending to suggest modern Malaysians do not derive pleasure from going to the movies, a visit to the cinema back then was a far more exciting experience.
It would often be a rare treat, offered by parents as a reward for their children being well-behaved or doing well in their examinations. To watch a movie in the cinema was something truly special and worth boasting to your friends.
For first-time visitors, the cinema would’ve been quite the strange place, with its musty seats, smoke-stained walls, and kuaci seeds littering the halls. People of all kinds would occupy those seats, from professional critics and sad solos to rowdy friends, noisy families, and lovebirds seeking privacy in the dark.
There would be the smokers to contend with; the inconsiderate leg-shakers; the talkers; and the stomp-on-the-back-of-your-seaters.
And yet, despite the discomfort, once the projector began rolling, viewers would let movie magic take them on a thrilling and unforgettable journey, all of them united as a unique Malaysian audience engaging in a shared experience a half-century ago.
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