Events & Memories of The Cathay

Interior of Cathay Cinema

I’m sure most of you have been to Cathay cinema to enjoy a movie in their spacious and cosy arm chair. However, do you all know that Cathay Organisation’s first cinema has a long history back and started long ago even before Singapore’s independence? Now that I have gotten your attention and curiousity? Let me share with you the interesting and amazing facts about the Cathay Building which housed the first Cathay cinema and Cathay Organisation.

Cathay Organisation first started off many years ago, in 18 July 1935 during the colonial Singapore period as Associated Theatres Ltd being the forerunner in the local movie entertainment industry. It was then renamed to Cathay Organisation Private Limited in 1959. In 1936, it opened its very first cinema, The Pavilion, in Kuala Lumpur. Followed by The Cathay Cinema in the Cathay Building on 3^rd October 1939, a Victorian-style building, where the curtains of success were raised and the organisation was brought to greater heights. More than a thousand of audience were housed inside the theatre for the premiere of “The Four Feathers”.

Interior of Cathay Cinema in The Cathay Building

The Cathay Building, a 16-storey high building that was designed by a British architect named Frank Brewer and cost a hefty sum of $1 million dollars to build. It was located at the foot of Mount Sophia (Bukit Seligi) in the Dhoby Ghaut area and housed not only the popular Cathay Cinema but also the famous Cathay Hotel and Cathay restaurant. The cinema was the first section to be completed in 1939, located in the front block. Followed by the opening of the Cathay restaurant in early 1941 which was also located in the front block on the fifth floor. Lastly, the Cathay Hotel with a total of 80 apartments was completed in August 1941 in the main block which stood above the cinema and restaurant.

The Cathay Building

Even though the Cathay Building was not as magnificent as it looked in the past, believe it or not, it was Singapore’s very first skyscraper housing Singapore’s first air-conditioned cinema house! The cinema was the first public space to be air-conditioned in Singapore, allowing 1,321 audience to be able to enjoy their favourite movies in “the air-cooled luxury of The Cathay” in their comfortable arm chairs. The interior gave off a vibe of elegance as it was designed with black marble pillars, green tiled floors and the gold ceilings. With a height of 83.51 metres, the Cathay Building not only became the first and tallest skyscraper in Singapore but also in South-East Asia. The Cathay Building had managed to be named the “first” for several areas and this is definitely not an easy thing to achieve! In addition, due to the fact that the building was the first and tallest skyscraper in Singapore, the Cathay Building became an iconic landmark for pilots flying into Kallang Airport up to 1955 for the final approach.

As interesting as things can get, during the early December 1941, the main block of the Cathay Building was rented out to the government and the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation. For what purpose you may ask? It became the “brain centre” of the government! When the World War II, the radio stations in the building held an important responsibility as it provided people with active broadcast on the updates of the attacks and enemy advancement. Despite being used as an air-raid shelter, it managed to survive through at least 14 shells hits in February 1942.  

During the Japanese’s occupation, it became the Japanese broadcasting centre and Radio Syonan’s transmissions began from there. Soon after, the Japanese’s Propaganda Department Headquarters and Military Information Bureau moved in as well. The facilities in the building were taken over by the Japanese Military except for the cinema which was opened occasionally to the public, screening movies from the past storage. However, few people went for the screening as brutal scenes of human heads stuck on the poles of beheaded looters and other victims of Japanese Military can be seen outside the building.

Because of the rich and long history behind the building especially the events that took place during the World War II, the Cathay building was identified as a possible landmark for preservation. Fortunately, due to the new monument-preservation scheme, the Cathay Building can undergo redevelopment except for the art-deco style façade of the building that had to be preserved. The newly redeveloped Cathay Building was renamed The Cathay which was officially opened on 24 March 2006. The next time when you walked past The Cathay, you can try to notice the glass facade features of the building which was done to incorporate the original brown-tiled facade of the old Cathay Building.

Because of the rich and long history behind the building especially the events that took place during the World War II, the Cathay building was identified as a possible landmark for preservation. Fortunately, due to the new monument-preservation scheme, the Cathay Building can undergo redevelopment except for the art-deco style façade of the building that had to be preserved. After many twists and turns of events, the newly redeveloped Cathay Building was renamed The Cathay which was officially opened on 24 March 2006. Interesting isn’t it? How the building you go and watch movie in has such a history. So, the next time when you walked past The Cathay, try noticing the glass facade features of the building which was done to incorporate the original brown-tiled facade of the old Cathay Building. 

“At the Old Cathay Building, there is a river my classmate and I would go and catch fish and after then catch spider.  Those were the days.”

1962

“Early 1990s. I have fond memories of the old Capitol cinema and old Cathay cinema. My best years in my courting days are spent there.”

                                                                                                    1995

“I miss the old Cathay Building as it was my best memories with my old friends that we share during our younger days time.”

                                                                                                    2012

References

Cornelius-Takahama, V., & Chuan, O. E. (n.d.). Cathay Building. Retrieved from Singapore Infopedia: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_532_2004-12-17.html

Corporate History. (n.d.). Retrieved from Cathay: http://www.cathay.com.sg/corporate_history.html#

Memory: Old Cathay. (n.d.). Retrieved from Singaopre Memory: http://www.singaporememory.sg/

Pictures taken from:

1.     http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/pictures/Details/77b3893a-4d0f-4001-bc46-325acfa43b08

2.     http://www.cathay.com.sg/corporate_history.html#

3.     http://www.singaporememory.sg/contents/SMB-4005a8b6-0a1a-4367-bc98-f9bba729c1a8