Why acquire Coliseum cinema?

By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: The curtain may soon fall on Coliseum cinema.

One of the oldest landmarks in the city may be a picture of the past, if the authorities have their way in turning it into a National Heritage Centre.

And, this has distressed owner Dr Chua Seong Siew, who wants to know why the Government is trying to take away the almost century old cinema from him when there are so many empty Government buildings here that could be converted into a heritage centre.

His mother, who bought the building from a family estate in 1947, had restored and maintained the building.

Dr Chua Seong Siew looking distressed as he stands in front of the Coliseum Cinema which is owned by him. He is crying foul that the Government is taking over the almost century-old building, one of the oldest landmarks in Kuala Lumpur, which will be gazetted as a National Heritage Centre. The Coliseum was bought by Dr Chua's mother from a family estate in 1947.

Why me? Dr Chua, 68, said with tears in his eyes.

It's not fair. I feel sad, disgusted and angry that they want to take away a property that the family left to me. And, it is not fair because the Government had acquired three pieces of land in the past from me.

I am an old man and I have not done any wrong. Why is the Government coming after me when I have sacrificed three of my properties for the development of the nation.

In the 1990s, 655ha of choice land in his Madingley Estate made way for the development of Putrajaya.

Later, on two occasions he gave up land belonging to his family next to the Ampang LRT station.

He said that there were so many dilapidated buildings owned by the Government around the cinema that have become hideouts for dadah addicts, while the Coliseum provided an outlet for healthy activities.

The Coliseum has been the hub for youths of all races so that they do not get involved in crime.

Dr Chua was responding to a proposed Government Gazette that was served on him two weeks ago by City Hall officials asking him to furnish a separate valuation of the property, as the Government, under the Land Acquisition Act, wanted to acquire his property.

The Government should realise that the Coliseum has generated millions of ringgit in revenue through entertainment and income taxes. I will continue to pay taxes from the revenue.

The Government should consider using several government-owned unoccupied buildings and bungalows in the city and along Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Kia Peng and in the Ampang area, instead.

Built in 1921 by Chua Cheng Bok, the Coliseum was the place that popularised local movie stars like P. Ramlee.

The 888-seat cinema, renovated in 1962, in Roman-styled architecture is closely associated to the Coliseum Cafe next door, a famous and historic watering hole.

Federal Theater. This is where I watched my James Bond movies among others. Since cinema was closed, the building has been a pub and a disco. It now houses 2 cineplexes and a restaurant.

Capitol Theater. This used to show Chinese movies. I have watched 1 or 2 kung-fu flicks here. It is now a super-market.

If today, the movie theaters and movie distribution is split between the two major players - TGV and GSC; those days it was Shaw Brothers and Cathay Organisation. Of course there were some independent cinemas such as Coliseum.

2 movies, Raja Bersiong (The Fanged King) and Mahsuri (The Maid of Langkawi), both legends from Kedah and written by out first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, were produced by Shaw and Cathay respectively.Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010

Posts: 335

Cathay Cinema near Bukit Bintang, KL - probably in the 1950s .........

Federal Cinema in Jln Raja Laut/Chow Kit area - probably in the 1960s .......

Majestic Cinema Jalan Pudu - circa 1940s/1950s maybe?

Status of some of the old, stand-alone cinemas in Kuala Lumpur:

1) Cathay Cinema (Bukit Bintang) - opened in 1958 & closed in December 1997 - demolished in 2002 - now an open-air car park.2) Pavilion Cinema (Bukit Bintang) - opened in 1935; located next to Cathay cinema - originally shows mainly English movies until Cathay opened - closed in 1996 & demolished in 2000. Now an open-air car park.3) Rex Cinema (Jalan Sultan, near Chinatown) - closed - original burnt down in early 70's - new one erected in 1976 - Shows mainly English movies.4) Madras Cinema (Petaling Street in Madras Lane) - said to be haunted & was burnt down in 1978 - Shaw Brothers never rebuilt it & now is an open-air carpark5) Lido Cinema (Brickfields) - closed & demolished - generally Indian movies6) Federal Cinema (Jalan Raja Laut/Chow Kit) - closed on 31 August 2001 - originally single-screen but was later converted into a twin-screen in early 90's - English movies7) Capitol Cinema - (Jalan Raja Laut/Chow Kit) - closed in 2000 - opened in 1947; located next to Federal - shows Chinese movies until 1996 when it switches to showing Indian movies8) Odeon Cinema (Jalan Dang Wangi) - still opened - Built by Cathay Organisation in 1936 - shows movies until November 1997 - now an arcade selling clothes, magazines, electronic goods and snacks.9) Majestic Cinema (Jalan Pudu) - was opened in the 1930's. It was demolished in 2006 and the site remains an empty lot in 2009. 10) Sentul Cinema (Sentul) - opened early 70's by Shaw - shows a mixture of Chinese, English, Malay, Indonesian & Indian movies - closed in 1984 and it became a furniture retail and a restaurant.11) Coliseum Cinema (Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman) - built in the late 1930s and still open till now - seats 900 patrons & shows mainly Tamil & Hindi movies - has been gazetted by Government for preservation.

Last edited by taurus064; January 6th, 2011 at 04:19 AM.