Demolition of Astor cinema: End of an era – By Freddie Kissoon
The Astor Cinema Georgetown. Guyana
The remains of the Astor Cinema crumbled just before midday today after weeks of haphazard dismantling of the iconic movie house, the last of its kind in the city.
The area around the cinema was blocked off to traffic for about an hour before the collapse. Around 11 am, machinery from Chung’s Global assisted with the demolition. Moments after the southern wall was torn down, the remainder of the building crumbled at 11.56 onto Waterloo Street. Removal of the debris is underway. Moments later, persons began to scavenge the debris.
Demolition of Astor cinema: End of an era Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
By guyaneseonline
|
Posted in Arts / Culture, Education, Guyana, History, Music Videos, Personalities
|
Also tagged Astor Cineme, by Freddie Kissoon, Dave Martins, Demolition of Astor cinema: End of an era, Demolition of Astor cinema: End of an era in Georgetown. Guyana, Empire Cinema, Globe Cinema, Johnny Braff, Metropole Cinema, Strand Deluxe Cinema, Vivian Lee
|
The rise and fall of Guyana’s cinemas
By Godfrey Chin
Nostalgia 456
As a nostalgia buff languishing in reminisces of our wonderful yesteryears – before Independence – the current demise of our cinemas is a total shock and a tragic disappointment. Most of us were ardent movie fans, and cinemas played a major role in our maturation then. One must only wonder whether the demise of cinemas in Guyana has in some way resulted in the decay today of the current moral fibre of the nation.
Before the advent of talking pictures 1927 (Jazz Singer) and the first Academy Awards 1929, British Guiana had a prestigious movie palace called the Gaiety, at Brickdam and Camp Street, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1926. By 1930 the London Cinema on Camp Street had installed sound, and another cinema was in place in New Amsterdam. The Metro on Middle Street changed its name to the Empire to accommodate the Metropole, which opened with The Merry Widow (Maurice Chevalier/Jeannette McDonald, 1934). Empire’s first movie was the Prisoner of Zenda with Ronald Coleman. I was born that year, but gleaned that ‘nylon’ subsequently from my fabulous pamphlet collection. If I had brought them up to the States when I ‘exiled,’ man, I could have retired rich. [Read more]
— Post #1420
Like this:
Like Loading...
By guyaneseonline
|
Posted in Architecture, Arts / Culture, Business, History
|
Also tagged Andrew James, Astor Cinema, Capitol Cinema, Gaiety Cinema, Globe Cinema, Godfrey Chin, H Teelucksingh, Ken Veerasammy, Metropole Cinema, nostalgia 456, Olympic Cinema, Pius Gomes, Rialto Cinema, Strand deLuxe
|
