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Architecture As The Palace of Entertainment
Architecture As The Palace of Entertainment
Before malls became the favorite pass time of Filipinos, movie theaters or “cinema
palaces” were the places to be for entertainment. These standalone theaters used to grace
Philippine cities from the 1930s to the 1980s, their glittering, neon lights adorning the streets to
entice potential customers to see a movie. With this, Manila was no exception to the cinema
trend. Although these establishments are nothing but a remnant of Manila’s Golden Age of
Cinema, one may still see some of the former movie houses that still stand, forever miffed by the
test of time.
I am particularly interested with these former cinemas, considering some of these could
be considered architecturally and historically significant. To keep up with the competition, some
theaters would use architecture as a tactic to attract moviegoers. They would hire the likes of
Archs. Juan Nakpil, Pablo Antonio, and Luis Maria Araneta to design such buildings, their works
still enchanting people (especially heritage advocates) to this day. These buildings would
exemplify Art Deco, Art Moderne, and even Modernist architectural styles fit for a “cinema
palace”. Theaters were also the recipients of early technology and design which was considered
advanced at that time. For example, Capitol Theater in Binondo utilized a double balcony to
accommodate a larger audience (the only theater to do so). The Roman Super Cinerama in
Quiapo was one of the first buildings in the country (if not the first) to utilize escalators, and had
a wide curving screen for supposedly a better viewing experience. Airconditioning also became a
major selling point for some other theaters, such as Life in Quiapo and Hollywood along Recto
Avenue.
Architecture and design became a tool for business as well as a way for the movie
industry to promote their works. These theaters also had an ingenious way to bring movie stars
nearer to the audience whilst protecting their privacy; these structures had a secret passageway
for celebrities such as Nora Aunor and Gloria Romero to pass through while avoiding the chaos
Some theaters that were built in the 1930s and 40s survived the war, such as Capitol,
Avenue, State, and Bellevue Theaters. However, as fortunate as they may be, they did not
survive the ever changing tastes of consumers and the development of public facilities in the
name of business. With the advent of malls which provided an “all under one roof” kind of
convenience, these cinemas later became obsolete. Some theaters were closed down, with most
of them, such as Avenue, State, Gala, and Dalisay theaters, demolished to make way for other
establishments. Some that survived had to resort to other, even illegal means to keep their
respective businesses alive. These include showing X-rated movies and serving as prostitution
dens, earning the ire of government officials. Dilson, Ginto, Hollywood, Roben, and Times are a
As you pass Recto, Rizal Avenue, Quezon Boulevard, and even small streets like Escolta,
try to take a glimpse of these deteriorating structures outside. One must better appreciate these
Read more:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/302212/the-once-glamorous-movie-
theaters-of-downtown-manila/story/
https://www.theurbanroamer.com/tag/downtown-manila-movie-theaters/
http://video48.blogspot.com/2009/02/manilas-first-run-theaters-in-50s-and.html
http://video48.blogspot.com/2009/02/manilas-second-run-theaters-in-50s-and.html
https://entertainment.inquirer.net/137035/mtrcb-inspects-5-manila-theaters-spots-violations
https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/09/09/10/manila-shuts-down-gay-porn-moviehouse