Tuesday, February 3, 2009

MANILA'S SECOND-RUN THEATERS IN THE 50s and 60s


Malang/ 1965

In the 60s, if you're going on a date, ten pesos in your pocket will go a long, long way. For instance, it could buy you two first-run movie tickets at P 1.20 each; a full meal for two in a popular panciteria in Sta. Cruz at P 2.00 each; a merienda of sandwich (30 cents each) and softdrink (10 cents each). If you deduct your bus or jeepney fare of 10 cents each (2 way), you still have a change of P 2.40 which could buy you pants or shirts costing P 1.50 or P 2.00 or at 60 centavos or less, you can watched a double feature program of your favorite movies in a modest, air-conditioned second-run movie houses. Now you know why a lot of people like to live in the past--- it’s a lot cheaper.























































16 comments:

  1. Simon,
    Thanks for all these logos, and what's good is that they've got addresses too. Now, I need to re-work my map, I've got Hollywood Theater on Azcarraga corner of Morayta. The logo says it's on Oroqueta and Azcarraga, so that's probably between Cinerama and Odeon. You even have Moderno on Legarda, which was the street I used to live. Moderno was right besides the Sampaloc Market and I watched movies there all the time. I was still in short pants, wow, that was a long time ago, over half a century ago, hahaha, I'm old. You didn't find any logos of Rosy and Mactan, I guess you might consider them 3rd-run and probably never advertised. Mactan was just a few apartments from where we lived, and that's where I saw Jane Russell in the Outlaw. Zest Theater, that's where I saw all those Tagalog movies, it only shows Tagalog movies, has got a huge lobby, and used to be a first-run theater. It's located on R. Hidalgo near San Sebastian Church. I'll check the addresses on the logos and cross-check them with my map.
    Rod

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  2. Simon,
    Wait a minute, I looked at my map again, and yes, Hollywood is in the right location on my map. I'm missing Radio Theater on Carriedo though, that's a short, short street and I can't remember where it was. I think it may be where Illusion is on my map. I need to bring Illusion down closer to Quiapo Church and add another street there just before Rizal Avenue. I have a map of Cubao and Quezon City, including Greenhills. Now, I know the name of the theater on Aurora, it's Holiday Theater. Thanks again.
    Rod

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  3. Simon:

    Haven't seen these second run theaters. When I was in university, the closest was MAXIM along Recto Avenue, and that's where most of us go to see movies. I think there were several theaters on Recto and a few of them were owned by Mother Lily's family.

    SeƱor Don Samonte:

    you didn't include the chinese thaters in Chinatown in your map! Aha! I remember watching those "FLYING" martial arts chinese movies there, but can't remember the name :)

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  4. JM,
    They're on the map. Kings at Dragon on Ongpin, hindi ba?
    Rod

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  5. Rod, there's another theater on Aurora Blvd. --- Broadway Centrum near St. Paul's College. Also Maya and Grand theaters along EDSA within the Cubao area, between New York st. and Aurora. Also, favor, can you emailed the revised map when you're done. Thanks!

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  6. Simon,
    Wow,so many theaters. Cubao was not really my bailiwick. My knowledge and the map came from conversations with friends who hang out there. But your logos and that map of Nation should help when I revise the map. As for Manila, that I definitely know. I will add however, Royal, in front of Tutuban, which is one of your logos, and I'll figure out where Radio Theater was, and looks like World is the name of the theater, not New World. And of course I will send it to you when I revise them. BTW just send me an email to rodolfo.samonte@gmail.com (also shown below) so I can get your email address again and send them directly to you.
    Rod

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  7. Rod, it was renamed as New World when the place was renovated.

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  8. does anybody know where the Inday theatre used to be located? also savoy theatre. may nakakaalam ba?

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  9. Rey,
    As I told Manny M., I think Inday Theater might have been renamed Illusion. Illusion is on the map just off Carriedo. However, I'm not sure. Maybe we can ask Dolphy, hahaha. He was here (LA) in person at the Kodak Theater last year with Helen Gamboa. Don't know where Savoy is, but Astor is on the map too, right in front of Santa Cruz Church. Astor was renamed 2 or 3 times, somebody sent me an email in that regard and forgot to take note of the older names. I'll check my emails.
    Rod

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  10. Nakakatuwa naman yung "Manila Gay" theater.

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  11. Actually, many people are now rushing to hunt these defunct cinemas and asking previous owners or residents living nearby even before because they are looking at a change to buy old memorabilia from these defunct places such as old posters, flyers, etc. - DJ of Cavite

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  12. So nostalgic, really worth remembering. I can arrange in order from Carriedo all the first-run moviehouses in the 50s and 60s along Rizal Avenue: Ideal (left), State (right), Ever (R), Dalisay (L), Universal (L), Avenue (L), then corner Claro M Recto, Odeon (R), Galaxy (L), Roxan (R). I hope someone can post the inaugural presentations in each of these theaters. I just know one: "Diamond Head" (Roxan).

    From Quiapo Church going to C M Recto: Main (R), Life (L), Globe (L), Boulevard (R), Center (L), Cinerama (L).

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  13. Simon
    Thank you for posting the logos and the articles of manila's first and second run movie houses.brought back a lot of good memories.we used to live at blumenttrit, sta cruz area and there were several 3rd run movie houses along avenida rizal.Noli theater,Manila theater,Lotus, Alegria, and Apollo theater.I remember Manila Theater very well.That was where my friend had his circumscion.needless to say the "pukpok method" done by the theater caretaker.hahaha.i forgot the old man's name though.

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  14. Yung Podmon ba ay LRT Recto station na ngayon? Sa may Odeon side ba sya o Dilson side? Saka saan banda sa Raon ang Esquire?

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  15. Thanks for sharing this valuable post, nice blog!

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  16. yun bang lords and jennet ang dating site nitong nabasa kong "dalisay" theater?

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