Madras/ Chennai theatres/ cinemas
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| + | This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.</div> | ||
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| + | =The first cinema halls of Madras= | ||
| + | ''' When theatres drew the young and old ''' | ||
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| + | Manish Raj, TNN | Aug 20, 2012 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/When-theatres-drew-the-young-and-old/articleshow/15563370.cms The Times of India ] | ||
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| + | CHENNAI: A caged tiger was at home in an artificial jungle around Chitra Theatre, nine horizontal lines representing the nine planets and 27 pentagonal designs for the 27 constellations appeased the heavens from Shanthi Theatre and a towering statue of lord Murugan blessed film-savvy devotees at the entrance of Murugan Theatre. | ||
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| + | In the summer of 1909, Swami Kannan Vincent arrived in Madras and laid the foundation of the movie business in the South as a supplier of film projectors. A year later, Warwick Major opened the first theatre in Madras in the present Philatelic Bureau on Mount Road, and it was titled Major Warwick Electric theatre. Soon, Gaiety Theatres in 1914 and Wellington in 1917 opened. | ||
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| + | New Elphinstone Theatre in 1916 was inaugurated by the governor general of Madras and it was one of the first theatres in India to raise funds for the World War I through its shows. It housed the most unusual indoor sport — a boxing ring where amateurs sparred. When the film bubble burst, it later became Elphinstone Soda fountain, which sold beverages. | ||
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| + | If you trace the root of multiplex theatres in India, the journey will end in Chennai. In the post independence period, places like Sapphire, Blue Diamond and Emerald - the first of its kind multiplex in India — drew a large crowd. "The Blue Diamond ran marathon shows from 9am to 12 midnight. It was the most happening place in old Madras," said actor Mohan V Raman. | ||
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| + | In the late 60s, Gaiety and Chitra were the haunt of the rich and famous of Madras. Uniformed bearers from Jaffer's (where Raheja Complex has sprung up) delivered snacks at the theatre. "Falooda was the food that found buyers and a visit to Gaiety or Chitra meant people had to stop at Jaffer's," said a member of the group. | ||
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| + | The surviving theatre edifices include Casino, which now awaits demolition. It was one of the first to be constructed in an Art Deco style. Shanthi Theatre, which ran to packed houses while screening most of Sivaji Ganesan's hits, is still in business and so is the adjacent theatre with spiraling stairs — Devi. Devi Theatre was the first in India to have four screens, having seating capacities of 1,300,1,200, 300 and 300. | ||
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| + | The first superstar of Carnatic music GN Balasubramaniam was charged with causing torrential rains in Madras, which caused a section of wall in Paragon Theatres to collapse on December 5 1946. This tragedy was blamed on the rain-invoking ragas of the maestro that played out during the screening of Rukmangada. GNB acted and lent h | ||
Revision as of 14:25, 17 August 2014
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.
|
The first cinema halls of Madras
When theatres drew the young and old
Manish Raj, TNN | Aug 20, 2012 The Times of India
CHENNAI: A caged tiger was at home in an artificial jungle around Chitra Theatre, nine horizontal lines representing the nine planets and 27 pentagonal designs for the 27 constellations appeased the heavens from Shanthi Theatre and a towering statue of lord Murugan blessed film-savvy devotees at the entrance of Murugan Theatre.
In the summer of 1909, Swami Kannan Vincent arrived in Madras and laid the foundation of the movie business in the South as a supplier of film projectors. A year later, Warwick Major opened the first theatre in Madras in the present Philatelic Bureau on Mount Road, and it was titled Major Warwick Electric theatre. Soon, Gaiety Theatres in 1914 and Wellington in 1917 opened.
New Elphinstone Theatre in 1916 was inaugurated by the governor general of Madras and it was one of the first theatres in India to raise funds for the World War I through its shows. It housed the most unusual indoor sport — a boxing ring where amateurs sparred. When the film bubble burst, it later became Elphinstone Soda fountain, which sold beverages.
If you trace the root of multiplex theatres in India, the journey will end in Chennai. In the post independence period, places like Sapphire, Blue Diamond and Emerald - the first of its kind multiplex in India — drew a large crowd. "The Blue Diamond ran marathon shows from 9am to 12 midnight. It was the most happening place in old Madras," said actor Mohan V Raman.
In the late 60s, Gaiety and Chitra were the haunt of the rich and famous of Madras. Uniformed bearers from Jaffer's (where Raheja Complex has sprung up) delivered snacks at the theatre. "Falooda was the food that found buyers and a visit to Gaiety or Chitra meant people had to stop at Jaffer's," said a member of the group.
The surviving theatre edifices include Casino, which now awaits demolition. It was one of the first to be constructed in an Art Deco style. Shanthi Theatre, which ran to packed houses while screening most of Sivaji Ganesan's hits, is still in business and so is the adjacent theatre with spiraling stairs — Devi. Devi Theatre was the first in India to have four screens, having seating capacities of 1,300,1,200, 300 and 300.
The first superstar of Carnatic music GN Balasubramaniam was charged with causing torrential rains in Madras, which caused a section of wall in Paragon Theatres to collapse on December 5 1946. This tragedy was blamed on the rain-invoking ragas of the maestro that played out during the screening of Rukmangada. GNB acted and lent h
