Old Bastakia
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Old Bastakia
Going to the movies was an event for Expatriates in Dubai as it used to be. Most movies shown in these old Cinemas originated in the Indian Sub Contintent, Egypt or Lebanon. That is not to say Western Movies were never shown - they were but not as frequently and not always the latest movies. These Cinemas provided entertainment which was in short supply in the 60s, 70s and the 80s.
My memories of Dubai's old Cinemas were prompted by an Email from an Emirati writing a PhD Thesis about Film in the UAE and asking about old Cinemas in Dubai as it used to be.
So here are my recollections of Dubai's Cinemas as they used to be. .
This Open Air Cinema was located on Jumeirah Beach Road where Magrudy's Mall is today. Built in 1960s, Jumeirah Cinema was apparently operated by Dubai Petroleum Company. It initially showed a mix of western and Indian film. Later this cinema catered solely for Sub Continent Workers arriving in Dubai for Port Rashid's construction. This small complex included a Cafe and a Supermarket. Tim Nichols recalls his visits to Jumeirah Cinema HERE. Jumeirah Cinema complex was demolished in the early 1970s making way for modern Shopping Malls.
Showed both Hindi Films and Western Movies. Became as a landmark both as a Cinema and for directions e.g.behind the Strand Cinema, next to the Strand Cinema, opposite the Strand Cinema etc. Strand Cinema has closed but still seems to be used as a traffic marker!
Deira Cinema was the first Dubai Cinema I visited in 1971. Located on Al Jazira Road, Deira Cinema was a popular venue. There were two seating choices - sit upstairs, pay more but have reasonably comfortable seats and buy ice cream or a drink from the Attendant in the Interval (there was always an Interval) OR pay less, sit downstairs on uncomfortable seats amongst an all male audience and buy a Seven Up in the Interval. 7Up Sellers each carried a crate of cold 7Up bottles on their shoulders. They ran their metal bottle openers backwards and forwards over the bottles creating an incredibly and unforgetably loud noise to attract customers. That "7Up" sound is indelibly etched on my memory - I can hear it now!
Dubai's first Cinema. This Open Air Cinema was located next to Jashanmal's first Dubai Store and Al Nasr Trading Company's store in the middle of a traffic roundabout. Al Watan Cinema was demolished in the 1970s to make way for new developments.
Located on Mugarrabat Traffic Roundabout near to the old Dubai Traffic Police Headquarters. Showed a mix of Western and Hindi films. Cinema was well furnished and popular, particularly its cafe. Car parking was always problem.
Opened in 1972 and was Dubai's first "modern" cinema. Cinema was large and furnished in an "opulent" style for its time. I can recall seeing Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" in a special showing at the Plaza Cinema around 1972. All the seats were sold, perhaps oversold as there were people sitting on the stairways! The film started late and, with two long intervals, finished in the early hours of the next morning. An unforgetable evening! Later Plaza Cinema also presented stage shows and underwent a revamp but in 2011 the cinema finally closed to make way for new developments.
Al Ghurair's Shopping Centre, Dubai's first Shopping Mall, opened in 1982 complete with a cinema which showed both Western and Hindi films. The Shopping Centre and its Cinema soon became popular with Dubai Residents.
Hyatt Regency Hotel was built on reclaimed beachfront land in Deira in the 1970s. The adjacent Hyatt Regency Galleria Apartments were built soon afterwards including an ice rink and a cinema primarily catering for Residents of the Galleria Apartments.
Al Nasr Cinema located near Al Nasr Roundabout and Pyramids Shopping Mall was a popular cinema showing a mix of Western and Hindi movies. It opened in the early 1980s (I think!) but closed in 2007 pending redevelopment of the area. Al Nasr Cinema burned to the ground in December 2008.
Image is of the derelict Ahmadi Cinema in Kuwait which resembled Dubai's Rex Cinema
Gary Crossman asks "Does anyone remember the Rex Drive-In Cinema opposite Mirdiff Interchange on the Khawanij Road? It had flexible piped air-conditioning you had to hang on your window to keep cool together with the Speaker."
I vaguely recall seeing a derelict open air "drive in" cinema just past Dubai Airport in the 1970s. I cannot find any historical reference to this cinema. There were similar open air drive in Cinemas opening in Kuwait and Bahrain. Maybe the Rex Drive In was just ahead of its time! Any information anyone has on the old Rex Cinema or any of Dubai's old Cinemas will be welcomed!
www.Dubaiasitusedtobe.com |