Yau Ma Tei Theatre [1930- ]

Submitted by David on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 19:01
Current condition
In use
Date completed

There's a good overview of this old cinema building at in this document: "HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT OF YAUMATEI THEATRE AND RED BRICK BUILDING"

In Raymond Lo's article (link below), he gives the opening date as 14th June, 1930.

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In its declining years Yau Ma Tei theatre was reduced to screening mostly pornographic movies.

My sister in law told me that two enterprising gentlemen were reported in the press at the time as parking their van just outside the theatre. When the theatre patrons emerged they were approached by one of these gentlemen to be told that a young lady's services were available inside the van.

If the offer was accepted the client climbed aboard and the van was then driven around the block a few times until the, er,  'transaction' was completed.

As a business plan this succeeded because, of course, it avoided having to pay for expensive property rentals.

The charge for this service was very reasonable and, according to the newspaper report, for 'an extra $20, the driver wore white gloves'!