Kwong Chee Theatre / 廣智戲院 [1919-1968]

Submitted by OldTimer on Fri, 01/27/2017 - 11:31

Current condition

Demolished / No longer exists

Date completed

1 Jul 1919

Date closed / demolished

1 Apr 1968

Kwong Chee Theatre (廣智戲院), reported to be the first theatre built in Kowloon, has an interesting history (please see sources listed below). Today, the ground where the theatre once stood has undergone significant changes since it was demolished in 1968.

May I refer to the 1956 Kowloon road map which David has skillfully superimposed on the current road map. Back then, there was a simple intersection where Kansu Street (running east-west) meets Temple Street (running north-south). The theatre was located on the northwest corner. Following the closing of the theatre, the area has undergone changes - streets realigned and a multi-purpose building housing a library (entrance on Shanghai Street), carpark, community centre, and, amazingly, a wide two-lane roadway allowing traffic to drive through it at a height two levels above ground.

Seating capacity: 365

Address: Kansu Street at Temple Street, northwest corner, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Wikipedia source lists its address at 7 Kansu Street "位於甘肅街七號".

The theatre operated during the period 1919 - April 1968, except for a temporary suspension during WWII. The building was demolished in July 1968. For the purpose of this page, the opening date is assumed to be July 1, 1919. Indeed, it was not only the earliest theatre in Kowloon, it has also outlasted many other theatres.

Sources: