Star Theatre, TST [1922-1961]

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 21:02
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
Date closed / demolished
Later place(s) at this location
Sands Theatre, TST [1963-1980]

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1920s Star Theatre
1925
1925 star theatre
1925
1927
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The Star Theatre opened to business on 1st June, 1922, and closed on 1st December, 1961.

The theatre had a stage, and in the 1920's, it was a venue for stage performances in the Kowloon Peninsula.

After the end of World War II, the theatre was expropriated by the British Armed Forces, and programmes were arranged by the Combined Services Entertainment.

The theatre was returned to its owner in August 1947.

The Sands Theatre was built on the site of the Star Theatre.

After the Sands theatre was demolished, a commercial building was built on the site.

And so were most theatres that existed in the 60's-70's. Movie business weren't money maker when comparing to the profit landowners can get from redeveloping the sites.

i'm pretty sure that the sands theatre was on the corner of peking and ashley roads - went many times - although i cant find any address for it.  there is a building there called sands building which could have been its replacement?

As Raymond Lo posted: The theatre had a stage, and in the 1920's, it was a venue for stage performances in the Kowloon Peninsula.  

A Cuckoo in the Nest 1929
A Cuckoo in the Nest 1929, by Klaus

The lost texture refers:

Star Theatre is a two-storey building with its main entrance on No. 17 Hankow Road, with a tower structure built on top of the southern end of the building facing Peking Road.

The Star Theatre was constructed in 1920 from the material of the old Victoria Theatre standing in Des Voeux Road Central until that year. Most of the masonry, timber and steel were transported across the Victoria Harbor and reassembled in practically the same form.

This can be seen easily:

1919 Victoria Theatre
1919 Victoria Theatre, by eternal1966c1
1920s Star Theatre
1920s Star Theatre, by Moddsey

“KOWLOON EXPERIMENT

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PLAYS FOR THE PENINSULA.

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By way of an experiment to test the demand for good plays amongst the people of the Peninsula the Courtneidge-Holloway Company is to go across next week to Kowloon where three of the best pieces in the Company’s repertoire are to be put on at the Star Theatre. Besides paying a dollar less for his dress circle seat the Kowloon theatre goer will have the advantage of the Star’s first class orchestra to while away the intervals which have necessarily to be allowed for. If next week’s venture meets with enough support to justify it similar fixtures will be arranged with touring companies visiting Hongkong in future.

“The Second Mrs. Tanqueray” will be the Company’s opening piece at the Star on Monday night. It will be followed by “Abraham Lincoln” on Tuesday and by “The Bat” on Wednesday night. Prices are $3, $2 and $1, and booking is at Moutrie’s and the Star Ferry.”

Source: The China Mail, page 7, 19th May 1923 and The Hong Kong Telegraph, page 4, 19th May 1923