The first one is Lillian Theatre. I'm told that this was THE theatre in Kuching during its hey days, which was probably way before we were born. Ask your parents or older relatives about it.
The next picture is one some of you might remember. It is the old St Joseph's Cathedral, constructed in 1891 and demolished in 1969 after the new cathedral was built. The location of this classic old building is where the church bell tower now stands.
xxx
If you are interested in viewing pictures of the new St Joseph's Cathedral, check out the blog of Daniel Liew, a fellow Kuchingite. This new cathedral was consecrated on 19 March 1969 (The feast day of St Joseph) by the late Bishop Charles Reiterer, Vicar Apostolic of Kuching. It underwent major renovation and extension works in 1994.
Next we have a shot of the original St Joseph's School building. I reckon that the current main administrative block is an basically an extension of this structure.
And the following photo is of the Sarawak Steamship Company building, along Main Bazaar. It was built in 1930, and previously served as the offices and warehouse of the Sarawak Steamship company. These days, I think the structure houses some eateries and a convenience store.
Well, that's it for now. If I come across any more old photos of Kuching buildings, I'll add them on. And in the meantime, if you guys and gals find any in your dusty archives, do scan them in and send to me.
xxxx
Posts
Good historical piece for future remembrance, WJ. Will search thruogh my albums to see if I have more that I can send to you to add. i hope other will do same.
ReplyDeleteDoes someone have pictures of
ReplyDelete(1) the old Odean building
(2) old Swee Hua cinema on Satok
(3) Ang Cheng Ho building (before it was blown up)
(4) the old Borneo Company building, at the site of today's Hilton Kuching ?
how about the old St Mike club and canteen?
ReplyDeleteThe old mosque would also be a good picture to find.
ReplyDeleteWJ,
ReplyDeleteThe "tau kay niow" at Rajah Brooke Cafe in KL had a few old photos of buildings hanging up at the cafe wall.
She said they sell old photos at the Satok market for "qui chap koh" per piece.
At Anna Studio they also have photos of old buildings..gotta check next trip home.
Today workers were tearing the roof of the Old Chai Pasar at Gambier Street..photos on the way
Hi....WJ
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get that picture of Lillian Theatre. Do you know the site where the theatre was. Was it where the "Old" state building is, near the KCH padang? What is the "old" state building used for now? Anyone got a picture of how the KCH padang used to be? When I was a teeny wee lad, I used to catch fish in the small streams around the padang as well as playing on it. I remembered playing rounders, marbles (gullies), thief and robbers, etc at the padang. Hey, those were the innocent childhood days. No worries, no homework (what homework!!!), although I used to get cane from my dad when I got home late, missing meals or in dirty clothing. LOL. Then there was the fountain with lights on the other side of the padang. Used to be busy with courting couples during the evenings.
Wow John,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be a "naughty" boy, playing with gun and marbles.
Where did you stay? You must be staying near the padang. Do you mean the Central padang.Yes..now that you mention, i remember that fountain at the corner..
I also remembered i "kena" canning from my Dad too..yes, girls are also not spared.
My parents used to go and watched the 2nd show.One day when my grandmother came down from Sri Aman, my Dad decided to go and watch the movie.I insisted that i wanted to tag along too..Since the show was going to end late and we kids had to go school the next day,he refused.
I think i must have cried and being the stubborn cow, i thought i was going to get my way..he canned me and i run..those days i could run..i run across to my grand uncle house next door and my Dad chased and he stepped on dog shit!! He was not wearing shoes at that time..
Of course he caught up with me and he locked me up in the toilet.I got bored and i pulled the flash thingy continously even before the water had filled in..he got no choice but released me from the toilet and i "kena" canned again!!
I must have cried to sleep that night and the adults also didn't get to see the movie cos he was so sorry he applied oilment on my back.Boy,was my bum sore..I still remember that incident very well and still relate the story to my children....
Yes..those carefree childhood days...
Hahaha....we cannot cane our kids these days, they would call the police or report to Social Services (that's in UK!!!).
ReplyDeleteHey, LK, I even had a choice of canes to be caned!!!. When I was in trouble and if my dad decided to cane me, he would bring out different thickness of canes and I had to select one and get the punishment. How cruel!!! probably deserving it. LOL. There was one occasion that my brother was in trouble and was due for canning but he ran out instead and my dad chased after him with an umbrella and whilst running, he leaped on a count of three and the umbrella flew under him!!!, cos' he would not be able to catch up with him, it worked but upon his return later and he had extra lashes of cane.
Yes, I was a bit naughty then but soon wise up after more canning, can't say that I cried whilst getting the cane but only crocodile ones so that he would take pity on me. Bless him, he soon got tired of us.
I was a town boy and my parents used to have the infamous "Corner Shop" at Gartak Street, opposite the open air market and Electra House. Have you ever shop there?
To all interested in the final days of the Gambier Road market structures (earmarked to be demolished, for those who don't know), you might want to reminisce by viewing the website
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etawau.com/HTML/Kuching/Gambier_Street.htm
For the actual pictures depicting the historic tearing down of the market roof today, we await the priceless photos from our special on-the-scene correspondent & photographer, Ms Lee Kien.
John,
ReplyDeleteSo which cane did you choose? If memory served me right the thickness is the least painful.I think they sell those rottan ones those days..
I don't remember ever wailing whilst been canned, but trying to hide those red lashes in school was tough..i don't remember my siblings been canned though. My youngest brother sttod in naughty corners many a time.
Ah, corner shop...yes we used to go there while we were kids..for ribbons, threads, buttons and stuff.I went to open air with my siblings on Sat and we did walked around the place as we parked in the multi-storey carpark nearby.
Took pictures around corner shop but there are selling drinks now.. My sister even remarked she misses Corner Shop..Ha! never spoted you before,perhaps you were out catching fishes in the "longkang"!!
WJ,
ReplyDeleteHave to wait for down loading. By special assignment and unusual circumstances i have an extra day tommorrow to capture the complete demolision of the Wet Market at Gambier Road.
Btw, i kena sun burnt today due to the special assignment..so probably suffered the after effects, thought today is 23th June Hehe!!
Hi..LK
ReplyDeleteYou were right about choosing the thicker ones, I suppose it spread the pain than the thinner ones.
Liak hu in lonkang was during my pre teen years. Our path may have crossed many times but you were not interested in boys then so you would not have noticed me, a scrawny little boy then but very fit. I used to have lots of fun working at my parents shop especially during the periods leading to Chinese New Year, Hari Puasa, Gawai and Christmas because there were lots of people buying cards and presents to wrap and I am still very good a wrapping odd shapes items and chatting to shoppers, esp. the female ones!!!.
So what is to become of the old wet market and I heard about the closure of the Brooke Dockyard to make way for a Waterfront Hotel. Can anyone confirm this? So with all these changes to revitalise the area, who knows it may lead to revamping those buildings around the Cathay cinema. Hey, LK, have you got a reporter AAA pass which allows you to access all areas to take photos!!!! LOL. Something that just come to my mind (very dangerous) and had to share with you. Since most of us are either already 50 or nearing 50, why not WJ bury a box or a time capsule in a "secret location" and to dig it up in 25 years time. Why didn't we thought of that 30 years ago!!!!. LOL
Aha, a "time capsule" sounds intriguing. Let's discuss how this can be done.
ReplyDeleteThe old cathedral looked so good. It had real character. They should've built another just like it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the time capsule, in this day and age, guess it will have to be a virtual capsule. Am sure the guys at Cisco can think of something ...
WJ
ReplyDeleteLooks like you may be too late to make the owners of Cathay Cinema an offer.
With the impending developments, the surrounding areas will be the "Orchard Road of Spore"
Wah, really LK? And I had my Donald Duck all ready too! Who's behind the project? All may not be lost. Sometimes proposed projects like these need to go thru a few iterations of twists and turns before something materialises ...
ReplyDeleteJohn - the time capsule idea is good, but I'm not sure we shd wait 25 years to open it. Never know, some of us may not be around for that ... a suggestion for consideration is that we create 3 capsules - one to open in 10 yrs, another 20 yrs, another 30 yrs .. that way, chances are most of us will experience at least one if not two openings :)
ReplyDeleteWJ - Good idea about the three period capsule. If those involved in this proposed concealment is not around by then, it could be passed down to their children to be present and witness the "digging up" ceremony.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few things to consider and how we are going to achieve this project. Here's my suggestion:
1. Select a "capsule", usually a metal box, say about an A4 size
2. What items to put in - usually momento, photos, daily newpaper, magazine or a printout from one of your blogs, favourite can of beer, packet of crisp, maybe your donald duck saving box, some currency from all over the world, etc
3. Select a site to bury the capsule - this can be a public location, someone's garden, park, golf course, cemetery, allotment, at SJS or STS grounds, etc
4. Nominate a custodian and deputy, preferrably local in KCH. What we do with all items retrieved eventually can be kept by the nominated custodian or may be in a museum!!!
5. Select an auspicious date for the burying and agree on dates of "opening"
6. On the date of "burying" may coincide with a gathering or reunion of friends. Plenty of food and drinks to celebrate
7. Keep a log of everything, LK can be the photographer/reporter
8. .......and there you have it. An "Old" friends' capsule
Plus any other suggestions from all contributors of your blogs.
Fun, fun, fun
Burying the capsule is not a good idea. With the pace of development, in 10 years, there could be a new building on top of the capsule! Plus, the damp underground could wreak havoc with whatever you bury.
ReplyDeleteI still reckon you could have a virtual capsule in cyberspace, guarded by an unbreakable password known only to WJ and another 2 guardians. Doable, WJ?
This weekend, I shall drive around and go sample some of the best foods in Kuching - just to take pics for the blog. It's a dirty job but someone has to do it LOL.
Beautiful. that is the old SJS Cathedral. I recall a chat with William Chan (maths teacher) whereby he expessed disappointment with the late Fr. Muhren for pulling down the old building. I am not so sure that the very much loved Fr. Muhren was resposible and I told WC so but he maintained that his stance.
ReplyDeleteLeo
IMHO, a virtual time capsule is easier to do but not as interesting cos u can't put in any real stuff, like souvenirs of the time or coins or tangible things.
ReplyDeleteHello George, don't forget to take your Aspirin and Statin with you on your dirty job this weekend. Yeah, do take lots of pics for the blog. And, of course, you can fly your personal Physician back (a business class seat will do) to accompany and resuscitate you should you overindulge.
ReplyDeleteJohn> accordiing to my dad,Lillian Theatre was at or around the current Cathay location.
ReplyDeleteWJ,
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled onto a picture of Ang Cheng Ho building being demolished with explosives, probably the first time they use explosives to blow up a building.Check http://www.catscity.com.my/modules/xcgal/index.php?cat=8
There is also a picture of the Capital Cinema-don't know where it was
Lee Kien> You don't know where Capitol was ? Goodness me, what were you doing in your school days? Studying all the time? Really ? LOL
ReplyDeleteCapitol was at the location of present Tun Jugah complex. However the front of Capitol faced the opposite direction, i.e. the Padungan Road side.
WJ,
ReplyDeleteBuilding looks familiar but still cannot re-call.I have to endure many cannings before going to cinema once so may be deeply tramatised!! Haha!! Mind totally blocked when it come to cinemas maybe
Hi..JY
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information on The Lillian Theatre although I am not sure that was the location. Can your dad recall what was the building before the "Old" State building was build in it's place, the one opposite the central padang?
Thinking back to our old teen days, most of us boys had bikes and cycle to most places, i.e to school, cinemas, going out, calling on friends' house, even to Matang and many other places. What and how do our sisters go about doing such activities, I wonder. LK? I guess only a small number of you use bikes to do that, too faminine to do?, using buses? may be chauffeured by your parents? We used to cycled for miles and thought nothing of it. Good old days. Over a few years, I had a number of bikes to replace ones that was stolen. I remembered I had a "cobra" sport bike (the boys will know the type I meant, fashionable at the time)and it was stolen when I was attending our SJS school play in the evening and that was the last bike my dad bought for me. Mind you I ended up starting to use my brother's motorbike!.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteYes, JY's dad is correct. Lillian Theatre was at Cathay Cinema location.
Sylvia cinema was located where the old state secretariat building is.
The old secretariat building is occupied by Yaysan Sarawak(Sarawak Foundation)
John> There was also another cinema at the spot of the old Secretariat or "State" building opposite the central padang. This cinema was called "Sylvia".
ReplyDeleteMy old man still believes "Lillian" theatre was at the Cathay location. Actually I learnt something else ... don't know if you remember in St Joe Primary school, there was a (very strict) teacher caled Miss Lillian Chong. Well, her family was pretty wealthy in those days & her father Augustine Chong built the cinema and named it after his daughter.
Jimmy, the Tun Jugah Complex has two entrances. I think the front entrance faces Padungan Road as it has a small drive-in to drop people off. So I would say that the Capitol cinema faced the same direction as TJC faces now.
ReplyDeleteJust feel like being picky after being on my feet cross-examining witnesses for the last 2 days in Court. ;-)
John,
ReplyDeleteWe girls used to cycle too. One bike i remembered was the Raleigh Red Mini Bike.I think it cost a princely sum those days and it was much treasured. It was shared between my sister and we used to fight over who get to use.I always end up giving way to her.
We only cycled in the afternoons for our activities, sports practice and tuition.
On one occasion i cycled to Ellis road to attend Maths tuition.On the way home i took the short cut through the hospital.There was a downward slope and it was raining heavily.I had an umbrella on one hand and then..i had a bright spark..i positioned the open umbrella 45 degress downwards,to gain maximum momentum.I CRASHED!!!But no serious injuries save for a few bruises.
I thought i was smart! I ceremorily picked myself and continued riding home without telling anybody..Hehe!!
Hi..Robert/JY
ReplyDeleteThanks, I remembered that now, once you mentioned the name Sylvia, cos' I knew there was a cinema then before the "State" building. BTW, the strict school teacher, was she the one with glasses, dark frame and quite "big" in size (from a primary student view point).
Oops, my legal counsel, being a Kuching dweller, must be right ... I admit I never used the other entrance to TJC, and always thought the one facing Sarawak Plaza was the main entrance :-)
ReplyDeleteJohn> Yes, I believe that was the teacher in question.
ReplyDeleteI remember Ms Chong well. Yes she was quite a big lady and was feared as she also had a booming voice. She also wore the black thick rimmed fashionable goggles that JY, GL and a couple others later sported. In fact, JY is adamant that they'll come back into fashion! However she was always very nice to me. My late dad used to donate his prized orchids towards the school fund raising funfairs. Those usually ended as 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in the raffle. Whatever happened to these funfairs?
ReplyDeleteOh, ya, I forgot about how skillful the cyclists were at the time, when it was raining and able to cycle and holding an umbrella at the same time. I think I braved the rain rather than holding an umbrella. Fancy doing that now (or then even), if there is a storm c/w with lightning, perfect instrument for a lightning strike, especially on those with spikes on the end. LOL. Mind you, I have seen pictures of those from China or India, the amount of stuff they carry whilst on their bikes!!!!!. Hey, LK, I am sure there were lots of things that we all did and never tell anyone. I had a few and will be with me to my grave, those stupid deeds, embarrasing moments/actions, etc.....
ReplyDeleteI'd like to expand this collection of old photos of Kuching. If any of you come across any interesting ones, can you scan them in & send to me? I'm also told that somewhere at Satok (and I'm sure other places too), one can buy old photos of Kuching. Can someone check that out too ?
ReplyDeleteJaga, be careful what you wish for......
ReplyDeleteHehehe .. that sounds familiar, Leo
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how to get a copy (even a photocopy) of the book "A History of St Joseph’s School Kuching 1882–1994" written and published by the late Brother Hilary McGroary ?
ReplyDeleteWJ,
ReplyDeleteSJS Diamond Jubilee Magazine 1894-1954 carries an article " A Brief Historial Sketch Of St Joseph's School.I have 2 original copies and another copy they reproduced in 1993.
Centenary Issue 1882-1982 also carries an article "A Brief History Of St Joseph's School Kuching 1882-1982. I also have a copy!!.
There are enough materials to cover a month's posts.Hehe!!
Sounds like she's looking for a bribe, Jimmy. Go dig out your best bottle of red. LOL.
ReplyDeleteone bottle of Penfold Red coming up !!! :-)
ReplyDeleteWJ,
ReplyDeleteReal bottle i hope, not virtual one ok?..
Occasionally in life you get something you don't ask for and it's given to you anyways..and this is one such occasion..
Tks George,tks in advance WJ...you guys made my day!!!
Cheers!!!!
Wow!! Thanks for posting these up!! i love old pics :D
ReplyDeletemy brother just got married in St Jo Cathedral on 09.09.09 and I was looking for old pics of the cathedral to show some of my colleagues at Nielsen.
Mill Hill block of St Joseph's School is part of the old admin building, i was told :) it's nice that they made it a heritage building of sorts when I was studying there.
here's from St Teresa's class of '98! :) Thanks for the pics again, Mr. Yong :)
Glad you enjoyed the posting, Diana. Do continue to visit and give your comments.
ReplyDelete