Sibu Tales : Going to the Movies

The Lido Cinema in the olden days provided ventilation with air vents on the sides of the walls. When the films were shown many boys were able to climb through these air vents, thus watching movies free of chrage.

When the lights went off and the film started, the ticketing personnel were not bothered any more who entered the cinema without tickets.

Many boys were also able to sneak into the cinema by holding onto the sleaves of older women especially. The door man would think that they were the children or grand children. Adults were allowed to bring in two sometimes even three children with only one ticket.

Another way of watching movies in olden days Sibu was to buy a cheap ticket and when the lights went out, a boy would climb up to the more expensive section and enjoy the movie.

Cinemas in the olden days were really stuffy without air conditioning. Clothes smelled of cigarettes so mothers would know where their kids went and of course they would get the rattan.

But all the suffering was supposed bearable to these naughty kids.

Those were the days. Youngeters would do anything to catch a movie.