The First Cathay Cinema of Sibu

 Sibu actually had a Cathay Cinema built in the 1940's along Blacksmith Road. It belonged to my grandfather Tiong Kung Ping . In 1950, he sold the cinema to Dr. Chiu Nai Ding and partners who wished to collaborate with Shaw Brothers, so that they could earn money by showing Hong Kong Movies. In the 60's Sibu had a new Cathay Cinema, operated by the Cathay Organization of Singapore.

My grandfather sold the building lock stock and barrel. It was also because he wanted to buy two more shop houses for Grandma and their youngest son, according to a relative. He also built a new mansion in Sg. Merah, which we called House on the Hill Top, Kwong Ann Crescent. My grandmother held the property for years until she passed away in 1987. My Grandfather passed away in 1963. 

My aunts remembered that immediately after the war, the local young men organized a few troupes to come from Miri and Singapore. The troupes performed very well and many people came to watch . some of the tickets were only 50 cents. These were the mid 20th Century theatrical performances of South East Asia, with shits, costume plays, magical shows, songs and dances.

Photo shared by Chua Chong Hian, showing Cathay Cinema in the background. Boys Scouts of Sibu for the 50th Anniversary of the Sibu Foochow Settlement .

These shows were called Ren Xi (Human Show) 人戏 by the local Foochows.

The well made up actresses and actors attracted a lot of people. Singers and dancers were especially popular with the younger crowd. Sibu being a very small traditional and conservative town, such shows attracted a lot of attention.

Apart from the real live shows or performances, Hindi and Japanese movies were show. This was all before the Shaw Brothers and Cathay movies from Hong Kong.

When my parents were first married in 1948, they lived in one of the apartments on the left side of the building. A staircase rose from the ground floor to the first floor, next to the coffee shop named Liu Huong which is on the right side of the ground floor. For years my grandfather would drink his coffee at that coffee shop as he was very friendly with the towkay and the towkay neo.

When my grandfather thought that he was not making a lot of money from the rentals, he decided to sell off the property.