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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright January 2024
Growing up in the charming town of Alor Setar, Kedah, during the 1960s marked an era where Empire Theatre held the spotlight, drawing in the youth for affordable matinées on weekends until the arrival of Cathay cinema. As the younger generation flocked to Cathay, Empire became a haven for the older crowd, indulging in Malay and Bollywood films.
Nostalgia recently took hold when an old classmate unearthed a photograph from the 1950s, capturing Empire Theatre during the screening of "Anakku Sazali" (Sazali, My Son). Directed and written by Phani Majumdar in 1956, this Singaporean Malay-language black-and-white melodrama showcased the talents of Tan Sri P. Ramlee portrayed both the mature father character, Hassan, and the spoiled son, Sazali. The film, delving into themes of love, dreams, and paternal love, remained a timeless favourite among P. Ramlee enthusiasts.
The photograph revealed more than just cinematic memories. Positioned at the bottom extreme right was a glimpse of a stall selling drinks, once owned by the late Pak Dollah, the father of an old classmate. Proudly raising his children by selling iced drinks in a time when carbonated alternatives were scarce, Pak Dollah's legacy intertwined with the golden age of Empire Theatre.
My personal connection with Empire Theatre was fleeting, venturing there only once in my life. The magnetic pull was the screening of "Rebel Without a Cause," featuring my beloved actor, James Dean. His charismatic portrayal resonated with us, imprinting the concept of the "Chikie Run" in our minds. Though lacking cars, we replicated our hero's audacious exploits on bicycles, navigating any slope we could find in the flat terrain of Alor Setar, surrounded by verdant padi fields.
In retrospect, those days embodied a simpler life, where a trip to the local theatre held the promise of cinematic magic, and James Dean stood as a hero whose rebellious spirit echoed through the carefree adventures of youth. As time marches on, the memories of Empire Theatre, P. Ramlee's classics and the indelible influence of James Dean serve as cherished relics of an era when life was less complicated and heroes were found on the silver screen.
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