They were both closed in the early 1990s. At that time cineplex still did not exist, and there were still crowds at cinema at popular places back then. But then suddenly the cinemas closed down. What were the reason? Some said got fire, some said got ghost, what was the real story actually?

Got alien..

I only know the chap fan at top floor is the best

Many lauk choices

U got go to that cinema before?

Hit by vcd? Wait what year is vcd

This post has been edited by lj0000: Apr 30 2025, 07:11 AM

bts no more cinema too.

The cinemas closed down before vcd appeared in the market. vcd should be around 1997 onward, not cheap at the beginning either, more expensive than a few tickets.

ppl put needle lace wif hiv

This post has been edited by poco loco: Apr 30 2025, 07:28 AM

President ? Lol?
Sap kok while movie

Tak ada wang

salahan TS go report playing midnight movie.

Piracy at its best … kill alot cinemas back then

then is the vhs era

place look like shit u dun close down bring shame to the rest of the golden triangle area.

there was another cinema there

why need to go cinema when can just go chap fan stall, eat chap fan and order countless 'shuet cha'and binge watching stephen chow movies at food court.

Wah... this must be old timer > 50 yrs old.

Its hard to survive for smaller cinemas like President Cinema and Sg Wang Cinema during that time .. Malaysia is shifting towards huge corporations like Tanjong (TGV) and Golden Harvest (GSC) entering the scene and introducing multiplex format

Even not so small Cathay is gobbled up due to the two behemoth.
Other smaller independent cinemas is either shutdown or being acquired by the big two.

This post has been edited by Stigonboard: Apr 30 2025, 08:20 AM

Old KL cinema that died

1. Pavilion (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
2. Cathay (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
3. President (Sungeiwang)
4. Rex (Chinatown)
5. Starlight (Pudu)
6. Lido (Brickfield)
7. SungeiWang (Sungeiwang)
8. Odeon (Sogo/Jln TAR)

Anymore?

Because if got new mall, cinema always move to new mall

the cinema CLOSED DOWN long before TGV and GSC was opened

first tgv bukit raja klang 1995

first gsc multiplex midvalley 1999

Didnt even know sg wang had cinema.

But then it will be very small.

Old KL cinema that died

1. Pavilion (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
2. Cathay (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
3. President (Sungeiwang)
4. Rex (Chinatown)
5. Starlight (Pudu)
6. Lido (Brickfield)
7. SungeiWang (Sungeiwang)
8. Odeon (Sogo/Jln TAR)
9. Majestic (Pudu)
10. Madras (Petaling Street)
11. Golden City (Jalan Ipoh)

GSC & TGV killed those small Cinema.

Tanjong and Golden Harvest are already gobbling up smaller cinemas way before. They have money, reach and resource and can control movie distribution deals. Smaller cinemas and independent screen closing left and right during this time.

‘TGV’ that you mentioned is a rebrand after Village Australia came as a partner and the new format and branding launched in 1995.

Golden Harvest already operating and a major player since late 80s and they became bigger after gobbling up Shaw Cinemas.
They only become ‘GSC’ after they acquired Cathay branches.

ya now i remember that

those were the trend back then. cineplex. youngster went to newer and cleaner cinema in shopping malls. unfortunately old cinema like in sg wang is kinda old school, shabby , u can even smoke inside lulz

This post has been edited by JimbeamofNRT: Apr 30 2025, 08:56 AM

TGV 1 U or Bukit Raja first?

I always thought 1 U was earlier. Maybe early 1995? Late 94?

1. Pavilion (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
2. Cathay (Jln BB opposite Federal Hotel)
3. President (Sungeiwang)
4. Rex (Chinatown)
5. Starlight (Pudu)
6. Lido (Brickfield)
7. SungeiWang (Sungeiwang)
8. Odeon (Sogo/Jln TAR)
9. Majestic (Pudu)
10. Madras (Petaling Street)
11. Golden City (Jalan Ipoh)
12. Federal Cinema (Chow Kit)
13. Capitol (Chow Kit) both Federal and Capitol next to each other, Federal mainly Hollywood movies and Capitol, HK movies
14. Odeon (Kepong)
15. Pavillion (Kepong)

where got early 90s. I still go at middle 90s. i still remember because i start going to sg wang around form 4 and 5 around middle 90s. i went to that cinema before. 2 cinema, left and right. damn big and 2 floors. if not hit shows, the crowd is damn sad to fill such big cinema

This post has been edited by chinteck79: Apr 30 2025, 09:01 AM

ppl go sg wang to play video games , y u still go to their dingy cinema?

was there on 1st week opening. full like f. cant get tickets. everyone was so excited since it is a brand new experience, new concept compared to the old cinema.

not that it is a new concept lah , cinema in the mall already exist back then, central market kl got their own cinema, even Kotaraya, Pertama Complex also got.

one utama I start go I think in 96. that time ikea not yet open at the old wing.

This post has been edited by JimbeamofNRT: Apr 30 2025, 09:07 AM

Didn't know sg Wang had cinema before

This post has been edited by ahhann: Apr 30 2025, 09:07 AM

as i remember it's quite ok not as dingy as the photo. perhaps the photo is during opening and maybe got renovated. last time school days dating if not go cinema is hang out mcdonald. no car no transport. then girls dont like follow u go video game arcade. not 18 yr old sometimes arcade don't let in.

lulz... dingy lar, u dont remember the stupid seats was like this kah back then?



ya i remember the mcdee at the ground floor. next to kfc. was one of the busiest mcdee in town back then.



last time the video game arcade can smoke one.

used to have ice skating rink too bro

u look back is dingy now. but before tgv and gsc, those are the norms. at least it's better than those cathay or shaw cinema outside. old days hang out places are not like nowadays. last time only can go pudu plaza, kotaraya, sinma, sg wang, lot 10 too high end. kid now will laugh at those places now

i know got roller skate ring, very famous and crowded but closed in the 90s too

I think they converted part of it to the new concert area ( Megastar Arena ) https://www.megastararena.com/

ya those were the norms back then. but still prefer cineplex back then, price almost the same.

those standalone cathay/shaw got 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class ticket. remember?

pudu plaza ? that place is full of old folks

where u stay last time?

TGV 1 Utama - 19 October 1995

TGV Bukit Raja - 30 November 1995



https://www.reddit.com/r/malaysia/comments/...e_now/#lightbox

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but one thing for sure, first time u can choose seat in real time

not that u cant choose seat last time at the old cinema, but last time it depends on the cashier's mood. sometimes if they are in bad mood they will simply put you near front seat really ccb betul



This post has been edited by JimbeamofNRT: Apr 30 2025, 10:06 AM

because everyone went to the top floor foodcourt to watch free chow sing chi movies.

And that cashier would be me kek

I worked there after SPM in November or early December. Can't remember

Yeah true! and under your feet got peanuts shell lying around lol

did u score any chicks back then while working there? my friend working at tgv bukit raja got lucky few times

damn...

peanut, kuaci, popcorn even beer can also got

back then those staff manually do random check using tochlights hahahaha

midnight show can see many couples do their own show one hahaha... pndk

do they still have it there? Haven't been in ages but yes, it is the best

Those days there, its common that our amois wearing tank tops and miniskirts along with g-strings for your view.

Sky at Chow Kit? There's another 2 at Chow Kit but forgot the names liao hahaha

This post has been edited by Root-X: Apr 30 2025, 10:30 AM

dulu blh rokok dlm cinema

The combination of the ciggies and sotong bakar smell .. hnnggghh

mmcineplex: what u tok???

The big cinemas were too big with too many seats and in the 80s, blockbuster movies were too far apart. Tough to fill the seats. Plus other factors like color television and tv3 and VHS.

VHS rental business was huge, with rental shops sprouting up everywhere. People used to rent 3-5 tapes at one go. TVB tv series like man in the net was damn popular.

By early 90s, many big cinemas were in dire straits. Not profitable to refurbish the seats and renovation. Aircon not functioning, dirty seats, smelly toilets.

Also in the late 70s, fast food like KFC and malls/shopping complexes were introduced, and lifestyle were getting better and people were having more money to spend... and were more discerning on hygiene and cleanliness.

Actually, the cineplexes revived going back to the cinemas for movies. Better seats and better screens and much much better sound systems.

Nope, i was already seeing someone then

From there i learned the art of spotting difficult customers in the queue. From body language, demeanour you can tell who is the Karen that will ruin your day and i just hope they skip me and head for the next counter kek

This one the last standalone cinema?



Catering to a niche market....



While others have long disappeared... but still got a few buildings still standing.

The cineplex was still there in 1999 because I remember clearly watching the first Matrix and King of Comedy in Sg.Wang.

I did hear rumor about the place being haunted though.

salahan tigivi and gee-es-see

Sg Wang's 2 big cinema close cause old and too big... I think early 1990

then open the smaller cineplex near the skating ring & arcade area

the cineplex also eventually close close as too many ppl go play Laser disc

renovated

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFXl5T-JuX4/