( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - Hoa Binh Cinema on Duy Tan Street was a familiar place to the people of Quang Ngai town (now Quang Ngai City), especially those who loved cinema during the period 1975-1985. But from now on, this name will fade into the past...
A time of prosperity
Previously, the Hoa Binh cinema was called the Kien Thanh cinema, built in 1950 by Mr. Huynh Van. Mr. Tran Van Phu (72 years old), residing on Le Dinh Can Street (Quang Ngai City), who is related to Mr. Huynh Van's family by marriage, said that in 1965, his parents rented a house near the cinema to sell drinks. At that time, the cinema was always crowded and bustling, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Besides showing films, the cinema also hosted Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupes, grand music shows, and even boxing matches.
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| The Hoa Binh cinema on Duy Tan Street (Quang Ngai City) has deteriorated and has been closed for some time. Photo: Bao Hoa |
Back then, Mr. Huynh Van's family owned an ice cream factory on Ngo Quyen Street, so they were quite well-off . There was a period when the Kien Thanh cinema was packed with viewers, so Mr. Huynh Van invested in building the My Van cinema on Nguyen Nghiem Street (later renamed the May 1st Cinema) and another mini-cinema on Tran Hung Dao Street. In 1979, Mr. Huynh Van's family emigrated, and the cinemas were handed over to the State for management. “At that time, there were no televisions, and entertainment options were very scarce. Many people from all over crowded into the cinemas to watch movies. Every film was crowded; I remember most vividly the film “Thang Bom” shown in 1988 and 1989. In particular, the cinema showed many very touching films about patriotism, and many viewers shed tears,” Mr. Phu recalled.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan Lan (89 years old), who lives opposite Hoa Binh Cinema, recounted that in the past, on Saturdays and Sundays, people from all over would ride their bicycles to watch movies from morning till night. They would line up from the cinema entrance all the way across the street, right in front of her house. She had five children, and back then, she worked selling ice cream and sweet soups... Her ice cream and sweet soup stall was so popular that she estimated she could support ten children. That area was very bustling back then.
Unforgettable memories
For many, watching movies at Hoa Binh Cinema is one of their most memorable childhood memories. "When I was little, every summer, my greatest joy was going fishing and watching movies. In 1986, I discovered Hoa Binh Cinema. I longed to go in and watch a movie, but I didn't have money for a ticket. I would stand outside the cinema waiting, and when my legs got tired, I would sit down right in front of the door. The ticket checkers took pity on me and let me in. Even though I only watched half the movie, I was so happy and I'll never forget it," said Mr. Huynh Huu Thanh (48 years old), from Group 2, Nguyen Nghiem Ward (Quang Ngai City).
Mr. Thanh still remembers watching many famous Vietnamese films such as "Saigon Commando," "The Upside Down Card Game," "The Flood Season," etc. "Vietnamese films back then were excellent, both the content and the cast were impressive. I felt proud watching them, and after watching, I would tell my family about it. Occasionally, the cinema would have a week of free historical film screenings for the public. There was a period when the cinema showed Journey to the West, and every episode was packed with people," Mr. Thanh recalled.
Ms. Vo Thi Lieu (68 years old), residing in Group 1, Tran Hung Dao Ward (Quang Ngai City), used to work at Hoa Binh Cinema. Memories of the cinema remain vivid in her mind. Ms. Lieu recounts that the golden age of cinemas was after liberation, when the State took over cinemas, especially during the period from 1975 to 1985. At that time, domestically produced films were very popular, attracting many customers to Hoa Binh Cinema. Not only did it contribute to propaganda and the people's need for film viewing, but the cinema also contributed to the state budget. Previously, Quang Ngai Town (now Quang Ngai City) and the districts all had mobile film screening teams, but Hoa Binh Cinema was well-known because it was located in the central area and was the earliest to be established. Day and night, crowds of people flocked to watch films like "Sister Tu Hau," "The Xa Nu Forest," etc. Films with scenes shot in Quang Ngai, such as "Sea Morning Glory Season," "Legend of the Mother," and films starring actors from Quang Ngai, were also very popular.
Later, rental video tapes became popular; audiovisual media and television became widespread, and many people rented tapes to watch with their families. Over time, market demand and viewer preferences changed due to the increasing prevalence of electronic devices, and movie theaters gradually lost customers. The Hoa Binh cinema has been closed for many years. Recently, the Hoa Binh cinema was successfully auctioned off for 33 billion VND, with a 49-year lease term.
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