12.30. 4.30 and 8.30
The infamous old Empire Theatre
If you are old enough you might remember the significance of the above times, 12.30, 4.30 and 8.30.
Years ago in the hey day of the cinemas In Barbados those were our standard movie show times.
Back when there was bare cinemas in Barbados, the Plaza Olympic empire and Roxy Cinemas in addition to the Globe and others. When you feel like “Gine in de theatre” there was a range of options to choose from.
Back when the only place you could see a movie was in the cinema so you had no freaking choice.
I remember standing in this incredibly long line outside the Olympic waiting to see the musical “Grease” back in 1978.
There were neither video tapes nor any DVD technology that we had access to back then.
You either got into the cinema and saw John Travolta and Olivia Newton John dancing on the big screen or you didn’t see them at all.
So to service the hungry throngs of Bajan movie goers, it would be a standard that from Wednesday to Saturday movie show times would be 12.30, 4.30 and 8.30. So “theatres” would have generated quite a bit of revenue back then. Now cinemas has been impacted by several factors including technology.
So we no longer have the proliferation of cinemas which once dominated, gone are the days of the Plaza, Olympic, Empire,Vista and the Roxy is now a supermarket.
Gone are the days of 12.30, 4.30 and 8.30….!
Would you beleive the Roxy is now a super market?? Lord come fuh yuh world
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
October 10th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I used to love going to the Globe for the 12:30pm show. I lived within walking distance and by the time the movie was over you still had alot of time to go somewhere else. There is nothing like watching a good movie with a bajan crowd and hearing them roar at the good parts. Its different in Canada. I went to see Kill Bill a few years ago. People just sit down and watch the movie and don’t make a sound. I’m sure it was different in a bajan theatre and people were “doing the dog” when Black Mamba started slicing up people.
As you said, now DVDs have altered the entertainment landscape. Even though I love movies and watch at least 3-4 new ones a month, I only go to the cinema if it is a big special effects movie that should be appreciated on the big screen. Otherwise I just wait until its DVD.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Unless it was showing at two cinemas at the same time grease with john travolta and olivia newton-john was showing at the vista cinema in 1978 the year of its release and orca the killer was showing at the globe cinema i was 9 years old at the time.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
one Saturday I went to 12:30, 4:30, 8:30 and MIDNITE
only day before I was talking about this
and just last nite I passed the area of the Empire and lamented how that area used to be a hive of activity when I was growing up
and only on wednesday I went to the Olympus for the second time in my life. I watched a western called-APOOLOSA-
It was good -I enjoyed it–
MAN I miss the cinema
October 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
APOLOOSA
October 11th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I HAVE NEVER WATCHED A DVD IN MY LIFE
EVEN THOUGH I HAD A DVD PLAYER-FOR SOME YEARS NOW
October 18th, 2008 at 3:00 am
U have never watched a dvd in your life Asiba? you must bea very busy man
I also concurr with Marc I especially got to the cinema for movies which feature special effects, how ever sometimes you just want to get out of the house eat some theatre pop corn, hot dog and soda and enjoy the cinema experience..
October 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Peter – ya forget “Roodal’s” and “Sundown” drive-in’s, plus Cave Shepherd Worthing was the Vista; but seriously Peter, I know you are an anti-pirate advocate and you obviously have vested interests… At the same time with fuel prices, road tax, etc. Can you really blame an average consumer for buying 3 bootlegs at $30 which can be watched by nuff at one sitting as opposed for paying 4 two ppl for ONE picture at one of the two remaining cinemas in Barbados?
As for never watching a DVD in ur life – I am reminded of an ol’ time Trini kaiso, “Ya hear lie? Dat is Lie!” I did not say anyone is lying, just that I am reminded of that song 4 some strange reason…
October 20th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Thats true Ian, I forgot those Drive ins, i how ever dont agree with buying cheap ass pirate dvds from the theifing ass people in the street, if theres a problem with it who do you take it back too? Nothing beats a good night out at the movies, with Popcorn dolby stereo and cinema scope…
and demintia, grease probaly did show at 2 cinemas at one time and it run for a couple of weeks as well
October 20th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I am not asking for you to agree necessarily but 2 understand in light of current costs, many Bajans are going 2 choose what is best for them financially – in their view a boot leg is easier… A night at the cinema for 3 people can be as much as $100, which to the typical working Baje is ten DVD’s! I saw on the back page of the Nation recently that implied some folks will choose between food or tax/license their car – I know of at least 3 ppl who say to hell w/dat gas and belly rule, they will just drive careful and pay nutten! It’s those kinda ppl who will get a bootleg, the inputs and profit-extractions on mainstream pre-recorded entertainment need to be reduced significantly!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Yeah it is true —I had never watched a DVD –BUT
On Saturday last I sat down with my daughter Sharane and I watched part of RIHANNA IN CONCERT–on DVD about the last three songs.
YES I am a busy man- a very busy man
I have been trying FOR SOMETIME now to get into the Studio to record a song
I have notified Darron but I just cant seem to get there
If you know the hours I keep , you would not be surprised that I had never watched a DVD- have never seen any of the much vaunted African Movies that seem to be a craze.
DONT TELL ME TO MAKE TIME because my response when people say so to me is:
If I could make time , I would make it and sell it because Time is Money.
I LOVE THE CINEMA because there is such a nice feeling when I watch a movie with a big noisy bajan crowd-
for that reason I have gone to the Drive Inn-twice that I can remember and one of those times, I went under parental guidance. I have always taken my girlfriends to the movies -not the Drive Inn.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
just viewed the picture of the old Empire
RUSHING to buy Tickets:
Gosh -that picture brings back so many memories !
Like one time I was in a big rush –men rushing and pushing to buy tickets—
I was thirteen years old and had gone to see a movie , I paid the child fare at that time.
I was in the line and got caught up in the rush -lo and behold -out of nowhere I found a ticket on my shoulder, it probably dropped from somebody. I calmly took it and went into the house(circle) so I did not have to pay because -I had found a free ticket . You would think that I would eat out the money but No ! I went back home with the same amount of money I left home with- aint spend a cent.
PICK POCKETING:
Another time during the school vacation I went to the same Empire theatre . This time I was going in the pit, I think the fare was a dollar– I took out my money TO PAY FOR THE TICKET from my billfold which I had in my back pocket.
Afterwards I moved the wallet from my back pocket and put it in the front of my underpants. Lo and behold while I was approaching the ticket window, I felt a hand and fingers going through my back pocket searching obviously for money. I was LUCKY because I had just moved the wallet which contained the grand sum of $65—MONEY that I had saved during the school term.
I had escaped a pick pocket.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
ok bourne, I agree that a formula needs to be looked at to make legal entertainment more feasible government needs to reduce some taxes and vat