Apr–Jun 2016
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Vol. 12 Issue biblioasia01 APR–JUN 2016 02 / Old-world Theme Parks 10 / Lost Films of Singapore 16 / Taking Centre Stage 22 / Pre-war Radio 32 / History of Singapore TV 52 / Retro Magazines BiblioAsia Director’s Note Editorial & CONTENTS Vol. 12 / Issue 01 Apr–Jun 2016 Production That’s Entertainment is a delightful vintage MGM film that strings together scenes from Managing Editor the best Hollywood musicals from the 1920s through the 50s. This issue of BiblioAsia may Francis Dorai not be in the same league as that film, but it does celebrate the best of entertainment – FEATURES books, magazines, film, theatre, radio, television, and the like. Editor The amusement parks of yesteryear, New World, Great World and Happy World, Veronica Chee Old-world Amusement may be physically gone, but these old-fashioned theme parks will always have a special Editorial Support 02 Parks place in the memories of older Singaporeans. Librarian Lim Tin Seng revisits these lost Masamah Ahmad wonderlands in “Old-world Amusement Parks”. Stephanie Pee Gaston Méliès and His One of the crowd-pullers at these amusement parks was bangsawan, the traditional Design and Print Lost Films of Singapore Malay theatre that recently made a comeback at the Esplanade with the lavish staging of 10 Raden Mas – based on the story of a 16th-century Javanese princess in Temasek. Senior Oxygen Studio Designs Pte Ltd Librarian Juffri bin Supa’at traces the evolution of this erstwhile theatre form in “Seni One Small Voice: Contributors Persembahan Bangsawan”. Chua Ai Lin The Monodrama in 16 02 22 On the subject of lost art, the first fiction films of Singapore were likely made in Juffri Bin Supa’at Singapore Theatre 1913 by the Frenchman Gaston Méliès. Unfortunately, none have survived the passage of Lau Joon-Nie Gracie Lee time. How do you write about a film that doesn’t exist? Film director, producer and critic Liao Youwen The Story of Singapore Raphaël Millet fits the pieces of the jigsaw together in “Gaston Méliès and His Lost Films Lim Tin Seng 22 Radio: 1924–41 of Singapore”. Loh Chin Ee Moving from the silver screen to the stage, Stella Kon’s Emily of Emerald Hill and Eunice Low Seni Persembahan Kuo Pao Kun’s The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole take centre stage – literally – in two iconic Raphaël Millet plays whose universal themes have captivated audiences time and again. In “One Small Natalina Pereira 28 Bangsawan Barbara Quek Voice: The Monodrama in Singapore Theatre”, drama critic Corrie Tan examines the J. B. Stanley history of this physically demanding form of theatre. Corrie Tan Radio in Singapore had its modest beginnings in 1924 when expats from the Amateur Zoe Yeo Wireless Society of Malaya used an aeroplane transmitter to make broadcasts. Chua Ai 16 Lin of the Singapore Heritage Society chronicles “The Story of Singapore Radio” from its Please direct all 10 28 correspondence to: nascent days to the pre-war years. National Library Board Singapore TV: From Then came television, 39 years later to be exact – when Television Singapura was 100 Victoria Street #14-01 32 Local to Global launched on 15 February 1963. Media studies lecturer Lau Joon-Nie charts television’s National Library Building meteoric rise – from the first monochrome broadcasts to on-demand Internet TV – in Singapore 188064 Tel: +65 6332 3255 Collecting the Scattered “Singapore TV: From Local to Global”. Reading and anything connected with reading is something that resonates soundly Email: [email protected] 39 Remains: The Raffles Website: www.nlb.gov.sg Library and Museum with us here at the National Library Board. In her opinion piece, “In Remembrance of Reading”, guest columnist Loh Chin Ee from the National Institute of Education explains On the cover: why our memories of reading are inextricably linked to the pleasure we derive from read- A reproduction of a Philips ing and the places where we read. radio advertisement that appeared in the 24 May 1936 Still on the subject of reading, librarians Barbara Quek and Zoe Yeo showcase a issue of the Malayan Radio selection of entertainment magazines from the 1930s to more recent times in “From Times. See page 26 for the 32 39 Cover to Cover”. (Some of us may recall reading magazines like Fanfare surreptitiously original. Cover illustration lest they were seized by disapproving parents or teachers!) by Oxygen Studio Designs Senior Librarian Gracie Lee goes back even further to 1837 to chart the history of the Pte Ltd. Raffles Library and Museum – precursor of the National Library as we now know it. Some OPINION of the treasured rare books from the old Raffles library (now part of the Rare Materials Collection) are featured in the exhibition “From the Stacks: Highlights of the National In Remembrance Library” on level 10 of the NLB building. The exhibition ends on 28 August, so catch it soon. of Reading All rights reserved. 46 National Library Board, Singapore, 2016. Mrs Wai Yin Pryke ISSN 0219-8126 (print) Director ISSN 1793-9968 (online) National Library The views of writers and con- tributors do not reflect the views 46 of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher and copyright owner(s). NL NOTES Whilst reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publica- Cover to Cover tion, the Publisher accepts no BiblioAsia is a free quarterly publication produced by the National Library Board. It legal liabilities whatsoever for 52 the contents of this magazine. features articles on the history, culture and heritage of Singapore within the larger Asian The George Hicks context, and has a strong focus on the collections and services of the National Library. 58 Collection BiblioAsia is distributed to local and international libraries, academic institutions, government ministries and agencies, as well as members of the public. The online The Bastin Collection edition of BiblioAsia can be viewed at: www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/ 60 on Raffles 52 58 60 01 BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2016 Vol. 12 / Issue 01 / Feature a hotchpotch of attractions, shows and subsequent years, Great World expanded shows; an open-air cinema with a seating carnival rides assembled for the express to include a British trade fair and a replica capacity of 300; and some 300 stalls selling purpose of entertaining the masses. By the model of an ancient Chinese city complete various goods and refreshments. The open- first quarter of the 20th century, amuse- with landscaped areas, waterfalls, tem- ing ceremony of Happy World was a lavish ment parks had begun to emerge in major ples, pagodas and even people dressed affair attended by some 1,000 guests who Asian cities such as Shanghai and Beijing as Chinese peasants.9 reportedly “consumed nearly 100 gallons in China, and Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.3 Happy World, the last of the three of champagne”.10 OLD-WORLD Singapore's first experience with the parks, opened on 6 May 1937 (and was known Although the three “Worlds” opened thrills and spills of an amusement park as such until it was renamed Gay World in in different years, they shared many similar took place in 1922 when the colony held 1964). Owned by George Lee Geok Eng, characteristics. First, all were established the Malaya-Borneo exhibition from 31 founder of the Nanyang Siang Pau Chinese during the pre-television era – when March to 17 April to showcase the eco- newspaper, the new park was located on a owning a radio was still the preserve nomic achievements of British Malaya and 10-acre (4.5-ha) tract of land at the junction of the rich – and provided a convenient Borneo as well as commemorate the visit of Geylang Road and Mountbatten Road, and affordable means of entertainment. AMUSEMENT of Edward, Prince of Wales, to Singapore. and housed some impressive facilities. Its The parks opened daily from 6 pm to The exhibition was a massive endeavour; amenities included a 7,000-capacity covered midnight, and the entrance fee was priced it took six months to set up and occupied stadium that hosted boxing matches and at a reasonable 20 cents per person (with a 68-acre (27-ha) site bordered by Telok sports competitions; an oval-shaped cabaret individual attractions ticketed separately). Ayer Market, Mount Palmer, Anson Road, hall that “set a new standard for Singapore”; Second, the parks were patronised McCallum Street and the coastline. The theatres for Chinese, Malay and Indian by people of all ages, ethnic groups and PARKS site included a Ferris wheel and carousel, an international trade fair, and exhibits of the flora and fauna of Malaya and Borneo. (Facing page) Singapore’s first experience with the thrills and spills of an amusement park took place in Theme parks in Singapore had their heyday 1922 when it held the Malaya-Borneo exhibition. The exhibition featured rides such as a Ferris wheel and There were also cinemas and a football carousel, an international trade fair, and exhibits of the flora and fauna of Malaya and Borneo.Arshak C. from the 1920s to 50s. Lim Tin Seng charts pitch for matches as well as cultural Galstaun Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. performances and shows by various (Below) This photo, taken in the 1950s, shows the entrance of New World at Jalan Besar, the first of three their glory days and subsequent decline. ethnic groups.4 amusement parks established in Singapore. It was opened on 1 August 1923 by brothers Ong Boon Tat and Ong Peng Hock. Singapore Chinese Clan Associations Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.