Fade to dark: Moviehouse legend Lido plays silent films in last-show tribute

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Fade to dark: Moviehouse legend Lido plays silent films in last-show tribute

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik 
The Nation

 

Photos by Phatarawadee Phataranawik and Thanachai Pramarnpanich

 

Film buffs crowded the Lido Theatre in Siam Square yesterday to bid farewell to the 50-year-old cinema.
 

Tickets for all shows were sold out by midday of the cult cinema’s final curtain.

 

Even the popcorn was sold out before the last show began.

 

Fans unable to grab tickets snapped the last photos and selfies, freezing their last moments at their beloved moviehouse. Inside, boards were plastered with colourful notes reflecting the emotional connection among many filmgoers, including “Thank you for screening quality films ... we’ll miss you” and “Goodbye my friend, Lido”.

 

 

It was a memorable night for film lovers from different generations. I was among the audience of 270 who savoured the last screening at 8.30pm – silent films from the early years of filmmaking that highlighted cinema culture and its value, and were accompanied by live piano.

 

The final screening, the closing film in the fifth edition of the Silent Film Festival, was a special treat organised by the Film Archive as a fond farewell for this pioneer art house.

 

It featured the 1926 US Shortfilm, “45 Minutes from Hollywood” and the newly restored 1924 US feature “Sherlock Jr”. The comedic silent films were even more fun with the lively synchronized piano by Richard Siedhoff.

 

The hour-long delight ended with loud applause as the big screen turned white and the light broke the darkness.

The spotlight then turned to the guys behind the projector room, who also were honoured with loud audience applause, and returned the respect with wais to the audience. Fans captured the moments with snapshots.

 

Stepping out of the cinema, the audience appeared surprise as the dozens of members of the theatre’s team greeted them. Led by the owners of Apex Cinema, the crew in typical – men in yellow suits and women in pink – offered their thank-yous and goodbyes with warm and respectful “wai” gestures.

 

As my eyes watered, a staff member in her official pink touched my hand and suggested I meet them again at the Scala, the sister cinema run by Apex and now the only surviving stand-alone cinema in the heart of Bangkok.

 

The Lido’s landlord – Chulalongkorn University’s property management office – later confirmed the impending demise of the building in a Facebook post, but were ambiguous about the planned fate of neighbouring Scala Theatre.

 

The property office wrote that it aimed to develop the land and would therefore be ending Lido’s lease by June.

 

The Film Archive is joining with urban conservationists, architects and cinema lovers in a campaign to save the Scala.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30346759

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-01

[thaibeachlovers]

I really hate the people that run property companies. They care nothing for history.

The world is poorer for their destruction of everything that doesn't make enough profit. Greed rules.

 

Along with the Honey Hotel, Bkk's history is vanishing to be replaced by some mall or condo. Shameful.

 

Farewell Lido, you were great.

 

 

Edited June 1, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[Katia]

Quite.  Everything is being razed for a new condo or mall.  As I once said to a friend (who lamented much of the same problem in her country): "I wonder at what point people will miss their history... or will they not worry as long as there's a glitzy new mall to wander through?"

[Kinnock]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I really hate the people that run property companies. They care nothing for history.

The world is poorer for their destruction of everything that doesn't make enough profit. Greed rules.

 

Along with the Honey Hotel, Bkk's history is vanishing to be replaced by some mall or condo. Shameful.

 

Farewell Lido, you were great.

 

 

Farewell British Embassy, farewell Chuwit Park, farewell Hemmingway's/Belgian Ambassadors residence (even though the access road for the new multi-story hotel being built on the Asoke site is clearly too narrow for the Fire Safety Bye-Laws.  I think it's now possible to walk from Sian Square to Asoke entirely within malls?  At least there's no need to carry an umbrella now.

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Scala, Lido - the moment will come when someone regrets having torn down all those icons of what made Bangkok such a lovely place in the past.
Opposite the dreadful Siam Paragon replaced the old hotel dame "Siam Intercontinental" with one of the most beautiful parks, an architectural highlight with its roof - gone for good, how sad!