The good ol’ days coming back again

Jul 12, 2015 Features / Columnists, News

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By Leonard Gildarie
This week, I had promised to speak more on value-added and customer service in Guyana. I do believe these are critical areas that the country needs to concentrate on pretty quickly to boost its profile if we are intent on becoming a developed country.
However, we will have to defer that to next week. That is because last weekend I took the wife and kids to the Giftland Mall at Liliendaal. They wanted to see Terminator Genisys, which is being shown in 3D.
The experience was exciting for the kids. I saw the joy in their eyes and could help but be thankful that they are experiencing something like this. I could not help but remember the good ol’ days where cinemas were a big thing. It seemed overnight they died, leaving Guyana with pirated DVDs and the small screen (television) where signals were bad and antenna sales were high.
We were there at the Giftland Mall last Sunday at 3pm. There was something of a line leading from the Railway Embankment road to the parking lot. I do believe that Mr. Beepat will have to seriously think about expanding his parking lot, and quickly at that. It is too small. I see logistical problems that can become a major turn-off.
There are not many places where families can visit to enjoy themselves in Guyana. The seawalls are virtually closed off.
For a number of years now, Princess Movie Theatres at Providence, East Bank Demerara has been bringing the magic of the big screen to Guyana. But it was felt by many that the prices were a tad too high, despite tickets having to be bought at least one day in advance because of the rush.
The recent opening of eight screens at Giftland Mall, bringing new movies, would be seen as a game-changer in the entertainment landscape of Guyana.
Less than half mile away, on the East Coast of Demerara highway, Trinidad-owned Movie Towne is building its mall at a furious pace. The competition is on. Already, Princess Theaters has started dropping its prices.
I lived in St. Maarten and was lucky to have toured a number of countries where movie theatres are a prominent part of the landscape. It was only a matter of time before the excitement and atmosphere that comes with these air-conditioned, state-of-the-art theatres came to Guyana. And they are here to stay.
I have diverted a little.
One entering the mall last week, the blast of cold air and the escalators were a sight to behold for many Guyanese who were experiencing it for the first time. The lights and the tiles and décor were impressive. All shiny and new.
The lines to the ticket booth were moving fast. At 3:45pm sharp, we were allowed in. I saw CN Sharma and host of other familiar faces. They were there with their kids. The popcorn in hand was highly evident. You are not allowed to carry food from outside into the theatre.
The chairs were nice and comfy and had the cup holders attached to the seats that are standard in movie theatres. For the kids, the movie experience was out of this world. Never mind the power went after about half of an hour. A female staffer immediately asked for patience and for 10 minutes. Immediately, in true Guyanese style, there were calls from the crowd for free popcorn. There was loud laughter.
Coming out after 6pm, there was a huge crowd build-up outside. Young and old…I even saw some Brazilians…There were long lines.
I could not help but think back to the 80’s and 90’s when cinemas were big time in Guyana. Astor, Metropole, Globe, Strand Deluxe, Diamond Deluxe, Empire, Plaza… the names were many.
I recalled in the late 80’s when Pradeep Samtani sold Liberty to a Chinese business. Liberty was an iconic cinema on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, which drew the crowds with its Bollywood movies.
The sale of that cinema, in my view, was the final nail. It was a huge loss for many. But for the cinema owners, business was bad. There was little money to do maintenance and piracy from video cassettes had firmly taken its grip in Guyana. It spelled the demise of the movie-going heyday.
A few years after that, Strand Deluxe on Charlotte Street was rented out to a church. Cinemas were a place where lovers went. Never mind the bad seats and loud fans. You could have taken parched nuts and plantain chips and eggball. Chewing gum was popular.
There were days when the cinemas would show “doubles”…two movies. I even recalled times when the police had to be called in to control the crowds.
It was a place where families went on the weekend. I recalled my mom and dad jostling in the lines for tickets. Sometimes, there were persons even selling tickets for blackmarket prices outside of the cinema.
So we fast forward 15 years after Liberty was sold, and there are 10 screens now being offered to Guyanese.
I would love to see Essequibo and Berbice folks experiencing the movie theatres also.
Both counties shut down after 7pm. I can attest to that.
Maybe there is an opportunity now for a business with vision to start casting its eyes to these counties. The potential is very much there, in my humble estimation. Demerara might have too much competition after Movie Towne comes.

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