This month Bangkok Eyes takes another nostalgic look at Bangkok's historic cinema scene. Most, if not all of Bangkok's old-timer expats will not likely remember many of the grand old Bangkok theaters shown below. On the other hand, a number of well known films did make it to Thailand in the 1960's. (And of course, an even greater number of films no one remembers, or has even heard of...)
Fanny Hurst's novel Imitation Of Life (1933) was first set to film by Universal in 1934 (starring Claudette Colbert). It was remade in 1959 - also a Universal picture. An early film on the difficulties of segregation and racism. Both films were nominated for a number of Oscars, however neither won.
Murderer's Row (1966) was one of a series of Matt Helm spy films (Matt Helm actually came out before James Bond, but never had the same popularity). Murderer's Row was (quite obviously) a spy-comedy film.
Special Mission Lady Chaplin (the original - Missione Speciale Lady Chaplin) (1966) was an Italian James Bond-copycat which had approximately one hundred 'bad guys' popping out of nowhere, to be gunned down for the body count stats.
The Sand Pebbles (1966) was nominated for eight Academy Awards, taking home none - nonetheless it was the fourth highest grossing film of the year. The San Pablo (called by the crew : 'Sand Pebbles'), a U.S. gunboat, was involved in China on the Yangse River, dealing with Chinese warlords in the early 1920's.
Operation Revenge - 1967 (Thai title : "Beautiful Traitor") was a local (Thai) 'international intrigue' film popular with locals. As can be seen from the names of the Director and Producer, the film had 'influential' backing, and was basically a 'vanity press' film.. We note that later advertisements for the film had deleted or changed these names.
No review of Bangkok's cinema scene would be complete without at least one Run-Run Shaw film out of Hong Kong. The Joy of Spring (Kuai Lo Qing Chun) was a 1966 romantic comedy with English subtitles (as were most Shaw films of the times).
Peter Sellers followed up his 1965 hit What's New Pussycat with After The Fox (1966). It was anything but the smash hit that "Pussycat" was, although no Peter Sellers film is all bad...
Producer Joseph E Levine attempted a somewhat dreary girfriend-swapping film (in the '60's age of 'free love'), and produced a flop - in spite of a great performance by a young Jennifer Jones.
Colin Hastings died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident in Bang Saray on 29 April 2024. Colin arrived in Thailand in 1973. He was a well-known and highly respected publisher, editor and journalist, having published Bangkok's 'Big Chilli' magazine since 1999. Services held at Wat Tat Thong commencing 2 May 2024. Rest In Peace.
READER :
Your April issue most informative on the birth of Bangkok's Agogo scene, but I see that the Midnite Hour had also stated a couple of times that the Grand Prix was the first to have Agogo?
Thank You
MIDNITE HOUR:Guilty as charged. Since before the publication of Alan Dawson's book on Patpong, we also bought into "common knowledge" on the subject. I believe we had earlier mentioned -perhaps three different times- the Grand Prix as the first to successfully implement A Go-Go. It was only later, when we began to sift through our clippings and other sources that we discovered the earlier introduction of A Go-Go in Bangkok's Nitespots.
Two months ago, the long-closed upstairs bar Super Girl reopened as a pay-for-show ping pong exhibition. This month they have changed their name to another long-retired upstairs bar : Super Pussy. Modus operandi status quo ante....
PATPONG 1
This month the King's Sports Bar (the first of three venues to be born from what was Tip Top) had its soft opening. They are still awaiting signage. The upstairs (2nd level) area doesn't seem that well suited for pool - the tables are small, and due to building columns, the area immediately adjacent to the pool tables is limited. They are going to have to bring out the short pool cues if they expect to get regular customers. The sports bar comes complete with hostesses. P.S., the downstairs new/relocated King's Castle II will likely be open before the end of the month.
PATPONG 1
MAP
The old King's Garden open beer bar has completed it's months-long renovation, opening newly as Doc Pub. Their signage has not yet been nailed up (but their menus reveal all.) The very pleasant mamasan advises that Doc Pub is run by the Virgin people just down the block. May they continue to rock and roll...
VIDEO CLIP
PATPONG 2
The Patpong Cafe has just completed a make-over of their facade. Now much more visible (inviting) to passers-by. May they keep on keeping on...
After interminable darkness and shadow, the Lighthouse has begun renovations in earnest. We do not yet have a confirmation as to whether they will remain Lighthouse, or if there will be a new name on the Soi. A wait-and-see item...
In the WE DON'T MAKE MISTRAKES DEPT, the Rainbow (way back in the right-hand corner, ground level) has closed. Actually it closed last month, but we somehow did not mention it. We didn't notice any ongoing renovations or signage/notices, so we can expect it will not be reopening any time soon...
The Nana Night Club has brightened up the approach-way in from the street with some street-muraling. Looks good, hopefully resulting in increased business. The Night Club is located at the rear of the Nana Hotel parking lot.
Opening newly (on the 4th level, previously occupied by the Nakarat gay massage) is the Beef. Note : they are one of many shops and venues in Bangkok that have gone "cashless" - one of the worst ideas since credit cards. We wonder how long this will last...
What was Cupid Bar up until very recently, has reopened as Lollipop 1. Some of you nightcrawlers may remember the Lollipop on Soi 10 Sukhumvit. (Nope, not part of the Lollipop of Nana Plaza origins...) Now located deep in Soi 22, near Asia Massage. Welcome them to the neon nights...
SOI 22 Sukhumvit Rd
The Lavender massage has reopened in Subsoi Hana (just past the Marriott Marquis). Welcome back to the bright lights, big city...
SOI 22 Sukhumvit Rd
The Biya Salon Massage & Nail was darker than a poisoned well when we passed by the other evening. Let's wait and see if they reopen before we pronounce them dead. Note : the other massage parlors in the below file photo are still open.
SOI 22 Sukhumvit Rd
The on-again, off-againSup Naree is now "off". As they close frequently, we will hold off on casting them into the pit of forgotten history...
The Hillary group had been waiting for the right time (through Covid and then some...) to reopen Climax disco. This last month, they reopened in the lower level carpark of the Ambassador Hotel (their old location). Welcome them back to the machine, but this time around they can expect a lot more competition from the likes of Sugar, Bafros and Juicy.
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
Bar Selena is the latest Nitespot to cram itself into Subsoi Havana Social. May they be dealt all aces and faces...
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
The Japanese oriented Yuna Bar & Restaurant opened without fanfare at the back end of Soi 11/1. Welcome them to the sharkpool...
Last month we noted the impending opening of Best Friends, and that is exactly what they did (occupying the old We For You Too digs). Located in the 6-Pak. Welcome to party town...
7 CENTER POINT (Sukhumvit Soi 7)
Big B's has got some brand new signage. Big B's remaining bar at 7 Center Point is at the front, facing Soi 7. (Her other outlets at that location have been leased to others.)
7 CENTER POINT (Sukhumvit Soi 7)
Time To Start Worrying ?
Continuing on from our previous issue (two months ago), we continue to chroniclize (there is no such word) the rapid ongoing demise of bars in the 7 Center Point Night Entertainment Area.*Pookie - Relocated to Nordic50% reduction in size.
*Nordic- Previously closed.*Long Shots- previously closed.*Secrets - Closed this month.*Pai 7 Bar - Closed this month.
*Sky Bar - Closed this month.
*Heaven- Previously closed.*La La Bar - Closed this month.
*AJ 168 Bar - Closed this month.
*Phannee's Bar - Closed this month.
*The One Bar- Previously closed.*Make Love Bar- Previously closed.*Su Bar- Previously closed.*You & I Bar- Previously closed* (Two bars that never opened (in the 6-Pak).
* "The 'balcony'" - upstairs - Never opened.
Yes, it's time to start worrying...
The long-lived Fortune Club, deep in Subsoi 3 has closed its doors in a most permanent manner. Greener grass, ladies...
SOI DEAD ARTIST (Sukhumvit Soi 33)
After some remodeling, the Japanese Snack Bar reopened. We suspect some additional signage will be coming soon. Located at the back end of Subsoi Pan Pan. Welcome back to the big city lights.
This month we noted (again) no new openings or closures on Soi Eden, so we are reprinting a file photo from 2014 - a time when their oral services bars were very much in evidence.
The steady stream of foreign entertainers continued to make their way to Bangkok in spite of the growing conflict in Southeast Asia. But this was only one facet of the Night Entertainment Scene - the number of bars (to include early A Go-Go bars), lounges and specialty massage parlors also were continuing to increase during that period.
Always make sure to read the fine print... Perry Como is not exactly the same person as Perry Como's nephew. It appears the Sani Chateau was feeling the competition from the Tropicana and the Cafe De Paris... The Sani Chateau was located in the Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area.
December 1967
Buddy Rich was an American drummer, bandleader and songwriter. He is seen by many to be the greatest drummer in American music. Beginning drumming in 1919 at the age of two, his adult career took off in 1937, working with jazz greats Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Artie Shaw.
December 1967
Charming Bird, like virtually every other Nitespot, was pitching heavily for Christmas business. We note this time around, that the Charming Bird was openly advertising 'hostesses'.
December 1967
The Balcony continued to be popular in the evenings, with weekend 'Tea Dances' in the afternoons. (The dancing in the above looks more like Disco to us...)
December 1967
The Garden Cafe was a long-standing popular Nitespot in the New Road Night Entertainment Area. "Oriental Avenue" was the popular name (not official) for the Soi running from New Road to the Oriental Hotel.
December 1967
The Do Re Mi Nightclub, while out of the way (past Victory Monument in Sanam Pao), was no small operation - see their ad for 7 separate stages...
December 1967
The Tequila, advertising to be the 'newest bar & restaurant' in town (it wasn't) was located in "Gaysorn Phranakorn Road" (read : Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area)...
December 1967
Who knew...?Dante was the hypnotist's stage name. His day job was con-man, where he assumed at least 40 aliases. He was convicted of mail fraud in relation to a 'diploma mill', and for attempted murder of a rival hypnotist. He was a Guinness Book of World Records 'awardee' for 20 years for having been paid the highest lecture fee. (His most significant con, however, was convincing actress Lana Turner to marry him. It was a brief affair...)
December 1967
Through the years, there were a number of Night Entertainment Venues in the Nai Lert Building on the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi 5 (Soi Nai Lert). However in December of 1967 the real estate was being held down by the Savoy Bangkok Club.
December 1967
After a very brief closure for renovations, the Oriental Hotel's Bamboo Bar reopened in time for Christmas / New Years revelries...
December 1967
The younger generation may not know what a 'Telephone Directory' (or, 'Telephone Book') was. It was a thick volume produced by cities / geographic areas listing every phone owner by name, telephone number and address (one could opt out for an 'unlisted number'). Should such a volume be published today, it would be considered an infringement on everyone's right to privacy, and would overtly encourage soliciting telephone callers and random companies to fill your mailbox with 'junk mail' - which is exactly what happened. (Today those mailers-of-junk-mail would be called 'spammers')...
December 1967
We're not sure... We suspect 'Social World' is a publication, or a section of a newspaper. We wonder how big this ad would have been if it had equitably listed each of today's 74 genders...
December 1967
In spite of the influx of foreign celebrity entertainment and a rapidly growing Night Entertainment Scene in 1967, we occasionally came across a reminder that in the later decades of the 20th Century, the confrontation between the 'Free World' and Communism included violent / deadly conflicts in every Southeast Asian country, not just Viet Nam.
The Crystal Ship ‘Carnival of Life’ graffiti celebration at Oostende, Belgium was held for the 9th successive year from March 25th to April 6th. Fourteen well-known graffiti muralists from several countries contributed to the 'open air museum' on Oostende streets.
The street carnival was Inspired by Belgian artist James Ensor, whose carnival-inspired works were often satirical and disturbing.
Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and prevailing interpretations, 'Fair Use' under Copyright Law. Copyright of any original photographs or artwork resides exclusively with the creators.
Graffiti #1492
Squatter's Rights
10 ft high x 17 ft
Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and prevailing interpretations, 'Fair Use' under Copyright Law. Copyright of any original artwork resides exclusively with the creators.
Bangkok's original site !
SINCE 2005
The MIDNITE HOUR Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.
(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffitiper-se, although there are those who have insinuated....
-
Ed)