In 1904 the Paris Cinematograph was screened by Paul Picard at the Malaya Theater on Victoria Street. He started showing hour-long films, as well as arranging music to make silent films attractive. Earlier pictures were being shown in tents in Singapore. Now it became a challenge for tent cinema. Some people were attracting the audience by giving the lure of lights i.e. electric bulbs and fans.
Some people do not keep their equipment in one place and keep it up and collect their business for a few days anywhere as per their convenience and then move to a new place. Films were shown in the stage hall or music hall where facilities were available. Now there was competition in tent cinema, hoist cinema, and theater cinema. Some say that he has better facilities to sit here, while some say that the light here is better than others. The act of wooing the audience had begun.
As a result of this competition, the number of cinema halls in Singapore was increasing, and the old ones were being renovated along with the new ones. The Town Hall of the Empress Palace became the Victoria Theater and Concert Hall. Hotels were being modified and prepared to show cinema.
The Adelphi Hall was showing one-to-one films such as 'The Charge of Lancers', 'The Serpentine Dawns', and 'And Li Hung-Chang in Paris' where the viewer had to pay one dollar for a front seat and 50 for a back seat. Had to pay cents. Good films and upper-class audiences were being charged more money. In 1908, Raffles Hotel kept tickets for the movie 'Ben-Hur' for $2, and the audience went broke to see it.
People were drawn to these early shows because of the novelty. Deficiencies soon became apparent. The constant flickering shaky images, intermittently large white spots began to annoy people when they were promised the most entertainment and experience. The main reason for these shortcomings was the lack of full development of technology but there was another reason as well.
Obstacles in the exhibition of films
A major reason for these disruptions during the performance was the environment, tropical wet weather. Due to moisture, the film would stick and would not rotate smoothly during operation. Those who showed it took away its bite too. When the reel was interrupted, he would arrange for other entertainment for the audience in advance. Gradually technology improved and film screenings began to happen more smoothly without interference.
Soon (1907) Singapore became the center of film distribution for the region. Its chief operator was Pathé Frères of France. Singapore's harbor and sea views became frequent appearances in the new documentary. Even film pioneer George Melis made a documentary, A Day at Singapore. It was the same Melis who made the landmark film A Trip to the Moon in 1902 using special effects. Paying tribute to these Melis, Martin Scorsese has made the film 'Hugo'. If you haven't seen it yet, do watch this film if you get a chance.
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