old cinemas converted into plush game zones?

[admin]

One 2Bangkok.com project is photographing the hundreds of old derelict cinemas in town....

We noticed this blurb from a Nation article (http://nationmultimedia.com/2004/10/20/national/index.php?news=national_15116269.html): "Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik said many youngsters congregated in old cinemas that had been converted into plush game zones and expressed concern that some parents were not supervising their children properly."

Wher are these converted cinemas?

[Wesley HSu]

Don't know about game zones, but there's a great derelict cinema on Petchburi 33, about a hundred meters north of Petchburi Road. There are no signs that it was a cinema until you look through the gate. You can still see a cavernous lobby with intact old-school, ceramic-tiled ticket booths, as well as a big staircase going up.

As a bonus, for urban exploreres anyway, there's a secret parking garage behind the building, hidden from street view, accessible by ramps from soi 33 or soi 35. It's really dark and creepy. That whole neighborhood is a ghost town, with derelict buildings and shopfronts. Only Yindee Lapidary seems to be active!

[Wisarut]

Hmmm .. Phetburi Pratunam and Makkasan .. It used to have lots of building but after th maass transit system has theri lines changed front interchangin at Makkasan to Interchanign at Siam Square, those projects have beocme defunct.

[Yappofloyd]

Yes there is an old cinema there, I live nearby. The whole area is a very strange and has many empty old entertainment buildings right next to two big hotels.

One would think that after the airport and east SRT lines are built that this area is ripe for redevelopment. I'm sure that what the onwers are waiting for.

Isn't there an old cinema just off the sth side of Petchburi rd near the SRT line? Also, a remember seeing an old cinema which now seems to be a nightclub on the right side (heading to Bang Na) of Sukhumwit rd down near soi late 70s.

[Yappofloyd]

ok, as admin is looking for more info on this and as I have very fond memories of watching old thai movies in such cinemas when I lived here as a child (only understood a bit of what was going on), when I get some time, I am going to attempt to post some photos and info of old cinemas in BKK.

If anyone knows more cinema location than the list below pls post;

1) Makkasan - Thannon Petchburi soi 33/35,
2) ? Area name - off Thannon Petchburi near Rama VI (soi 6-8 area?),
3) Phra Khanong - Thannon Sukhumwit btn soi 69 and 71. A disco I think,
4) Samsen Nai? - Thanno Phahon Yothin (east side), immediately north of Paolo Memorial Hosp. (?) and Big C (north of Thannon Sutthison Winitchai intersection),
5) Chinatown - Thannon Charoen Krung soi 23.

These are the only ones I have spotted in the last few years. If the list grows I won't promise to get photos of them all but at least some.