Southorn Playground in 1932 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Southorn Playground in 1932

Primary tabs

Southorn Playground in 1932
Submitted by Edmond
Tags: 
hennessy road
gloucester road
Southorn Playground

The photo shows Southorn Playground before WWII.  There is an open-air cinema, and it runs two shows in the evenings only.

The even numbers of the tenements on Hennessy Road are on the southern side.   House number 156 starts from O'brien Road, and goes eastward to 200 at Fleming Road.   A 4-storey high white building stands on 168-170 (or 166-168?) in the middle.  Corrections and suggestions are welcome.

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Friday, July 1, 1932
Gallery: 
1930s Hong Kong
Connections: 
  • Log in or register to post comments

Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2014-05-31 06:39.

Given the Violet Peel Health Clinic is not in photo, I guess it is from the early 1930s.

Submitted by Edmond on Sat, 2014-05-31 09:11.

Moddsey,

You are right.  I also think the photo was taken betweeen 1930~40.  The open-air cinema also served the services men then.

Date of photo and its title also amended.  thank you.

regards, Edmond

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2014-05-31 10:24.

Reference can be made to the Violet Peel Health Clinic here

Submitted by Edmond on Sat, 2014-05-31 18:28.

A poster of the Garden Theatre can be found in a local press dated July 1932.  It had 2000 seats.   Ticket price ranged between 35 cents and one dollar, including tax.

Garden Theatre poster -- July 1932

Submitted by moddsey on Thu, 2017-09-14 23:41.

Interesting to note that the area was called the 'reclamation grounds' in 1932 and the open-air theatre pre-dated Southorn Playground.

HK Telegraph 12 July and 23 October 1934

The Wanchai Children's Playground was opened by Sir Thomas Southorn on 11 July 1934 and in the same year was renamed as Southorn Playground in his honour.

Submitted by 383gorma on Wed, 2014-06-04 12:50.

YES, THE 168 HENESSY ROAD WAS WHERE i LIVED IN FROM 1949 TO 1957. 168 WAS 2 HOUSES WEST OF THE WHITE FIVE STOREY BUILDING WHICH IS A KIND OF CLUB HOUSE.

THE 156 WAS THE END CORNER BUILDING. WE USED TO PLAY ON THE FLAT ROOF ABOVE, OVER LOOKING THE SOTHERN PLAYGROUND.

MANY THANKS

ANTHONY MA

 

PLEASE, IF POSSIBLE, PROVIDE MORE PHOTS  LIKE FRONT STREET  VIEW ETC

Submitted by Edmond on Wed, 2014-06-04 15:46.

Hi Anthony,

The following photo was taken at the road junction of Hennessy Road and O'Brien road c1959.  It only shows part of the front view of the white 5-storey building, but may not show your house.  Were you living on top floor (ie 3rd floor in western standard)?  When you said you had lived on 4th floor, I thought you had lived on 4th floor of the 5-storey white building.

My relative family lived in 153, Hennessy Road; slightly opposite to where your home was.

regards, Edmond

Junction of Hennessy Road and O'Brien Road

Submitted by moddsey on Thu, 2014-06-05 04:51.

If you enter Facebook and look up  "Hong Kong in the '60s", a local company has done a 3D scale model of Virtual Wanchai in 1957.

Submitted by Brandon Chang on Wed, 2017-09-13 18:40.

Hi Moddesy, could you give me the link to that? I couldn't find it on Facebook.

Thanks!
-Brandon

Submitted by moddsey on Thu, 2017-09-14 09:48.

Enter the Group. Search for Virtual Wanchai and you will get to the page.

Submitted by Brandon Chang on Thu, 2017-09-14 17:36.

Thanks a lot Moddsey! 

Submitted by Edmond on Thu, 2017-09-14 23:15.

Dear Brandon,

Moddsey has kindly provided you the link.  Hope you find what you are looking for.   If I can be of assistance, please let me know.

Edmond