Southorn Playground in 1932 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Southorn Playground in 1932

Southorn Playground in 1932

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
Connections: 

Comments

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

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

Reference can be made to the Violet Peel Health Clinic here

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Thanks!
-Brandon

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

Thanks a lot Moddsey! 

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