Star Theatre, TST [1922-1961] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Star Theatre, TST [1922-1961]

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Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2010-03-25 21:02
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1922-06-01
Date Place demolished: 
1961-12-01
Tags: 
cinema
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Photos that show this place

1925
1927
1927
See more photos of this place

Comments

Submitted by Raymond Lo on Thu, 2010-03-25 22:22.

The Star Theatre opened to business on 1st June, 1922, and closed on 1st December, 1961.

The theatre had a stage, and in the 1920's, it was a venue for stage performances in the Kowloon Peninsula.

After the end of World War II, the theatre was expropriated by the British Armed Forces, and programmes were arranged by the Combined Services Entertainment.

The theatre was returned to its owner in August 1947.

The Sands Theatre was built on the site of the Star Theatre.

After the Sands theatre was demolished, a commercial building was built on the site.

Submitted by sf (not verified) on Fri, 2010-03-26 01:19.

And so were most theatres that existed in the 60's-70's. Movie business weren't money maker when comparing to the profit landowners can get from redeveloping the sites.

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2019-01-08 14:25.

The Star Theatre at the junction of Peking and Hankow Roads.

1920s Star Theatre

Submitted by David on Sun, 2010-04-04 21:57.

Thanks Raymond, I've added your dates above. It almost made it to its 40th birthday - that must be one of the longer-lived cinemas in Hong Kong?

Submitted by vanessa (not verified) on Mon, 2010-04-05 01:16.

i'm pretty sure that the sands theatre was on the corner of peking and ashley roads - went many times - although i cant find any address for it.  there is a building there called sands building which could have been its replacement?

Submitted by moddsey on Mon, 2010-04-05 11:49.

Hi Vanessa,

In mid-thread, a 'view of TST from the HKPL' archive circa 1963 in

http://gwulo.com/node/1269#comment-5229

will help to identify the location of the Sands Theatre.

I have the impression that it was at the corner of Peking and Hankow Roads. In the same corner today stands the Sands Building. Cheers!

Submitted by OldTimer on Mon, 2017-03-27 03:46.

Star Theatre (TST) = 景星戲院

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2019-01-08 14:26.
1928 Star Theatre
1928 Star Theatre, by Eternal1966

Submitted by Klaus on Sat, 2020-02-29 00:36.

As Raymond Lo posted: The theatre had a stage, and in the 1920's, it was a venue for stage performances in the Kowloon Peninsula.  

A Cuckoo in the Nest 1929
A Cuckoo in the Nest 1929, by Klaus

Submitted by Klaus on Fri, 2022-03-11 18:15.

The lost texture refers:

Star Theatre is a two-storey building with its main entrance on No. 17 Hankow Road, with a tower structure built on top of the southern end of the building facing Peking Road.

The Star Theatre was constructed in 1920 from the material of the old Victoria Theatre standing in Des Voeux Road Central until that year. Most of the masonry, timber and steel were transported across the Victoria Harbor and reassembled in practically the same form.

This can be seen easily:

1919 Victoria Theatre
1919 Victoria Theatre, by eternal1966c1
1920s Star Theatre
1920s Star Theatre, by Moddsey

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2022-03-11 20:28.

Had not noticed the similarities of the two theatres till now. Thanks for bringing it up.

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2022-03-14 15:17.

That's an interesting connection, good find!