Home » Post Item » Avenida - Know About It’s History

Avenida - Know About It’s History

July 31, 2008

Hindi kalayuan sa lugar namin matatagpuan ang Rizal Avenue o “Avenida”. Masasabing ang Avenida ang pangunahing pasyalan ng mga Pilipino noon sa dami ng mga naglalakihang cinemas, theaters, opera houses, music studios, movie production outfits, entertainment centers, restaurants and department stores.

Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
(Newly Painted Buildings of Avenida - Sept. 2008)

There are still few business establishments that can be found in Avenida. Most of the old theaters here were converted into malls that sell appliances, cellphones, and other gadgets that were imported from China and Taiwan.

Click to Enlarge

(Old Buildings in Avenida - Sept. 2008)

Avenida was also named “Calle Dalumbayan” during the Spanish era, which meant “edge of the town” or end of civilized territory. Sa lugar na ito nagtatapos ang civilization ng mga Kastila mula sa loob ng Intramuros.

Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
(A parade in Avenida corner Carriedo street during the American Period)

The above pre-WW2 photos show the evolution of the intersection of Rizal Avenue and Carriedo street in Manila. Avenida’s entertainment strip flourished up to the 1970s, when the country’s central business district shifted to Makati and other suburbs.

Click to Enlarge
(Intersection of Avenida and Carriedo street during the American Period)

The construction of the Light Rail Transit system in the 1980s put a stop to development in the area. Unti-unting dumilim ang lugar at naging pugad ito ng mga pulubing walang matirhan, prostitures at mga mandurukot.

Click to Enlarge
(Intersection of Avenida and Carriedo street - 1970s)

Ang mga pictures na ito ang ilan sa mga ala ala ng masiglang Avenida noong 60’s at 70’s bago itayo dito ang LRT. Sinara ang Avenida sa trapiko noong umupo si Atienza bilang Mayor ng Maynila para pasiglahin muli ang lugar, pero ibinalik ito sa trapiko ng nakabalik si Lim sa pagiging Mayor ng Manila.

Posted by manilahub at 5:26 pm | permalink

Previous Comments

sayang ang mga sturctures na ito specially, gawa ng mga magagaling na artists. kaya minsan nakakainis magbalik-tanaw because it will break our heart kapag nalaman ang ganitong actions/situations.

Posted by wss at August 5, 2008, 11:35 am

kung sana ay maibalik sa dati ang lahat…

nakakapanghinayang talaga ang mga theater houses na ito.

nakakalungkot isipin na ilan sa kanila ay napabayaan na.

Posted by dee at August 28, 2008, 12:57 am

sa maynila na ako nagkamalay at lumaki.napatira kami sa calero,san lazaro,m.natividad,at oroquieta at noong high school ako sa arellano sa t.alonzo tanda ko pa na ang avenida ay animo ang katapat ng ‘broadway’ sa amerika dahil sa neon lights nito at masidlang pagyaot dito ng mga tao.sayang at nasira na ang kagandahan ng avenida.sana ay mabalik sa dating ayos ang pusod ng maynila.

Posted by romskie at September 4, 2008, 12:54 pm

list of moviehouses along rizal avenue[carriedo to blumentritt circa 60]
ideal,state,ever,dalisay,universal,avenue,
odeon,roxan,galaxy,opera house,capri,scala,pearl,apolo,alegria,lotus,
manila,noli.
[azcarraga street][recto ngayon]moviehouses
circa 60
royal,vista,hollywood,podmon,azcarraga,cinerama,maxim,miramar
other moviehouses in sta.cruz:
esquire,mayfair,palace,sta.cruz,majestic,,zest,society,illusion,clover
And did you know that one of the best hamburger house then was Toms Dixie Luncheonette st Echague across Clover theatre.oh those were the days

Posted by romskie at September 4, 2008, 1:27 pm

my mom used to work at aguinaldo’s department store along avenida rizal. Recently, she visited the area for some nostalgia trip but was disappointed. She was unable to recognize or locate the famous landmarks and could not tell where the old department store once stood. She recalls it was beside the funeraria nacional and was near the ang tibay shoes shop. I wonder if you have a record of shops that used to line the avenue or a map of the area in the 50’s. It’s such a pleasure to view the old photos in your weblog. Hope we could locate the exact spot next time we visit the area, with your help.

Posted by liz at October 21, 2008, 1:54 pm

Thank Liz, such an interesting post… Never been there during those days, but I think the Ang Tibay Shoes Shop (country’s leading footwear manufacturer at that time) was located beside the Manila Grand Opera House, same as w the Funeraria Nacional. Ive been in the area a month ago, and unfortunately, famous landmarks were already demolished. It would be easier if you could post an old picture of the Aguinalo’s. For the meantime I’ll try to look its exact location the next time I visit Avenida.. ^_^

Posted by manilahub at October 22, 2008, 5:33 pm

heartbreaking talaga! a cross between las vegas and broadway ang recto ad avenida dati! Grabe! 1975 nung first time ko nanood sa Universal theater sensurround palabas nun Earthquake by Charlton Heston. Then followed by Kingkong vs Gadzilla sa Dilson! Natakot pa nga ako kasi uso nun yung billboard nila may mechanism na gumagalaw ang mga figures! Kakatuwa i reminisce!

Posted by johnson ang at October 26, 2008, 11:22 pm

All comments are moderated. Your comments will not appear here unless approved by the blog owner. Thank you.

Add a comment