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Avenida - The Lost Treasures

August 28, 2008

Noong panahon ng mga Amerikano, isa isang tinayo ang mga makabagong buildings dito sa Avenida. Ang mga buildings na ito ang nagsilbing bahay ng mga teatro at pelikula. Ang hollywood ay napalapit sa mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng Avenida.

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(Business Establishments in Avenida - Sept. 2008)

Dito nagtanghal ang mga sikat na artista noon gaya nila Dolphy, German Morena atbp… Pero, nung dumating ang mga hapon sa Pilipinas, natigil ang pagpapadala ng mga foreign films mula sa America. Imbis na isara ang mga sinehan, ang mga ito ay kinonvert sa nalang bilang taetro na may mga live performance. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang mga sumusunod…  

1. Avenue Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

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(Avenue Theater before and after it was being demolished)

Avenue Theater was an art deco work of national artist Juan Nakpil in 1930s. The theater has 1 screen with a 1,000 seating capacity, with its lobby bearing a marble finish flooring. It was used to have a hotel and a venue for office spaces. During the war, American movies stopped coming. The theater became a venue for live performances, the vaudeville acts that helped people get their minds off the war.

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(Padis Point - Sept. 2008)

The theater was closed in 1997, finally demolished in 2006. The lot was converted into a bar-resto that has live band performances every night.

2. Ever Theater (Closed)

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(Newly Renovated Ever Theater - Sept 2008)

The Ever Theater was also designed by national artist Juan Nakpil and has a single screen cinema with an 800 seat capacity. It was also visited by Walter Gropius during its inauguration in the 1950s, praising the theater’s oustandings qualities. Currently closed as a theater, it now serves the public as a commercial arcade.

3. Galaxy Theater (Closed)

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(Galaxy Theater in Avenida)

This is a lovely movie house designed by National Artist Pablo Antonio Sr., also among the prime movie houses during its time, with a seating capacity of 1000. The use of sun buffles created a very dignified character to the structure. The stairway leading the balcony is very graceful. The arcade post is accented with mahjong-like blocks. Galaxy also used to have an original DP70 wide-screen projector, built in Belgium in the 1950s, that was popular in international cinemas until the 1970s.

4. Ideal Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

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(Ideal Theater in Carriedo, Avenida - 1970s)

The Ideal Theater was designed by the late Architect Pablo Antonio in 1933, the theater was then closed and demolished in the 1970s to give way to the construction of a department store in the said area. The Ideal Theater was one of the first major works of Pablo Antonio along with the buildings of Far Eastern University, Manila Polo Club, and the post-war reconstruction of Manila Cathedral.

5. State Theater (Closed/ Demolished)

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(Newly Renovated State Theater)

This theater was erected in the 1930’s, designed by national artist Juan Nakpil, following the art deco design. Its facade used reinforced concrete, and adorned with steel grillework. This was renovated sometime in the late 1960’s and followed a plain facade design. The right photo shows the old Avenida during 70s with the Ideal and the State Theaters.

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