JAMAICAS GREATEST ERA - MOVIE THEATRES 

Read my Full article on Jamaican Theatres: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ss3Gyyv2Ig0.htmlsi=j_YN1wSv1MzwSNE8

Beautiful Jamaica way back when, a child could walk alone without worrying, hitch a ride without fear. I remember going to a drive In back in the 50s as a kid. I’m sorry, but life was better before .

In the70s students used to be taken to the Carib and Regal theatres to watch movies based on literature texts. Additionally, the Ward was where we went as students to watch Shakespeare plays/movies. Anyone remembers those school trips on the JOS buses to these events?

During the 60's all the community's in Kingston had their cinema, I lived in Denham Town, we had Ambassador in Trench town , Fats Domino perforned there, and Queens theater on Spanish Town road, those were the days.

I have goose bumps when this lady talking about all the good things about Jamaica she reminds me of my mom I love this lady she just like my mom

This lady was so classy and eloquent in how she put herself over ...sounds like she was a debutant in her time i really enjoyed this .....😊

Although I was born in the 60s, I remember the good times in Jamaica. Those were the good and best days.

Rialto was not on slipe road The name was Tropical Rialto was on Winward Road

You are a fabulous 75 year old.

I wish all those beautiful things could reverse back Jamaica was so beautiful and peaceful and so nice

This is such a great history of Jamaica's theatre era. Thank you both for sharing . It was quite enjoyable to hear and see the pictures of those majestic theaters.

I grew up in the 1970ties on Melrose ave across from Ritz on Maxfield Ave. Every sunday night my grandmother would let us go Ritz. 3 movies showing we were little, so we left after the second. Bolo, red rose, white rose, trinity, Saturday night fever, every karate movie i saw at Ritz. We went to Regal to watch King Kong. Saturday morning, we went to Carib to watch Matinee and, of course, go to tastee at Cross Road to buy Patty before going home. We were young, and we felt safe. I still love my movies.

I used to live on the edge of Richmond Park by Chisholm Ave and we could see the top of that outdoor theater on Maxfield Ave from the verandah. I also remember Pantomime on Boxing Day at Ward Theater.

I loved going to Ward Theater to watch Pantomimes and Root plays. It's a shame to see what it looks like now!!!

This lady enjoyed sweet Jamaica and she is still looking great !!!! I remembered in Old Harbour where I grew up in the late 70s we had Dowa theatre and then the Glendon Court theatre muscled in on the business !!! It's so true, people did not have TV and video players and that is why during the eighties to watch anything released out of Hollywood, we simply had to go to the theatre, because hardly anywhere else to go so movie theatres was big business back then !!! So a man who had the means to acquire a TV & video player could also rent the cassettes from businesses doing the rental or get this from overseas in America, make money by setting up a little shop on his house and charge people who would come by to his little shop as patrons to watch movies !!!

Great old days I’ve been to almost all those theaters and I’m just in my fifties, thanks to the greatest father in history, dad took us everywhere god rest his wonderful soul, state and regal was my favorites, triple matinee at Regal and the best kickers at state Odeon was a favorite too and palladium, and dad use to take us to the drive in on washing blvd.

The 50s was my time, I went to every cinemas in Kingston sometimes I would go to two cinemas in one night. Those were wonderful times.

Hi: Deluxe was at Three Miles and they used to show triple bill (three movies) on Monday Nights. Ambassador was in Trench Town and I remember watching a movie there about Davy Crockett, the American Folk hero. I think there were several movies about Davy Crockett. I also attended Bevo Theatre in Christina when I lived there in the late 70s early 80s.

The Jamaicans who often times say there is no place like home, really talking the truth given the nature of our country's vibrant people and most interesting history !!!! Even the Jamaicans migrating add to the country's history as Louise Bennet remarked about in poetry like , "No likkle twang!"

There was an open air theatre in Spanish Town near St Jago High School named Crystal.

I was at the Queen's theater Spanish town Rd. on September 1 1957 when the tragic Kendal train crash occurred.

Realto was on Windward Road and isn't a church today but some trucking establishment there. Kings Theartre on also on Windward Road now has a SDA church there. Globe in Vineyard Town currently has a bakery in the front.

Palace, Kingston Rialto and Gaitey were all open air.

I used to mostly go to Queens on spanish Town Road and ambassador in trench Town also tropical on slipe Road ritz on maxfield avenue. I went to Harbour View drive in once, regal was more a uptown cinema, i also went to state and carib. It was a very fascinating time for me as a young boy watching the westerns etc, ambassador had a few unsavory incidents happening there. I used to sell bottles to get my fare to go to ambassador and my uncle would take me to Queens. Those days cinemas was all over Kingston and was the places to go. I never used to go to clubs because I was too young but heard about adastra,glass bucket etc. I was born in Denham Town and grew up in Jones Town where you are surrounded by dance venues like chocomo lawn, foresters Hall, skipper lawn ,ghana lawn etc

Ward Theatre was the venue in 1960 for the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Gondiliers and in 1961 Iolanthe. The actor were all students of St. Hugh's and Kingston College.

There was lots in the Kingston area, There was Gaity, Majestic, Tropical, Ambassador, Harbour View Drive in, etc.

I have been to most of kingston theaters in kingston deluxe three miles majestic queens spanish town road ambassdor(bass) trench town gaiety east queen st palace victoria ave kings and rialto winward road harbour view driveing globe vinyard rd odeon half way tree ritz maxfield ave tropical slipe rd state regalBOULIVAR DRIVING and CARIB CROSS ROADS never been to PREMIER LOL😅😅

"Palace Theater" South Camp Road and East Queen Street!

Very stimulating, this really makes me love the rock even more. Great memories

I enjoyed that Also I’m adding Spanish town had 2 theaters Crystal and Astor I remember paying 75 cents to go in and I think the last admission price before the closed down was $4

Love the conversation with this Lady, respect!!!!

As a teenager in the late 70S I remember Regal and Carib . I believe Charlie Babcock when u go to Carib and Charlie would say sit back and enjoy the cool air condition Carib theatre.I went to Odeon as a teen. My first time going to theatre as a child was one on Spanish Town road can't recall the name now to watch kung fu fight it was not Bruce Lee . She sounds like Fae Ellington.I remember going to pantomime the good old days down town was nice on Sundays O Jamaica, Jamaica the good old days I love Jamaica.IMy mother use to tell me about a play where the girl came from country to Kingston and life treating her good so a woman came from the same parish and district and saw her and call her name and greetings her ,she put on town on her head and start to twang turn to the lady and say to the woman,in twang I think I know u and all hell broke loose my mother told me the woman read her up good and proper and tell her how u think u know me when the two of us use to sleep on dry trash back home and tell all who she use to sleep with .I don't know if this was Queenies daughter's , when someone had a T V u were look up on as middle class we the poor ones would go to their home and sit on their floor,some we could not go in their house we have to prep through window.Jamaica was nice in the evenings in late 70S we would go on the road in the evenings and go to street dance and listen to sound clash . Channel one disco Symbolic and there was a young yellow man sister Nancy life was poor but we were happy.I took in yellow man in Canada a few years ago he performs just like he in his 20S

That was the Jamaica that we knows why can't we get back out sweet sweet Jamaica

Fond memories traveling from Portland to attend pantomime at Ward Theater. Miss Lou and Mass Ran

Thank you for the memories?🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲❤️

A drive in was also in New kingston

Ward Theater is more than 200 years old, it was moved from Harbour street to north Parade and it burnt down a couple of times, and rebuild back. I was in the 1950s and come see the Theater there, what I useto under that they useto rented the Theater mostly holidays to have pantomime, shows there. Before it was called Patomine back then,they useto called it concerts.My father was born 1919 and he tells about it, before I been to a couple of them. Because I useto helped organized some of those played in my Youth club and, also schools plays.I useto lived next door to a couple theaters, I lived on top of orange street near to Tropical Theater and, also Wards Theater on Camperdown road. I useto pay three pence to go to to watched double bill, on a Sunday it was triple bills. I can write a book about Kingston and st, Andrew, because I lived and worked in the corporate area.

Here other clubs in that Era, Curphey Place, Sombrero Club, Johnson Drive Inn, Kitties Mat, later on came Stables, Tit 4 Tat, Studio Seven, Boeheima Club, and more.......

Meritone first played in Kingston in 1964 at Wembley Club House which is now Dunoon High School.

As I am watching your show and this lady brought back many memories of when I was a teenager. I was born in Kingston in 1941 and grew up 😂in the Lyndhurst Road area. My mother owned Nelson's Drug Store in Cross Roads Square, next to the market.after Dr Nelson, with whom she was appended, died in I think 1938. She was one of the first women in Jamaica to be trained as a pharmacist. She attended Montego Bay High Schoool. I graduated from Alpha Academy in 1958. I remember going to school on the tram before busses came. I was in the Kendal train crash when I was 15. My whole family went because it was a Catholic Church outing. I also remember the horse and buggy, My mother had a few friends who owned buggies. Back then, the funeral hearse were horse drawn buggies with glass sides so people could see the coffin, Whenever a hearse passed on the street, everyone would stand where they and the men would remove their hats as a show of respect. I also remember the Zeppelins that used to fly over the island during World War 2 and the rationing of imported food and kerosene oil. Thank you for the memories.

Thank you for sharing,I miss those beautiful days.I miss Jamaica night life.I miss Louise Benett and Oliver.🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲❤️

Just remember The Palace, Odeon, Premier.

Thank you Kareem for taking us back.Do you remember Globe theaters

Merritone was a disco owned by the Blake Bros Winston , Trevor, Tyrone and Monte.This sound originated in Morant Bay St Thomas but migrated to Kgn in the 60s played at the turntable club on Red Hills Rd

Enjoyed the throwback

There were three theaters on Spanish Town Road. They are Queen in Tivoli area, Majestic in the Maxfield and Spanish Town Road area, and the Deluxe in the Payne Avenue. area by Three Miles.

Gaiety & Palace on East Queen Street, had no roofs. Same as Mona Cinema, off Mona Road. Thanks for the Memories.🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

I used to Ward theatre for schools competitions in the Fifties, and matinee cinema and pantomime Christmas time.

Oh! Gone are those beautiful days. 🇯🇲🏰🙆👀🆘🚧

Apart from Miss Lou and Ranny,there was also Charles Hyatt

My sister took me to see Bed knobs and Broomsticks at the Carib theater back in the 70’s….good memories.

The Ward Theatre's Seasons of Excellence was it for me for the Ward Theater

Ward Theater was the headquarters for captian Morgan

Love this, continue to give us more

This is great stuff, thanks for the memories!

Mona’s became a church. My friend’s mother on Saturdays, dropped us off for Saturday matinees at Premier. Not afraid to leave us there & come back when movies finished.

saw Ben-Hur as a child at Washington Boulevard Drive Inn , I love this walk down memory lane

Thank you Kareem

Keep the QUEST COMING

Clubs: VIP, Merritone, the Blake brothers, Sombrero.

I reside in New York I enjoy these episodes. I also send them to my friend in Florida. We reminisce about the good old days. Keep the videos coming. Thanks

Really enjoyed this Kareem, so I subscribed. Would like to see more contents like this. When my Mom and Dad went to the dance, the hit song was "honor your mother and your father" by Justin Hinds and the Dominoes.

Globe Theater in Vineyard Town was also open air, well kept nice theater to visit, miss those days.

Just came across your channel, interesting ❤❤❤

When it rain we get a rain check

Nuff respect. It seems as if nobody remember the duo of Bim & Bam in the Miss Lou and Ranny era, and how playing gig was one the most enjoying games among boys.

There was also a theatre in Mona heights erected in early 60s near to Mona reservoir

I rode on the train from Kingston to Montego Bay. Nice ride in the seventies.

I saw Ten Commandments at Carib Lineups were long long

Memories don't do like people do, they always stay with you..Chisom Avenue, omara rd,Maxfield av and Richmond Park Avenue were like a collective neighborhood..in those days..

Habor View drive in... My aunt's/father's house was right behind the theatre on Copley Drive and we use to sit on the fence and watch the movie without sound... house gone now, sea reclaim the land.

Ward theater use to have film shows ,the last movie i watch there was herculese in the centre of the earth rain fall we get a rain check ticket to come back someother time but no movie ever show there ever again

Omg i remember those good old days in Jamaica 🇯🇲 little theater ward theater Jamaica. Use to have a lot theater

Palice theater was my playground, I use to live at 20 Blake Road, I had two cousin that used to work in the foyer, so I had the run of the place

Astor theater on Brunswick Avenue in Spanish Town became a church.

And you forgot to mention Queens theatre on Spanish Town road right by Tivoli Gardens and Ambassador was in Jungle because I think you said it was also on Spanish Town road those were the days Cecile. I have two suggestions that I would love to hear your thoughts on. 1. How about Skate land in Half Way Tree 2. I would love to hear you talk about Solid Gold on TV every Saturday and how people copy the American style of dancing like Disco and Soul music and the clothes that used to go with the music like bell bottom pants and pretty pretty shirt I know you have a lot to say about that when I listen to you so come on Cecile 😅

Globe theater open air (as some of them were not open air)became a bakery at the same location on Deanery Rd

U made me happy as a late sixties child l just love your platform this discussion trigger my emotions in so many ways listen I just want back our country

We used to go to house parties every week. It was fun. Remember fetes. My boyfriend and then husband went to a lot of house parties.

Remember Kings Theatre on Windward Road, Globe Theatre almost in front of Central Police station on East Queen Street, I remember those days, this was before I start going to high school

Ward theatre also hosted the schools festival competitions: dancing, poetry, choirs etc.

Sombrero was very close to molines square..

There was Deluxe theatre on Spanish Town rd not far from the roundabout near Kelly’s drinks factory

What about tropical theater on slipe road it was a open air theater

Was the lady trying to remember Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore?

The club on Hagely Park Road, would be Boeheima Club.

Back in the 70's as kids we were allowed to go to Carib, Premier and Regal (as per the choice of our mother) but as I got older I went to the theaters with movies that was interested to me: (The Harder They Come at Carib) Queens, but I had to stretch the truth then; those good times and good films to keep people interested and the theaters open! Then there was the "Mid-night movies" 😀🎥🎥🎥🎞🎞🎞🎞 of which I had to walk home as after "NO public Transportation" It was an adventure!

The club on Windward Road was either Club Havana or Adastra which were beside each other.

I always hear people say 3 river meets and mermaids under ambassador theater 😍😍

The original soda fountain counter was in Nathan’s Department Store on King Street. You could get one of the best malted milk floats and patty for one shilling! As an emerging star, the Wailing Wailers were to headline at a performance at Ward Theatre. GG, Clifford, Lady Campbell plus many other luminaries and hoi pollois of the society were in attendance. Roy Lawrence was the MC and the programme was being broadcast live by JBC. When it was time for the Wailers to perform, Roy Lawrence made the big announcement … no Wailers walked out. With great flare he announced them again … still no Wailers. The audience started to stir and look puzzled. With even more flare and volume Roy Lawrence made a third introduction call for the Wailers. Finally they stumbled, literally stumbled, on to the stage all three as high as high can be and tried rambling off a song or two. By the next morning the three of them were demonized across the whole Island for having the nerve (gall!) to appear before the GG and other dignitaries in that state, in newspaper, on radio and TV all the talk was how they had no manners or respect for their leaders! Roy Lawrence seemed personally affronted by it and I don’t think he ever forgot or forgave Bob, Peter and Bunny for as long as he lived.

My beautiful memories of Carib Theater. My dad used to take me and my sister there for the Christmas morning show. Then Victoria Pier. You mentioned the tight jeans. It was the Felucchi jeans tight as hell. Saturday morning matinee..triple bill. Food was the best beef sandwich you could ever eat. There was a gentleman who would walk around with a big bag full with free popcorn for the kids. I miss Carib. Regal l liked not as good as Carib. Premier was for theiptown elites. I miss those days. T

Such wonderful memories. I am not sure he mentioned her name. I also attended st hugh’s in the 60’s. Would love to know her name. In those days vineyard town and Rollington town were good areas.

I'm a old hope road papine and all points north south east west of our Kingston and st Andrew area the club giving glass bucket completion of which my father and uncle were bar tenders was Rainbow lounge in the same half tree area and Monty's inn owned by the Hosangs on old hope road below lady Musgrave road

The ambassador theater

Does anyone remember that huge delicious roast beef sandwich at Carib? Omg i looked so forward to it even more than d movie 😂

Ritz theater on Maxfield ave.

Strand n todoor

I remember Miss Lou and Ranny Williams with Miss Lou beating him with her flat board it ran as a series for weeks.Yes Tropical is now a church in Orange St. On Spanish Town Road we're Tivoli and Majestic. Ambassadore was in Trent Town in front of Thompson St. Rialto on East Queen St There were Bim and Bam comedy. I went to Regal, Tropical and Ambassador. No the drive in cinema I knew was in Harbour view. I am older than U and was born in Kgn.

Dont forget Bryon Lee and the dragonaires,killamangaro sound. J O S bus willworth department store where u get cheap thinga to bu on king Street John R Wong supermarket Hi Lo and those days patties were patties Bruce's patties,Tastees was patties and Meat loaf like patties but bigger

Remebered Seeing An Ed Lewis Production Bim & Bam @ Ward Theater With Miss Lou Mass Ran Charles Hyatt ETC.