1947
The Palladium and the Globe theatres along Sule Pagoda Road, 1947
Playing in the months before independence were "The Exile" with Douglas Fairbanks and "Blood and Sand" with Rita Hayworth and Tyrone Powers. Next door was the fabled Smart & Mookerdum bookshop, a favourite of Eric Blair (George Orwell) and many others. In 1942 U Po Sein had performed at the Palladium for over 2,000 guests, including Colonel Suzuki and other top Japanese officers. Rangoon is one of the oldest movie-making and movie-watching cities in all of Asia. And its' cinema district downtown was one of the best anywhere, with nearly a dozen theatres back to back, including the Palladium and Globe, the Excelsior, the Royal, the Carleton, and the Grand. Sadly, most have been demolished over the past few decades. Another terrible waste. (With thanks to U Richard Mookerdum of the Smart & Mookerdum family for the photograph and permission to post.)
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