Two years after World War II wiped out the movie theaters in Manila, newly-built and newly-renovated ones were back in operation between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1946. Contributor Celso de Guzman Caparas has made a list of the theaters and the re-opening movies as a rejoinder to Funfare’s tribute to Post-war Actresses and Post-war Actors and Directors published last year. This feature is also in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Manila (Feb. 3 to March 3) and the 96th anniversary of Philippine Cinema.
Ideal (Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz) — Somewhere I’ll Find You, Clark Gable and Lana Turner; owned by the Roces family in partnership with Teotico, Basa, Tuason and Guidote families (the first theater was made of wood in 1912).
Times (Quezon Blvd.) — We’ve Never Been Licked, Richard Quinne and Anne Gwynne; re-opened on Aug. 21, 1945, erected in 1939 and designed by architect Luis Araneta with an Art Moderne relief; the only pre-war theater still in operation, showing double foreign films.
Lyric (Escolta) — Desert Song, Dennis Morgan and Irene Manning, Warner; re-opened on Sep. 16, 1945.
Zest (R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo) — I Was A U-Boat Prisoner, Bruce Bennett and Erik Rolf; re-opened on Nov. 9, 1945.
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Globe (Raon St., Quiapo) — None Shall Escape, Marsha Hunt and Alexander Knox; re-opened on Nov. 11, 1945.
Astor (Plaza Sta. Cruz) — The Fleet’s In, Dorothy Lamour and William Holden; re-opened on Nov. 11, 1945.
Cine Metro (R. Hidalgo, Quiapo) — Song of Nevada, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Cine Dart (Dart corner Herran Streets) — King of the Royal Mounted, Allan Lane and Robert Strange, Republic; and Counter Attack, Paul Muni and Marguerite Chapman.
Cine Lotus (Rizal Ave. corner Tayuman St.) — Meet Me in St. Louis, Judy Garland.
Cine Luzon (Rizal Ave. corner Cavite St.) — Hey! Rookie, Ann Miller and Joe Besser.
Confucius (Ongpin corner Salazar Streets) — Destroyer, Edward Robinson and Glenn Ford, Columbia with Yamashita’s Trial as special attraction; formerly Rex Theater.
Park (Carriedo, Quiapo) — Black Dragons, Bela Lugosi and Joan Barclay.
Rajah (Quezon Blvd.) — Palikero, Ely Ramos, a pre-war Sampaguita movie originally released on Oct. 29, 1941.
Noli (Rizal Ave. corner Laguna St.) — This Gun for Hire, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
Coco (Juan Luna St., Binondo) — Virginia City, Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart.
Cine Moderno (Quiapo) — Counter Attack, Paul Muni and Marguerite Chapman.
Manila (Rizal Ave. corner Antipolo St.) — Objective Burma, Errol Flynn and James Brown.
Gloria (Sande St., Tondo) — Rio Rita, Budd Abbott and Lou Costello.
Alegria (Rizal Ave. corner Tayuman) — Thief of Bagdad, June Duprez and Conrad Veidt.
Apolo (Rizal Ave. corner Bambang St.) — I Wanted Wings, Ray Milland and Veronica Lake.
Radio (Estero Cegado, Quiapo) — Gypsy Wildcat, Maria Montez and Jon Hall.
Royal (Ronquillo St. corner Rizal Ave.) — The Invasion of Norway (The Moon is Down), Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Henry Travers.
Orient (Raon St., Quiapo.) — Holiday Inn, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire; newly-built, operated by E.V. Mendoza & Co., operator of chain of theaters in Luzon and Visayas since 1938.
Illusion (P. Gomez, R. Hidalgo) — A Yank at Eton, Mickey Rooney and Edmund Gwenn.
Bellevue (Herran St., Paco) — Tagumpay, Arsenia Francisco and Rogelio de la Rosa; built in the ‘30s with a Neo Mudejar theme, a Quonset hut design and other classic ornamentation.
Bataan (Echague St. corner Plaza Goiti) — Dillinger, Edmund Lowe and Anne Jeffreys; owned by Mr. and Mrs. Salvador Santos, newly-built on the former site of Strand Theater and named in honor of the heroes of Bataan.
Life (Quezon Blvd.) — A Thousand and One Nights, Evelyn Keyes and Phil Silvers; owned by the Villoncos, one of original partners of LVN; opened with RDR’s Ang Maestra starring Rosa del Rosario and Rogelio de la Rosa on Oct. 15, 1941; designed by Pablo Antonio with art deco façade and interiors.
Pacific Theater (Ronquillo St.) — The Clock, Judy Garland and Robert Walker; newly-built.
Center (Quezon Blvd. near Azcarraga St.) — Frenchman’s Creek, Joan Fontaine and Arturo de Cordova; newly-built.
State (Rizal Ave.) — Crash Dive, Anne Baxter and Tyrone Power, operated by Rufino brothers Vicente and Ernesto of Luzon Theaters, Inc.; touted as “Theatre De Luxe.”
Cine “S” (Dart St.) — Alaala Kita, Mila del Sol and Rodrigo Danao; owned and operated by Sevilla’s Theater Circuit.
Society (Echague, Quiapo) — Up In Arms, Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore; newly-built.
Avenue (Rizal Ave.) — Beyond the Blue Horizon; designed by Juan Nakpil as “The Aristocrat of Theater.”
Rio (Herran St.) — Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
New Tivoli (Plaza Sta. Cruz) — Bomber’s Moon, George Montgomery and Annabella.
Capitol (Rizal Ave.) — The Princess and the Pirate, Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo, Samuel Goldwin; an art deco style theater designed by Juan Nakpil and built in 1935.
Boulevard (Quezon Blvd.) — Du Barry Was A Lady, Lucille Ball and Red Skelton; newly-built.
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