Singapore 60's Music: We Were On Stage Before Cliff Richard

Andy with Michael Goh and brother Richard 

at the Capitol Cinema 9 January 1961

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Amateur Night Capitol Cinema: Andy Young, Michael Goh: 9th January, 1961

Singapore  Badminton Hall: Cliff Richard n Shadows: 19th  November,  1961

Backstage at the Capitol Cinema with Goh Brothers, Richard and Michael (2nd right), who sang My Rifle, My Pony and Me. I cannot remember the gentleman on the left. If you do please let us know.

After 47 years, I met Mike again at Vivo City Concert on 8th November 2008. Michael performed Memories Are Made Of This and two other songs by Dean Martin.

When I told him I had met him previously, he wasn't sure so I went home whipped out my photo-album and sent him a copy of our picture.

Michael had recorded songs by Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and other 50's artistes on 4 CD's which were sold in the US under Michael Gold (blogged on Dec. 28, 2008).

Cliff and the Shadows Happy World Stadium 

19 November, 1961

Donated by Tan Soo Khoon

Backstage, On Stage, Performing

And backstage is the theme today. Notice our garb. I was wearing a pair of shiny, brown pants, either near bell-bottoms of straight drain-pipe trousers. The others had the usual baggy pants tailor made for office use. The neckties were a variety then, some pointed or flat at the end. A small, longish golden or silver tie pin completes the outfit. White long sleeved shirts were common then.

This was the period around the time Cliff Richard and the Shadows were about to hit Singapore. Just as the 1950's were about to end, teenagers all over the world were crazy with Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Bill Haley, Bobby Darin, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Everly Brothers, the era of rock and roll, US music and vocal duets.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, 

Johnny Cash in the late 1950's to the 1960's

Connie Francis, Sandra Dee, Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida were the craze then. Movies like Gidget, Summer Place and Come September were the talk of the time and Elvis fans were crazy with Are You Lonesome Tonight and Baby Let's Play House.

So when these people were hot, we were just as hot.  And we were mostly on stage performing already. Exciting years.

Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee, Gina Lollobrigida and 

Rock Hudson in movie, 'Come September'.

This post has been forwarded from 2009

Images: Google

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 

at least credit this blog and me because copying is stealing.

Andy.

Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan: 

My Rifle, Pony and Me

YouTube Video: Dino4ever

History Of Victoria Theatre Singapore: Nostalgia Aids Mental Health

At the patio in a bungalow from the 1960's, 

Andy with sunglasses. [Image: Copyrights Reserved]

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A journal article reads that nostalgia is not a psychiatric disorder and occurs in all cultures and amongst all age group. Research suggests that it can promote psychological health with overall positive feelings including higher self esteem and the increased feeling of being loved. It counteracts the effects of loneliness and increases perceptions of social support.

Nostalgia provides a link between our past and present selves i.e. it may provide us with a positive view which could help to give a greater sense of continuity and meaning to our lives. It may acquire greater significance in old age as elderly adults are vulnerable to social isolation. "Nostalgia is now emerging as a fundermental human strength and we play a starring role in our nostalgic scenes."

The first image shows a house party, at a bungalow at Mountbatten Road, which I  organised. It shows the dancing that took place at the large patio. For dance music, records spin from a radiogram and tapes on large spools were played that evening. Later on in the evening, the lights were dimmed. 

Just across Mountbatten Road and beyond a row of bungalows was the open sea at Tanjong Katong, where many young couples enjoy a private moment. The second image shows the Victoria Theatre with its clock tower where many dances and music events are held. It still stands today, renovated, stately and ready to stand for another 100 years and more.

Judy, Judy, Judy by Johnny Tillotson 

was one of the favourites of the bungalow owner.

YouTube Video from: SVansay.

From: 

http://PsychCentral.ComRick Nauert (PhD), Senior News Editor, Association for Psychological Science15.12.2008.

Image 1: 

Home Party-1963 Andy Lim Collection. 

Image 2: 

Victoria Theatre - 1962 from National Heritage Board Website.

Victoria Theatre (posted on 4th August, 2010)" Reliving the Glory Days

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District is one of the most historically versatile buildings in all of Singapore. In the course of its nearly 150-year history, apart from being a focal point for arts and cultural entertainment, this handsome Victorian-era colonial landmark with its distinctive Palladian clock tower, Italianate windows and rusticated columns was once a town hall, hospital and a war crimes trials court.

The history of this building is a fascinating one. In fact, you’ll be surprised to know that it wasn’t even originally intended to be a theatre. Designed by prominent architect John Bennett, it actually began life as the young colony’s Town Hall in 1862. The fact that it had two large halls on each of its two floors allowed it to stage concerts. And soon, while it thronged to the footsteps of municipal employees in the day, amateur groups were busy putting on plays and concerts at night.

When Queen Victoria passed away in 1901, the colonial government decided to erect a memorial to her long reign, deciding that a public hall alongside the existing Town Hall building would be a fitting tribute. And sensibly, they decided, in the name of continuity, to keep the same architectural style as the earlier municipal building.

The new building was christened Victoria Memorial Hall upon completion in 1905, and almost immediately, the Town Hall underwent renovations to turn it into a theatre, with the space between the buildings earmarked for a splendid clock tower. The makeover project (to turn the complex into three different parts) was completed in 1909 when Victoria Theatre officially opened.

Vic. Hall today. It's always a full house.

https://ourhound.com/listing/victoria-concert-hall/

In the period before World War II, the Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall staged many concerts, musicals and plays, including a performance by Noel Coward in 1930. It was lucky to have survived intact during the Japanese air raids, and during the Japanese Occupation its strategic location in the city saw it being used as a hospital.

During peaceful times, it was also the scene of political milestones, chief among them the launch of the ruling People’s Action Party in 1954. And then in 1962, the original bronze statue of Singapore’s founder Stamford Raffles, which had been standing at the nearby Padang for years, was moved to the front of the building. When the Singapore Symphony Orchestra moved in 1979, the complex was renamed Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.

To preserve the grandeur and allure of the old dame, it had closed later in 2009 for an extensive two-and-half year renovation, before reopening in 2013. So on your visit to Singapore, don’t miss your final chance to capture a slice of its old glory."

[This article has been edited to suit the time and format of this posting's publication. No other information has been changed.]

Information from:

http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/see-and-do/culture-and-heritage/a-touch-of-history/landmarks-and-memorials/history-of-victoria-theatre-and-victoria-concert-hall.html

(I acknowledge the article was taken from the above website. This posting will be taken off if it contravenes copyright laws. Please write via the latest posting on this blog for removal. Thank you.)

This article is a repost from January, 2009.

The Espanade Outdoor Theatre Hosts 60s Music 2010 For Everyone!

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The Esplanade Outdoor Theatre in Singapore fronts the 300m long waterfront along Marina Bay. It can seat 450 people and take up to 600 standing. The space hosts a range of performances from music to dance and theatre which can all be enjoyed under the starlit sky.

Since July 2008, the redeveloped theatre, equipped with an in-built sound console and rigs for lighting, boasts a new performance stage 2.5 times the size of the original stage, which is twice the size of the previous theatre. The new features will allow for more dynamic performances and an enhanced audience experience. 

 The theatre has been an important fixture in the Singapore arts scene since it opened in 2002 and has hosted over 2,000 performances that range in diversity. In the short history of the theatre over 1.5 million people have come to experience the free performances there. The new theatre will offer better protection from the elements through the addition of three large sails. No concerns about cancelled shows at mid-performance because of the weather.

Come join the crowd to celebrate National Day 2010 this year with a bumper crop of gigs for 60s music fans. It's free, begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm.

(Article has been edited from Outdoor Theatre Websites.)

Images/Information: www.esplanadeyouths.com/?p=361

http://www.esplanade.com/about_the_centre/venues/outdoor_theatre/index.jsp

Singapore 60s Music Talentime For The Masses

A singer and his accompanying band participating in a Singing Contest in Singapore. The group is formatted with Cliff Richard and the Shadows ideal but it is not a regulation. 

Various organizations in Singapore, both public and private ones, held talentime competitions regularly. The Housing & Development Board was no exception. Image shows a talent contest held in 1964 as bands were many and singers in demand.

Winning a talentime competition could make an exciting but unstable career for musicians and singers. Some of them participated for the fun and excitement it provided. The Quests, The Jets, The Burns, The Antartics, Gaylads, were some of the groups that had won a talent competition.

The term 'talentime' was coined by radio personality Kingsley Morrando [above] in the late 50s when he organized such shows to promote singing talents those days. Morrando was a broadcaster working at Radio Malaya (Singapore) studios. He was also a popular radio announcer (term today is 'DJ' = Disc Jockey) in a pop music request programme called, 'To Each His Own'. He even had a company called, ‘Talentime’ at Shaw House. Good friend and well-known Rediffusion broadcaster Larry Lai confirmed this information. An on-line article mentioned that it was one Tony Beamish, the Radio Malaya English Programme Supervisor then, who coined it. 

Among the music youths in the 60s, it was an important word but whether it is accepted officially as part of the English Language vocabulary is another question, either in the UK or in America. Anyone?

Image: The National Heritage Board, Singapore.

Original Article: Andy Lim.

Ambassador Hotel As Lovers Move In Shadows

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The Ambassador Hotel, opposite Katong Park at Meyer Road near the East Coast beaches, was the rendezvous for lovers. The hotel had a roof garden, with Singapore 60s guitar groups or combo bands playing music by The Shadows, Cliff Richard, Elvis, The Beatles and other superstars.

Many combos and local bands used to entertain patrons in this hotel with "Wonderful Land", "Sleepwalk" or rebel rousers like, "Shindig", The Young Ones", "Guitar Boogie" and "Twist And Shout." Dancing under the stars was always the theme and youth had its days when the bands floored the dancers with both hot and cool music.

Sleepwalk the original Shadows version that reminds me of the sweet times we had at the Ambassador.

I remember going there with some good friends where we spent the evening over one or two drinks that cost about $6.00 a glass. My favourite drink is rum and coke, a drink I am told that attracts medical problems like diabetes. The ladies we came with were friends and colleagues that had come to support guest bands that played on a particular weekend.

There was an evening where we made floor space for the versatility of the Sunny Low Dancers, the slim young man with the built, grace and charm of Gene Kelly. This particular dance place or nightclub was on another floor in the hotel; correct me if I am wrong, the sixth floor if I remember.

Oh yes, Katong Park and the beach were downstairs and it was a slow, five-minute walk to seclusion and privacy. The hotel is gone now but the memories remain.

Image: National Heritage Board, Singapore.

Original article: Andy Young.

Anneke Gronloh, Blue Diamonds @ Good Park Hotel

Images of Anneke Gronloh and The Blue Diamonds - Rudy and Riem De Wolff - at the Goodwood Park Hotel, Orchard Road, where the trio was staying. 

At that time, the three personalities were at the top of their form, flying in and out of Singapore from either Indonesia or Holland where they originated, to perform at the Badminton Hall, the Indoor Stadium at Kallang or at the hotel itself. 

They also had close connections with Singaporeans, finding the island a safe haven for their performances, recordings and family connections.

These superstars of Singapore 60's were at the hotel for their performance on the island. The photographs were taken in February and December 1962.

Images: 
National Heritage Board Singapore Website and Straits Times Press, Singapore

Amber Mansions, Celestial Room Andy n Silver Strings

The image is of Amber Mansions, at the entrance of Orchard Road (left), where guitar groups played in the mid 1960s during Tea Dances at The Celestial Room on the floor above. Art galleries, quaint decor outlets, coffee houses and restaurants are terraced on the floors below. It was a place where the young nineteen sixties crowd would want to be seen at.

The Silver Strings was the guest band for many months at the Celestial and we had a taste of what tea dances were like when we performed there. It was a baptism of fire because it was the first time when the band had a regular weekend stint. We started off as a band that took over the resident one in between sets of 45 minute sessions. Sometimes there were as many as five sets per night.

Silver Strings in later years had Mike And Herb

 to sing their own original songs: 

'Don't Want You Around Anymore'

YouTube video from Audie Ng

The band's repertoire consisted of song hits like Apache, Kontiki and slow dance music like, Wonderful Land and I would take over with, When The Girl in Your Arms but heat up the Room with I Saw Her Standing There. The music would always be a mix of Cliff, Shadows, Beatles and Elvis, if we can manage. About twelve songs or more.

I first introduced a song that was popular in the living room at home. It became a hit when the TV  series Fireball XL5, a sci-fi marionette-based show, became popular with Singaporeans. The title song became our calling card for some time and fans were asking for "Fireball" when we came on stage.

The lead guitar was DAVE CHAN and not Dickie Tan (above).

I was unable to acquire past photographs. This image is from a 2009 magazine.

The music was fast, the dancing was fast and so was the business. The brisk and efficient club ran for a while raking in some for the boss. He just knew what to do with his band of boys and with this novelty T dance craze.

The person in charge of Celestial Room was Mr Quek Sin Bock, a rather robust business man, frank and full of good cheer. He loved the band and I remember we turned resident and acquired more and more gigs from other nightspots. We were known as "Andy and The Silver Strings" and performed at the venue in the mid 60s, way before other bands did.

The building has since been replaced by Dhoby Ghaut MRT. 

Images: From The National Heritage Board Archives and Personal Collection.

"We're gonna rock, rock, till broad daylight, We're gonna rock around the clock, tonight."

Roxy Cinema East Coast Road, Movies And Laksa

The Roxy screened movies after they had been shown in the cinemas in towns like the Capitol, Rex or Pavilion. It was also the hub for gatherings of the 50s and 60s band boys and girls as the Palace and Odeon Katong cinemas were just across East Coast Road from Roxy. Katong then was very suburban. The cinema opened in December 1957 by Sir Robert Scott and the movie shown was Oh My Papa. 

Two major cinema companies used to dominate the Singapore scene for many years. So for business competition, another movie theatre opened diagonally across the road. It was called the Odeon-Katong Cinema, the Odeon being famous already at North Bridge Road in the city and Katong being this suburban place on the east coast. 

Sue Thompson says that sad movies made her cry. ET was one movie. My elder son cried at the end of the show when ET went home?

Then there's the Palace next to the Roxy, separated only by a pencil-thin road at Brooke's. This whole area attracted food shops and other businesses. The shop houses still stand today but the cinemas have long been demolished; we watch our movies at home now...

(Many young Singaporeans are not aware that the Roxy Laksa that is so famous today originally had a little stall behind Roxy Cinema, not too far from its ticket booth. Many patrons would rush to the little stall to have a bowl before popping into the cinema for a show. The owner was a Chinese male. Does his son run the stall today?)

Map from LauKokok's Blog. Roxy is just across from Ceylon Road, next to Brooke.

Tickets at these cinemas used to cost 50 cents for the first five or six rows from the screen, so if you happen to buy a seat near the screen, you crane your neck for two hours to see the movie and the images on the screen are distorted. 

The next 10 or 12 rows of seats cost $1.00 and the last few rows and the circle seats (upstairs/balcony) cost $2.00. There were times when you could put $1.00 into the usher's hand and get a comfortable $2.00 seat in the corner of the theatre. 

Have you been to the Roxy? Tell us. 

1960's Cinema ticket samplings from SKY Theatre. Similarly Roxy's.

Image: Shaw Brothers Website or the National Heritage Board.
Original Article: Andy Lim Collection.

Ocean Park Hotel: 60's Dinner and Dance

Ocean Park Hotel Dinner and Dance Venue 

This occasion was held at an open concert hall where the sea breeze, cool evening and great entertainment made it a memorable night for many patrons, guests and performers.

It was situated at Upper East Coast Road near the present St. Patrick's School and Jackie's Bowl, one of the first few bowling alleys in the 60s. Andy Young is seen singing to Susan during a rehearsal for an end of year dinner and dance at the hotel. It was held on December 21st, 1963.

The practice song was Paul Anka's Diana as Andy had to sing it to Susan that evening. The song became Andy's signature tune whenever he appeared during the many variety shows held in the 1960's. All this came about before he joined the Velvetones and the Silver Strings. 

Partying at Ocean Park Hotel. Image by Mun Chor Seng

For the show that evening, Andy was accompanied by Robert Suriya and his band, one of the groups that performed. Both Robert and Henry Suriya came from St. Andrew's School so they were familiar faces then. Were they known as The Boys already? Naomi wasn't present that night.

Called the Queen of Queens Grand Finale, the other guest artistes included MC Siri Perera, The Checkmates, Kiss Me Quick singer David Baskaran, Siva and James Choy better known as the Cyclones, talentime winner and jazz specialist Eunice Sim, Singapore cowpoke Henry Suriya (he came well before Matthew Tan) and the 60's version of cross-dresser Kumar, Ms Percy Leceister.

Percy could wow the crowd with his shimmy, songs and sensuality. The crowd would get very excited when Percy appeared as they would shout his name and clapped whenever he did his Latin dance routines on stage to the beat of bongo drums and the maracas.

It was organised by Hitachi and a fashion house. The night was hauntingly frightful because a Pontianak (pregnant witch) and vampire were roaming around the nightclub, disturbing the young ladies... Remember it was late 1963 and the bands and singers were just blooming.

Because there was hardly any entertainment in the evenings back then and the usual sophisticates could not adapt themselves to the crowd at the Happy World in Geylang, many Katongnites, Siglapians, the Peranakans and Eurasians would patronise these dances during the weekends. Because such an activity came few and far between, a night like this one practically drew the East Coast Road population to Ocean Park.

As Elvis would say it in one of his songs, "Such A Night!"

Image 1/original article: Andy Lim Collection.
Image 2: by Mun Chor Seng.
Image 3: by singas.co.uk

Appearing At Adelphi And Other Night Spots In 60s

The Adelphi Hotel along North Bridge Road and across the road from the previous Funan Centre across the road, not far from St Andrew's Cathedral and Capitol Cinema, was another popular venue for pop bands when they entertained for festivities, dinner n dance and charity balls. It had a beautiful dance floor typical of the colonial ballrooms that classic hotels had in the 60's and earlier.

The Adelphi as it was called was one of the hotels my band and I appeared when we gave performances as a guitar group during the early 60's.  Other hotels and clubs that we had appeared in  included the South East Asia Hotel, The Ambassador Hotel, Celestial Room, Springdale, Happy Cabaret, West Point Nightclub, Kowloon Room, etc.

Appearing at popular Springdale Nightspot in the 1960s.

As the advertisement shows sometimes three bands performed in a single evening, each band relieving the other for non-stop dance music. In this particular instance we appeared with Keith Locke and The Quests and Vernon with The Trailers.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

Image 2: Straits Times Press advertisement.

              Springdale Fishing Pond @ Yio Chu Kang from Singas.co.uk.

Where Guitar Groups Perform Before A Movie

Where else did the new and unknown bands play before they hit the big time in Singapore 60s?
There were two big names in movie houses then, Shaw Brothers and Cathay Organisation. To promote their movies these two groups had bands to perform before a show and it's usually at the Capitol & Cathay.

I sang in 'Amateur Night' at the Capitol Cinema (still a landmark today) with others like the Goh Brothers. It was a blast!

The exceptionally large posters that fronted the Capitol building were usually planned, drawn and painted by creative artist Robert Song, who was also a singer with 60s bands like The Flamingos, The Checkmates and The Stylers. Song had sinced passed away in 1990 in the Philippines.

Image: from ST Collection Ebay

Rediffusion Singapore 6o's Music Heritage: There Yesterday, Gone Today...

Rediffusion Office at Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore

With transistor radios, music became portable early but there was one special station which broadcast 24 hours a day. It was cheap to invest in one and the subscription didn't deter anyone from getting 'the box.

REDIFFUSION became the craze then and the box was seen everywhere. By the 60s Larry Lai, Tan Swee Leong, Tan Hock Lye and Eric Lim became household names.

My Memories by Phil Tay:

"I started listening to Rediffusion in the 50s when I was staying at Race Course Road.  The early morning Chinese Evergreens was my favourite. Then I was attracted to the evening stories of the Monkey God in Teochew, Water Margin, etc.

I stayed in Balestier , Bukit Merah, Ang Mo Kio and few other places on and off. Mother and wife liked stories on this box so we had Rediffusion too.. In subsequent years we turned to RTS Radio Channels as it was more convenient and easily accessible.

The death of this iconic media company has to come as new media technologies bring in new demands making the delivery and content obsolete. There were attempts to introduce digital radio using the DAB technology but it was too few channels too late. When MediaCorp decided to switch off DAB I knew  its death is near. Thanks for the memories."

Image from Google.

Article with permission from:

http://memoriesofcaldecotthill.blogspot.sg/search?updated-max=2012-10-31T14:19:00-07:00&max-results=7

Paya Lebar Airport Singapore 60s

Paya Lebar Airport with its distinguished iconic fountain

This was the old Paya Lebar Airport in the 60s. We used to haunt this very popular night spot where professional bands played during the weekends.

For a drink that costs about $6.00 each we danced the whole night, which usually started early at 8 or 9 pm and we usually reached home at 4 a.m. after sending the ladies home. 

On the dance floor lights were dim, the atmosphere romantic, especially when the bands played soothing instrumentals like 'Theme to Peyton Place' and 'The Godfather'.

Sometimes local crooners sang Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra numbers like 'Too Young' and "Fly Me To The Moon'. It was a haven for young lovers. We had no Singapore Air Shows then but lots of singers and dancers flying to the moon like Sinatra.

Image: from National Heritage Board

Original article: Andy Young.

The British Invasion On Sunday Afternoons...

The Prince's Garni Hotel in the 60's which is along Orchard Road.

Recognise this place?
What building has replaced it now?
Beside the tea dances at the cinemas, tell us your weekend experience at this famous Singapore hotel. Clue: The Dukes.
More about them soon.

Image: Google.

Palace Cinema Katong - Lido Cinema Orchard

The former Lido Cinema at Orchard Road was one of the venues where tea-dances were held and the nitespot cum restaurant upstairs was called Rosee D'or.

There would be a main band like The Silver Strings in attendance and a Guest Band. It had a dance floor where the 60s youths soaked their shirts & pants out!

The Palace Cinema at East Coast Road was another hangout. The Trailers was the regular band here and lead singer Benny Koh fronted them.

Tea dances, usually held from 3.30 pm to 7 pm weekends, cost $3.50 each for entrance and a drink.

And Larry Lai, Rediffusion DJ extraodinaire, met his wife at the Rosee D'or in the Lido Cinema building.

Images: National Heritage Board/Shaw Brothers Organisation.

National Theatre Singapore 60s & Other Venues

The National Theater, Singapore, was one of the the places where it all happened and when guitars, singers and audiences screamed in unison.

This blog is a place to reminisce and contribute photographs. One of the objectives is to show what happened during our rock n roll days at the:

(a) West Point in Pasir Panjang,
(b) Ambassador Hotel roof garden at Amber Road,
(c) Palace Cinema at East Coast Road,
(d) Celestial Room at Orchard Road,
(e) Rosee D'or beside Scotts Road,
(f) Golden Venus at Orchard Road,
(g) Paya Lebar Airport night club,
(h) Ocean Park Hotel night club at East Coast Road,
(i) St John's Ambulance Brigade Hall at Beach Road,
(j) Singapore Badminton Hall at Guillemard Road
(k) Victoria Memorial Hall at Stamford Road
(l)  Frazer and Neave Hall at Kim Seng Road.
other dance floors and stages where our bands brought the ceilings down!

"The National Theater (add on/4th August, 2010)

A landmark for the performing arts. 

From the 1960's to the 1980's, the performing arts here were synonymous with the National Theater, a local landmark in its heyday.Situated at Fort Canning Park in River Valley Road, the 3,420-seat theater was the biggest performance venue in Singapore then, and had a revolving stage.

By the people, for the people:

It was dubbed 'the people's theater because Singaporeans from all walks of life had contributed to its construction.The plan to build a theater to commemorate Singapore's self-governance was announced in 1959. A year later, then culture minister S. Rajaratnam urged every citizen to contribute to the theater fund in a dollar-a-brick campaign.Donations poured in from all sectors - besides cultural associations and trade unions, the man in the street contributed as well.

Shopkeepers, hawkers and labourers pooled their money, while schoolchildren broke their piggy banks - all to help build the theater. A total of $850,000 was raised for the $2.2 million building, which was officially opened on Aug 8, 1963 for the South-east Asian Cultural Festival. Plagued by problems:

However, the fanfare over the theater soon gave way to criticism. Audiences complained that the open-air venue was impractical, letting rain and surrounding traffic noise in. It was also home to insects and birds, hardly ideal companions during a classical music concert.More than 20 years after it had opened, a team of engineers found the theater structurally unstable. Its 150,000 kg steel cantilever roof, suspended without pillars, needed reinforcements.

But renovating and enclosing the theater would mean parting with at least $12 million, a cost that was deemed too steep.Plans for an extension of the Central Expressway next to the building further stacked the odds against its survival.The theater had its last curtain call after an Indian musical on Jan 15, 1984 and was demolished two years later, despite pleas for its retention from sentimental Singaporeans."

Information from:

http://forums.vr-zone.com/chit-chatting/56250-historic-buildings-singapore-were-torn-down.html

(I couldn't find the author's name, so wherever you are, if you read this, please allow me to acknowledge your article above by providing me your name. Thank you.)

Rex Cinema: Paul Anka Contest Fun: Part 1

Singapore's Paul Anka at the Rex Cinema:

I was interested in music since my school days and sang during the end of year school concerts and functions. I guess I love the stage and took the opportunity to perform whenever I could. In fact, four of my classmates and I participated in a skit called, "Kiss No Harm," where we drew laughter and joyful tears from our audience during the annual concert. 

When I started working, I took part in singing competitions at annual picnics organised by commercial organisations and one like 'Amateur Night' at the Capitol Cinema, the 'Vespa Club' Nite at Siglap Road. 

Although I participated just for the experience, I was surprised when I won the Singapore's Paul Anka title in December 1959. That was a long time ago. Shaw Brothers were promoting a Paul Anka movie at the Rex Cinema called, Girls' Town (image 1).

I never looked back after that and free-lanced with a few bands like the Velvetones (later Philips recording artistes, 'The Firebyrds') and Swallows, Singapore's number one Pop-Yeh-Yeh band.

I met The Silver Strings when I met Audie Ng (bass) and 'Danny Boy' (drums) during their jam sessions at Idris Road. The others were David Chan (lead) and Wilfred Chew (rhythm). At that time the group practised songs by The Shadows, The Ventures and other groups.

But as Paul Anka was I a copycat or impersonator? Actually, I was neither. I know I can never sing like him and never will.  I have never used the title to my advantage and had always been introduced as "Andy". To win it was a fluke shot I guess 😊.

Like many such contests those years, they were held to promote the movies, singers like Paul Anka and actors. It was a genuine contest and quite a number of prominent Singapore 60's artistes participated. 

For me, it was fun and games, took an academic path afterwards and left the band trail after nearly two years.

Check out later postings on this issue.

Andy with his trophy after winning 

the Paul Anka Title in 1959.

Images from Google; Private Collection.

 
SG50: A Pioneering Spirit on The Singapore Memory Trail.