Picture a time. It is the year 1920 in Kuala Lumpur. Chua Cheng Bok and his family built the Coliseum Theatre. It stands as one of Malaysia’s oldest cinemas.
The Coliseum Theatre is more than just a cinema. It is a living piece of history. Its Art Deco style is a sight to behold. The building can seat 900 people. A balcony offers a different viewing experience.
For almost a century the Coliseum Theatre has been showing movies. There was a break during the Japanese occupation in World War II. After Chua Cheng Bok died in 1940 his family continued to run the Coliseum. His nephew Dr Chua Boon Teck and his wife Mdm Khor Joo Saik acquired it in 1973.
The famed Coliseum Café and Hotel sat just down the road behind the theatre. William Somerset Maugham frequented it during his time in British Malaya. Sadly the café closed in 2021 after 100 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Coliseum Theatre almost closed in 2006. The Malaysian government wanted to turn it into a cultural heritage centre. A public outcry saved the Coliseum. Instead of closing it the government planned a nearby car park.
Dr Chua Seong Siew, the son of the late owners, fought to keep the cinema open. He succeeded. The Coliseum continues to operate.
In 2012 Lotus Five Star Cinema (LFS) took ownership. The Coliseum Theatre became a two-screen cineplex. It was rebranded as LFS Coliseum Cineplex. It opened to the public in November 2012. Today it thrives showing mostly Bollywood and Tamil movies.
The Coliseum has seen many changes. It switched from 35mm film projectors to 2D digital projectors. The interior got a makeover. The original 900-seater became a twinned cinema. This allowed for more films to be screened.
The Coliseum Theatre is more than bricks and mortar. It is a cultural landmark. It has survived wars economic hardship and changing tastes. The Coliseum stands as a testament to the power of cinema. It is a place where stories come to life. It is a place where memories are made.
Today the Coliseum continues to draw crowds. People come to experience the magic of the movies. They also come to connect with the past. When you visit the Coliseum you are not just seeing a film. You are stepping back in time. You are experiencing a piece of Kuala Lumpur’s history. The Coliseum Theatre remains a treasure. It is a place where the past and present come together.