“Did Bing Slamet really dream of a Hollywood-like Kampung Artis?” I asked.
Welcome to Kampung Artis or as it was once known Tangkiwood. Right here in Jakarta’s vibrant West Jakarta. This wasn’t just any neighborhood. In its heyday during the 1950s and 70s Tangkiwood was the ultimate hangout for famous artists and performers. Imagine a time when stars like Laila Sari graced these very streets. They often gathered by the roadside between shows. They even performed at the Taman Hiburan Rakyat Lokasari nearby. Local residents remember the lively atmosphere. They recall learning traditional Betawi arts like Lenong.
Hasan Tiro a community leader remembers those days fondly. He recalls the era of Governor Ali Sadikin. The area was nicknamed Tangkiwood because it was the gathering place of film stars. Many top artists lived in Kampung Tangki. Sadly Laila Sari who passed away in 2017 was one of the last remaining residents. Others moved away or passed. With the decline of Tangkiwood Betawi art also faded. It’s a sad loss for the community.
The area’s history is interwoven with the story of Warung Sengki. This small shop owned by Babah Sengki a Chinese descendant still stands today. Behind it artists lived. Many were performers at the Prinsen Park or Lokasari Amusement Park. Tan Ing Hi the owner of Prinsen Park even built a complex for artists from other cities. Musicians dancers singers and crew lived near the performance venues.
One famous artist was Moesa a theatre owner. His son Mas Sardi married Mak Bibah also a well-known artist. They had Idris Sardi a renowned violinist. His son Lukman Sardi is now a famous film actor. The houses of these artists once lined the streets. They came from all over Sunda Java Palembang even the Philippines. Laila remembers dozens of small houses where these artists lived.
Today though Tangkiwood is a shadow of its former self. The artistic community is gone. The area is densely populated but the artists are long gone. Bing Slamet the man who supposedly coined the name Tangkiwood had a dream. He envisioned a place as famous as Hollywood. That dream faded around the 1970s with the rise of television. Artists sought opportunities elsewhere. Governor Ali Sadikin tried to save Tangkiwood. He renovated homes and provided assistance. But it was too late. Tangkiwood became a near-deserted village. A poignant reminder of a bygone era a once vibrant artistic heart now largely silent. A reminder of a dream that faded like old film. A story told not just in houses but in the very air.