Forgotten now but not gone. New Broadway Talkies whispers stories of Madras’s cinematic past. New Broadway Talkies opened its doors in the 1920s on Broadway Road. It was named after the road itself. Broadway was a prominent commercial street in the 19th century. Though it may not seem like it today.
Back then Madras was smaller. New Broadway Talkies became a well-known entertainment spot. The city’s first theatre was once located on this very street. A Mrs. Klug opened “Bioscope” in 1911. Sadly it closed after a few months.
New Broadway Talkies is located on Prakasam Salai. Once there was competition between Broadway and Prabath theatre. At Prabath they screened many Sivaji Ganesan movies. New Broadway Talkies screened MGR movies. MGR’s movies were commercially successful there.
One story recalls a competition between an MGR film at New Broadway Talkies and a Sivaji film at Prabath. Both were hits but Karnan didn’t do as well at Broadway. People still remember those days.
Haridass a classic film from 1944 played for three years straight at New Broadway Talkies. Superstar MGR’s hit movies often premiered here. Despite its rich history many in Chennai today don’t remember it.
Minerva Theatre once competed with New Broadway Talkies. Minerva screened English movies to attract audiences. Legends like Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan watched Hollywood movies there.
Sadly New Broadway Talkies closed in the 2010s. The building still stands but the theatre is no more. Many old Chennai theaters have vanished. They have become apartments or commercial spaces. This is a loss for movie lovers.
Digital entertainment changed everything. People now watch movies online. Old theaters couldn’t keep up with new technology. Multiplexes offer a different experience. They are more like shopping than going to the movies.
New Broadway Talkies remains a memory. It warms the hearts of those who remember old Madras. As Chennai grows these old theaters fade. Yet their stories linger. They are a part of the city’s collective memory.