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The front facade of the Theatre. Note the exterior fins hiding the down pipes.
AUDIENCES WILL
WILL NOT MEET 'HEAD-ON' IN NEW CINEMA
Architect:- T. C. Yuen & Co.
NE of the most annoying things
about going to the cinema in Hong Kong is the head on clash between incoming and outgoing patrons.
This problem has been averted in the new East Town Theatre. Wanchai. by allowing the audience. to enter the auditorium from the foyer in the rear as usual and dis- perse by exit routes at the front into the streets, a not too common feature even among the newer theatres.
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"COPACABANA PALACE”
WILENT DE I
FTER M
The importance of this carefully planned feature cannot be overesti- mated in Hong Kong where most theatres screen to packed houses from morning to night with only a few minutes between each show.
The $2.600.000 theatre. at the junction of Fenwick Street and Lock- hart Road (I.L.2820), seats a total of 1.298 people 617 back stalls. 227 front stalls and 454 balcony.
The typical local practice of devot- ing ground floor space of all build- ings to retail businesses has been followed. but not at the expense of the entrance foyer which is very spacious.
All five floors above ground level are devoted to the theatre auditorium with its adjoining waiting lounges, projection room, stage and studio.
The construction is of reinforced concrete framework. Corrugated as- bestos sheet roofing is supported by steel trusses resting on R.C. columns,
Exterior vertical and horizontal fins hide the downpipes and act as a barrier to noises from outside as well as being a design feature.
The colour scheme is of particular note. The theatre's eyecatching name- plate is inset upon a large red corner panel of Italian glass mosaic and contrasts well with the white glass mosaic vertical fins and charcoal grey background.
A warm and welcome atmosphere has been created in the entrance foyer by red and yellow lighting effects reflecting from a domed false ceiling.