2 October 2006
Opened on 2 October, The Cathay Gallery located on level 2 of The Cathay on Handy Road showcases the history of the Loke family, their various business interests in Malaysia and Singapore, including Cathay Organisation, from the mid 1800's till now. These business interests include tin mines, plantations, properties, film production studios, film distribution, hotels and cinemas. Today the family still owns the estates and properties established by Loke Yew and Cathay Organisation’s business continues to focus on lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality in Singapore and Malaysia.
This unique collection of memorabilia that the family has kept over the years includes items related to their businesses, interests such as art and photography as well as personal items.
Some of the exhibits which we would like to highlight :
Studios
In the 1950s, 1960s and up to the early 1970s, Cathay produced many Chinese and Malay movies. Today these films in the Cathay-Keris Classics library are gems. Some, sadly, have long been lost.
Cathay’s stars included the inimitable Ge Lan also known as Grace Chang, Yeh Fung, You Min, Lin Dai, Peter Chen Ho, Loh Ti, Chang Yang, Maria Menado (memorable for her Pontianak roles), S Roomai Nor, Rose Yatimah, Wahid Satay, Siput Sarawak, Ummi Kalthoum, Latifah Omar…just to name a few. Over 300 films were produced by Cathay in its studios in Hong Kong (MP & GI) and in Singapore.
Dato Loke Wan Tho
The man who propelled Cathay Organisation to success was also a man of many interests. Dato Loke was particularly passionate about ornithology, literature, flora, fauna and the arts. He was a philanthropist and gave generously to many charities, associations and educational institutions.
The main features of this Gallery highlight the many aspects of Dato Loke's varied life and myriad personal interests.
Day Glo Poster Wall
In the past, poster painters would photocopy poster artworks, make sketches, enlarge them to size and lay them out on canvas before rich day-glo colours were painted on. Posters for cinema frontages were 15 by 4.5 metres. Sometimes in emergency situations with changes in programmes, posters had to be prepared overnight. Cathay had its own art department along MacKenzie Road that produced these fabulous day-glo posters.
Mace of the City of Singapore
Dato Loke Wan Tho donated the Mace of the City of Singapore to the City Council in 1954.
The Cathay Restaurant & Cathay Hotels
Cathay Organisation owned & managed the Cathay Hotel including the Cathay Restaurant at the Cathay Building, the Ocean Park Hotel in Katong as well as the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji between the 1940’s to early 1970s.
Today Cathay owns and manages the hip and trendy budget hangout @ mt emily hotel Singapore which offers a no frills, just fun concept. hangout @ mt emily was voted Best Accommodation Experience, Budget Hotels category at the annual Singapore Tourism Awards in March 2006.
Special Exhibitions
The Cathay Gallery will regularly feature changing exhibitions on a variety of topics related to film, photography, travel, the arts and many other interests of the Loke family.
The Cathay Gallery, #02-16, The Cathay, Handy Road
Open Mondays to Saturdays, 12noon to 8pm.
Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays. Admission is free.
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