Not many might know about The Cathay Gallery, an interesting gallery tucked away at level 2 of The Cathay. A space that is sure to pique the interest of photograph and film enthusiasts, visitors can take a nostalgic journey through the storied history of the pioneers of the film industry in Singapore
Visitors will be able to take a nostalgic journey through the stories and collections of the Loke family. Here, visitors can see a variety of vintage items in their collection such as art, photography and personal items related to their different business interests in Malaysia and Singapore from the mid-1800s till now.
The story of Lok Yew and his family
When you first enter the gallery, there is a family tree of the Loke family with a statue of Lok Yew himself. The Loke family were the ones who built the Cathay empire and in this gallery, there are multiple writeups that let the visitors get about their lives and interesting facts. This display is placed on the floor tile from the Cathay Cinema of the original Cathay Building.
Apart from his film business, Loke was also active in other fields and social causes and contributed a collection of paintings to the National Museum and was the first chairman of the newly formed National Library from 1960 till his death in 1964.
Costumes, vintage cameras, movie posters and more
Other interesting displays to look out for include costumes that were once worn by actresses and vintage movie posters. Visitors can also watch snippets of classic films from the 50s and 60s.
Here cinema-goers can learn about the history of the iconic Cathay Building and how details such as the cinema seats have evolved over the years. There are also other interesting nostalgic displays to admire that adults who grew up watching black-and-white flicks in the OG building of The Cathay.
How to visit The Cathay Gallery
Entrance to The Cathay Gallery is free of charge. The space is open on Mondays to Fridays, from 2 pm to 6 pm and Saturdays from 12 pm to 6 pm. These opening hours are excluding Sundays and public holidays.
Read more about The Cathay Gallery here.
