GOH Eng Wah 吴荣华
Economic Development of Singapore,
Accession Number 001907
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 14
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 06:32:20
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 14
Metadata
- 19 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:47
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Family background. His siblings. Why parents left China for Muar. Discipline at home. Interviewee helped in family's rubber smoke house during school holidays. Their rubber smoke house. Why he came to Singapore. He joined school band for extra pocket money. Came to Singapore in 1943. How he got involved in vegetable trades.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 14
Metadata
- 19 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Elaboration on vegetable business. Why he did not help his brother-in-law in his business initially. His educational background. Why he gave up helping in vegetable business. Later, helped brother-in-law to sell Chinese herbs. How and why he got involved in movies. Mother and sister helped to fund his business.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 14
Metadata
- 19 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:04
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Started dealing with movies after Japanese Occupation. Rented stage in Gay World and turned it into Victory Theatre. Why they choose cinema to be in Gay World. Why he broke up with his business partner. He took over Victory Theatre in Singapore while his partner took over the one in Kota Tinggi. Booking of film. There were eight Western film companies then. How interviewee learnt film scheduling.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 14
Metadata
- 25 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Longest screening period. Description of his cinema. Ticket price. His cinema employees. Why he had two screen operators. Description of his projectors. Storage of films. Why old movies could be sold in the '40s, '50s. Elaboration on storage of films. Location of his storage area. Film maintenance. Reduced screening period for unpopular films.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 14
Metadata
- 25 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Number of screenings determined profit. Movies were first screened in larger-sized cinemas; later shown in the smaller one. All cinema were air-conditioned by '60s. Purchase price of movies. Interviewee scheduled films for his cinema chain. Ownership of various cinemas in Singapore. Where he obtained his Chinese movies from. Cathay Organisation. Chinese movie productions.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 14
Metadata
- 25 Jun 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Competition between Cathay and Shaw organisations. It was easier to obtain Chinese movies from Shaw after Cathay started movie production. Interviewee's cinema chain. Why he gave up producing movie flyers in 1972. Duties of cinema manager. Entertainment tax. Why interviewee spent much time in Gay World. Seating capacity of his cinemas.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 14
Metadata
- 17 Jul 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Ticket sales. Boxing and wrestling at Gay World. Netball was popular in '60s in Gay World. Admission fees to Gay World. Popularity of wrestling in '70s. Popular wrestlers. How they were dressed. Wrestling ticket sales. Why interviewee started screening morning shows in '70s. Annual exhibitions in Gay World. Restaurant and dance hall in Gay World.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 14
Metadata
- 17 Jul 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:44
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Gangsters in Gay World. Gay World's opening hours. Where interviewee recruited his cinema manager from. Why he bought Jubilee Cinema. Types of movies he screened in his cinemas. His suppliers of Hokkien movies. How he started producing his own movies in Hong Kong. First produced Hokkien movies, followed by Mandarin movies. Interviewee introduced local girl to movie industry in Hong Kong.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 14
Metadata
- 14 Aug 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:02
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Elaboration on local girl he selected for Hong Kong movie industry. Also recommended other locals to Hong Kong entertainment circle. Working relationship with girl he picked. He co-produced Hokkien movies with actress Lin Po's mother. Filming budget. Why Hokkien movie stars received lower pay. Why he went into Mandarin movie production. His first Mandarin movie. Reasons for decline of Hokkien movies.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 14
Metadata
- 14 Aug 1997
Recording Date
- 00:28:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His business partnership. How interviewee engaged Hong Kong actor to direct movies for him. His movies were subsequently unsuccessful. Reasons why interviewee stopped producing movies in mid-'70s. Cantonese movie stars more popular than Mandarin movie stars in Hong Kong. Mandarin movie stars more popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Interviewee produced Mandarin movies instead of Cantonese ones for Singapore market.
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