Join Thimbuktu as he takes a nostalgic look at New World Amusement Park, one of the three iconic amusement parks in Singapore’s history.
It had Chinese and Malay opera halls, shops, restaurants, cinemas, boxing arenas, shooting galleries, and soon established a reputation for a vibrant carnival atmosphere. It boasted what was arguably the best opera in Malaya – the New World’s City Opera. Its cabarets were much raved about, and it had the first air-conditioned cabaret hall in Malaya. Those preferring to dance to Malay tune patronized the Bunga Tanjong where bands played to the beat of ronggeng or asli, interspersed with cha-cha or rumba. On some nights, the bands also three in the “twist” or “rock-and-roll”.
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The Bunga Tanjong caberet hall where one can buy a $1.00 coupon and invite girls seated inside the hall for 3 dances. The place is very vibrant and you can ‘jokek’ anyhow you like with everyone applauding. But then the $1.00 in the early sixties ia very big. unfortunately, the cabaret was turned into a 4D outlet and live=horse betting centre. RACING RESULTS is broadcasted through the radio
Posted on July 18th, 2011 at 7:04 am
Thanks for sharing the memories, Samuel. I didn’t know about the 4D outlets in New World. I was too young at legal age though.
BTW it should be “joget” or “ronggeng” for dancing. Cheers!
Posted on July 18th, 2011 at 10:28 am
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