Theatre houses played the most important part on our Films today.

With dramatic
forms that generates and continuously played through times. The plays with Spanish
influences, like the Komedya, Sinakulo, the Sarswela and the Drama. And the modern or
original plays from our very own Filipino playwrites, which showcased the styles and relive
the traditional and cultural forms from different countries and to our very own cultures.

The first Movie House here in Manila was established in 1897, owned by a Spaniard
named Pertierra, he named the movie house Saln de Pertierra that brought the first moving
pictures to the country, showed silent films, often accompanied by piano or orchestra
because of the absence of sound.

And year 1901, more Movie houses are built, owned by Foreigners. Like Gran
Cinematografo Parisien and Cine Walgrah, Gran Cinematografo Parisien located at Calle
Crespo, Quaipo owned by a Spanish Entrepreneur Samuel Rebarber, and Cine Walgrah
located at Calle Santa Rosa in Intramuros by a British named Walgrah.

In year 1939, Times theater was built by Architect Luis Araneta and owned by
Aranetas, located along Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila in front of the Quiapo Church. it
is a faade Art-Deco design that can seat 800 people. During its glory days, Times is one of
the most luxurious movie houses in Manila. It opened year 1941. Still operational but
unmaintained today.

Notably, there was this first Filipino-owned movie theater built in 1903 in C.M. Recto,
this theatre is owned by the painter Jose Jimenez and named his movie house Cinematografo
Rizal that is for the love for our National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. And because of the love of
Filipinos for films, more and more Movie houses are operating on the same Year like Cine
Paz, Cine Anda, and Cine Ideal. And some of theatre house that year are also playing films
because of blaring sound films does to people.

The credit of being the first Filipino to make a film, went to Jose Nepumuceno who is
called as the Father of Philippine Movies in 1919, he made the first Filipino-produced film
entitled Dalagang Bukid. The silent film was shown at the Empire Theater with actors
dubbing the dialogues and singing onstage in sync with the images on screen.

In 1930, talking or sound pictures, popularly referred to as talkies was already a

year old in the country with the showing of Syncopation, a popular American film released as
a Radio Picture using the first commercial test of the Photophone sound system, at the
Radio Theater, Plaza Santa Cruz, Manila. Another Art-Deco theatre. The first completely
sound movie in the Philippines was Jose Nepomucenos film Punyal na Guinto which
premiered on March 9, 1933 at the Lyric Theater, a defunct theater house located in Escolta,
Manila. It was owned and operated by Eastern Theatrical, Inc,. All of these played an
important part on our movie houses and films. But sadly, none of these are the same as it
was before.

Factors of the lost of glitter is the World War I that happened in the year the Golden
Age, has been the darkest and staggering years for Philippine Cinema. people turned to
theater which became the more popular pastime during the war years. It also provided
alternative jobs to displaced movie talents. Live theater productions began to flourish again
as movie stars, directors, and technicians returned to the stage.
 And one more thing, the Stand-Alone Theatres are dying for years, they are gasping
for our help. In our lives, we have roles were destined to play. Like the teachers who give
knowledge to students. But for me, I want to play the role who bring back history to those
who tend to forget it. They need us more now. After the history made by these Stand-Alone
Theatres, were now killing them. They are gasping for our help. Lets support them, they are
being vanished by SM Cinemas. Dont forget those who made us, return to our roots.

Taong 1897, ng maitayo ang kauna-unahang sinehan dito sa Maynila, na pagmamay-

ari ng isang Kastila na si Sr. Pertierra. Pinangalanan niya itong Salon de Pertierra na
nagdala ditto sa bansa ng kauna-unahang pelikula na sinasabayan ng Piano o Orchestra
dahil sa wala pa itong tunog.

At taon 1901, marami pang Sinehan ang itinayo, na pagmamay-ari ng mga Dayuhan.
Tulad ng Gran Cinematografo Parisien at Cine Walgrah, ang Gran Cinematografo Parisien na
matatagpuan sa Calle Crespo, Quaipo na pag-aari ng isang Negosyanteng Kastilang si
Samuel Rebarber, at Cine Walgrah na matatagpuan sa Calle Santa Rosa sa Intramuros na
itinayo ng isang British na si Walgrah.

Noong taong 1939 naman, itinayo ang Times Theatre na idinisenyo ni Architect Luis
Araneta na pagmamay-ari ng kaniyang pamilya, itoy matatagpuan sa kahabaan ng Quezon
Boulevard, Quiapo, Maynila sa harap ng Quaipo Church. At disenyong Faade Art-Deco ito na
may mahigit 800 na upuan. Sa panahon ng pamamayagpag ng Times, isa ito sa pinaka-
glamorosong Sinehan sa Maynila. Hanggang sa ngayon itoy nagpapalabas pa din ngunit
hindi na naaalagaan.

Sa panahong 1903, mayroon ding kauna-unahang sinehan na pagmamay-ari ng isang

Pilipino sa may C.M. Recto, ito ay pagmamay-ari ng pintor na si Jose Jimenez at sinunod ang
pangalan ng sinehan sa ating pambasang Bayani Dr. Jose Rizal. At dahil sa pagmamahal ng
mga Pilipino sa pelikula, maraming sinehan pa ang nagpapalabas ng taong ito, tulad ng Cine
Paz, Cine Anda, at Cine Ideal. At pati mga bahay teatro ay nagpapalabas na din ng pelikula
dahil sa ingay na ginawa ng pelikula sa mga tao.

Ang kauna-unahang pelikulang may tunog noon na Punyal na Guinto ni Jose

Nepomuceno nilabas noong 1933 sa Lyric Theater. Isang luma at abandonadong teatro sa
Escolta, Maynila na pagmamay-ari noon at pinapatakbo ng Eastern Theatrical, Inc,. lahat ng
ito, ay may ginampanang malaking bahagi sa ating mga sinehan at pelikula. Sa kasamaang
palad, lahat ng itoy nakalimutan na at hindi na tulad ng dati.

At isang bagay pa, ang mga Stand-Alone Theatres ay ilan taon ng naghihingalo. Sila
ay humihingi ng tulong mula sa atin. Sa ating buhay, may kanya kanya tayong gusto. Pero
ako, gusto kong gampanan ang isang karakter na naglalahad ng ating nakaraan sa mga
taong nakalimot na dito. Mas kailangan nila tayo ngayon, pagkatapos ng makasaysayang
ginampanan ng mga Stand-Alone Theatres, tayo ang pumapatay sa kanila. Kailangan nila ng
suporta natin, nabaon na sila sa limot dahil sa ginawa ng Cinehan ng SM. Wag sana
kalimutan ang bumuo sa ating kasaysayan, bumalik sa ating nakaraan.