Inside The Forgotten Amusement Worlds Of Singapore: Music, Dance, Cabaret | Through Time

Key Concepts

• The Three Worlds: New World, Great World, and Happy World (later Gay World) were amusement parks in Singapore that existed for over five decades.
• Heritage Preservation: The video explores the challenges and methods of preserving the memory and stories of these lost places.
• Digital Reconstruction: Utilizing game engines and archival materials to create 3D digital replicas of the amusement parks.
• Social and Cultural History: The worlds served as reflections of Singaporean society, entertainment, and cultural evolution.
• Urban Development: The impact of modernization, urban planning, and changing entertainment landscapes on the decline of these amusement parks.
• "Yellow Culture": The societal perception and government crackdown on what was deemed immoral entertainment in the mid-20th century.

The Lost Worlds of Singapore: A Journey Through Time

This video chronicles the effort to rediscover and recreate the lost amusement parks of Singapore: New World, Great World, and Happy World (later Gay World). Driven by a fascination with abandoned places and a desire to understand Singapore's past, heritage guides Stenny and the narrator embarked on a journey to uncover the stories behind these vanished entertainment hubs.

The Genesis of the Three Worlds

The three amusement worlds emerged in Singapore over a century ago, catering to a growing population and increasing affluence. They were vibrant, fascinating places that offered a stark contrast to the limited leisure options provided by the British colonial administration. As historian Wing Hin explains, there was a "pent-up demand for entertainment and leisure among the working masses." These were not just fairgrounds but "cities within the city," offering a diverse range of attractions and experiences.

New World: The Pioneer

New World, the first amusement park to open approximately 100 years ago, was located between Serangoon Road, Jalan Besar, Kitchener Road, and Petain Road. The narrator highlights the challenge of identifying original remnants, noting that the reconstructed New World gate at City Square Mall is not in its original location and that only some metal parts are original. The original gate was situated along Jalan Besar. Through archival research and conversations with locals, like "Uncle," the team identified the original site, noting how modern buildings now stand where the bustling amusement park once thrived. The architecture of New World was designed to create surprise and novelty, with alleyways leading to well-lit, open spaces filled with people, carnival games, and activities.

Great World: The Affluent Escape

Great World, bounded by Kim Seng Road, River Valley Road, and Zion Road, catered to a more affluent and literati crowd. Wing Hin shared that its architect designed shed-like structures and activity spaces at its perimeters to attract the "Gentry class" and "literati teachers." Great World distinguished itself with a zoo, aviary, landscaped gardens reminiscent of Europe, an ice skating rink, and a car park, specifically targeting those who could afford cars. Newsletters were published on sports and literature, alongside advertisements for Great World, reflecting its appeal to high society. The site of the old Great World amusement park is now River City Mall.

Happy World/Gay World: The Vibrant and Risqué

Happy World, located between Geylang Road and Mountbatten Road, was known for its vibrancy and more "risque" entertainment. Initially established as Happy World in 1936, a land dispute in 1963 led to its renaming as Gay World under new management. It marketed itself as the most modern of the three worlds, featuring cinema halls and a prominent boxing stadium, which was advertised as the largest in Southeast Asia, placing it on the regional map. Gay World hosted sporting events, large-scale concerts, and trade fairs, offering a "sheer variety of entertainment." The narrator notes the stark contrast between the current construction site on its former land and the vibrant past.

The Impact of the Japanese Occupation

During the Japanese occupation (1942-1945), the entertainment parks took on darker roles. Tatongya, a park that mirrored the three worlds, was opened and frequented by Japanese soldiers. The open grounds of these parks were repurposed as internment camps or prisoner-of-war sites. While Western movies were replaced by Japanese films, music, gambling, and certain performances continued, demonstrating a surprising continuity of entertainment amidst wartime. Following the Japanese surrender, Tatongya disappeared, and the land was eventually renamed Beauty World.

The Flourishing of Culture and Entertainment

The three worlds were a melting pot of cultures and a stage for ordinary Singaporeans.

• Bangsawan: This Malay opera form, meaning "nobility," blended royalty, folklore, and Eastern and Western influences, featuring genies, fairies, dancing, and rhythmic dialogues. Performances were unscripted, relying on the chemistry between performers.
• Music and Dance Halls: Live music was a constant, with amateur music activity flourishing. Bands played Dixieland and jazzy music in cabarets and dance halls. Mabel, the adopted daughter of a cabaret dancer, shared insights into the lives of dance hostesses who taught dancing and entertained clients, providing a "circle of life" where entertainment, jobs, and business dealings converged. While some dancers used their earnings to support families, others engaged in midnight rendezvous. The dancers were described as "serious professionals" earning income through tickets for dances.
• "Yellow Culture": The video touches upon the "yellow culture" movement of the 1950s and 60s, which targeted perceived immoral behaviors like gambling, opium smoking, prostitution, and crime. The eroticization of some performances, like a Gai stitch play involving a woman undressing, drew public criticism and government intervention.

The Decline of the Worlds

Several factors contributed to the eventual demise of the three worlds:

• Urban Redevelopment and HDB: The formation of the Housing Development Board (HDB) led to the relocation of populations to new housing estates, emptying out the city core and starving the worlds of their audience.
• Economic Boom and New Entertainment: Singapore's economic boom and the influx of multinational companies led to the emergence of new forms of leisure.
• Shopping Malls and Modern Cinemas: The advent of air-conditioned shopping malls and modern cinemas offered more comfortable and accessible entertainment options, drawing crowds away from the open-air amusement parks.
• Government Stance on Culture: The government actively promoted a vision of "healthy culture," which led to the disappearance of more "pornographic" content and influenced societal views on entertainment.
• Television and Streaming Services: The introduction of television and later streaming services provided entertainment within the comfort of people's homes, further diminishing the appeal of physical entertainment venues.

Preserving the Memory: Digital Reconstruction and Heritage Tours

The video highlights the innovative approach of using a game engine for heritage work, creating "digital twins" of the three worlds. This process involves rebuilding the sites based on maps, photos, and archival materials, allowing people to experience the scale and atmosphere of these lost places in 3D. The narrator emphasizes that this is "digital forensic modeling," aiming to capture the feeling of being there, which 2D photographs cannot convey.

The creators are developing a "three worlds heritage tour" to bring these digital reconstructions to life. The tour aims not just to retell history but to "awaken that knowledge" by taking people to the original sites, pointing out boundaries, and showcasing the 3D models. The goal is to help the younger generation understand the significance of these worlds and their role in Singapore's history, bridging the distance of time and making the urban landscape more interesting.

Conclusion

The three worlds, once vibrant centers of entertainment, culture, and social life, were gradually erased by time, urban development, and changing societal norms. The video underscores the ease with which such places can be forgotten and the importance of remembering and imagining them. The digital reconstructions and heritage tours represent a powerful effort to preserve these memories, offering a glimpse into a past that shaped Singapore and reminding us that "nothing leaves without a trace." The project aims to revive the memory of the three worlds, ensuring that future generations have something to look back on and understand the evolution of entertainment in Singapore, from these foundational amusement parks to modern-day attractions.