Phua Chu Kang's Helmet & Old Movie Tickets: 4 Items From Our Entertainment Past | On The Red Dot

Key Concepts

• Museum of You and Me
• PCK (Phua Chu Kang) - Singaporean sitcom
• Fly Entertainment - Talent management agency
• Empress Theater - Former cinema in Singapore
• Lantern Slides - Early form of cinema advertisement
• Catron TV - Locally made Singaporean TV set

Irish Ong and the PCK Helmet

The video begins with the host surprising Irish Ong, his ex-wife, who is now a comedian and owns Fly Entertainment, a talent management agency. The goal is to find an item of hers for the "Museum of You and Me." The item in question is a hard hat from the sitcom Phua Chu Kang (PCK), which Irish kept as a reminder of the show's impact.

• PCK's Cultural Impact: The hard hat represents the success of PCK and its role in Singaporean culture. The show was used for important issues like SARS and vaccination campaigns.
• PCK's Reach: The show was popular not only in Singapore but also in other countries like Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai, Pinang, Brunai, Cuching and Miri.
• PCK's Popularity: During its run, PCK outperformed popular American TV shows like Friends, Frasier, and Seinfeld in ratings.
• PCK's Legacy: PCK ran for eight seasons, totaling 167 episodes. It also spawned a spin-off in Malaysia (PCK Syndrome BH) and two musicals, including one for the President's Star Charity. A movie was also made in 2010.
• Fly Entertainment's Origin: Irish started Fly Entertainment in 1999 after PCK, initially to manage herself due to a lack of representation.
• Irish's Perspective: Irish keeps the hard hat as a reminder of the importance of remembering the factors that contribute to success, not just individual effort.
• Quote: "Without PCK private limited there is no fly entertainment." - Irish Ong

Winston and the Empress Theater Movie Ticket

The host then surprises Winston at a rooftop carpark, who presents a movie ticket from the former Empress Theater.

• Empress Theater: The Empress Theater used to stand where the 321 Clementi mall is now located.
• Movie-going Experience: Winston is a movie memorabilia collector, specifically of intact movie tickets.
• Ticket Collection Method: Winston would sneak into the theater with the crowd to keep the ticket whole, with about a 20% success rate. He has 70 fully intact movie tickets.
• Ticket Design: Winston stopped collecting tickets in the mid-90s when cinema chains switched to thermal paper tickets, which he found generic and lacking character.
• Past Cinema Experience: In the 80s and 90s, cinemas had only one hall, and moviegoers had to queue up to buy tickets.
• Movie-going as a Treat: Going to the movies was a special occasion for some families, not a regular event.

Shia and the Lantern Slides

The next guest, Shia, presents lantern slides inherited from her father, who worked at United Artist Lantern.

• Lantern Slides: Lantern slides were used for advertisements in cinemas in the 1950s.
• Magic Lantern: Lantern slides were named after the "magic lantern," an old projector invented in the 17th century that used oil lamps or candles as a light source.
• United Artist Lantern: Shia's grandfather owned United Artist Lantern, which closed down in 1986 due to technological changes.
• Family Business: Shia's father was an artist who designed the slides, and her mother handled photography and film development.
• Slide Creation Process: The process involved photographing products and artwork, producing film slides, and combining them to create the final product. Everything was done by hand, as color film slides and computers were not available at the time.
• Significance: Lantern slides represent skillful craftsmanship and entertained people in the 1950s when movies were mostly in black and white. The colorful slides were the most vibrant part of the cinema experience.
• Shia's Perspective: It's important to value the creators behind technological advancements, even as technology evolves.

Elvin and the Catron TV Set

The final guest, Elvin, presents a Catron TV set, which he donated to the National Heritage Board of Singapore.

• Catron TV: Catron was a Singaporean company formed in 1964 that produced affordable, locally made TV sets.
• TV Ownership: By 1966, one in six households in Singapore owned a TV set.
• Elvin's Motivation: Elvin donated the TV set to the national collection so that future generations could appreciate a physical piece of Singaporean history.
• Jen's Explanation: Jen from the National Heritage Board explains that Catron offered more affordable locally made TV sets compared to imported ones.
• TV Features: The TV set has foldable doors, knobs, and a locking mechanism to protect the screen and dials from children.
• TV's Impact: TV changed the entertainment landscape in Singapore, with more people staying home to watch it.
• Elvin's Memories: Elvin remembers playing with the knobs and buttons on a similar TV set at his grandparents' house.

Conclusion

The episode explores the evolution of Singaporean entertainment through personal stories and artifacts. It highlights the importance of human connection and storytelling in the entertainment industry, beyond the glitz and glamour. The items presented – the PCK helmet, the movie ticket, the lantern slides, and the Catron TV set – each represent a significant piece of Singapore's cultural and technological history.