Free Shows in the Sixties

In post Merdeka years the school children were entertained with a free show during the National Day celebration. Every school in the neighbourhood of Nibong Tebal was given complimentary tickets to be distributed to the pupils. As usual, older pupils from the better classes were given the tickets. On the morning of the National Day, they wore school uniforms to the theatre. Upon producing their complimentary tickets to the ticket checker, they were allowed to take any seats they liked. Usually, those pupils who came earlier would try to occupy the most expensive and exclusive seats in the theatre. Of course, the picture shown was usually an old one which might have been shown repeatedly over the years. The film shown was either a Wild West cowboy picture or a Charlie Chaplin show.

Free show was also provided by the Information Ministry to propagate the success stories of the Government in its effort to improve the living conditions of the people. Once in a couple of months, the mobile unit of the Ministry would come to town to project a free show for all to watch.

Earlier in the day, a radio car would go round the town to inform the people. The children were most delighted to hear the news and they would spread it like wild fires all over the neighbourhood.

Before the sun set, many children were already gathered in the field waiting anxiously to watch the show. A big,white screen was set up in the middle of the field. The film show could be viewed on either side of the screen. Before the show time, the children wasted no time in playing their own games, running around the field chasing one after another.

Show time began as night fell. The mobile unit of the Information Department would start with a documentary film on the development projects carried out by the Government to improve, among others, the living condition of the rural folks. It took about half an hour to run the film. Most viewers, particularly the children, were not interested at all. They continued with their play until a western picture appeared on the screen. All the people seemed to enjoy the English show although hardly anyone of them understood the language.

In the mean time, another party was going on. The mosquitoes were wasting no time in having their long awaited blood sucking feast.

At the end of the show, all went home happily, the town folks as well as the mosquitoes.