Today is the last day of operations for the Lido, the quaint, old-school and beloved movie house. The final screenings tonight on Lido's three screens will be the Japanese film Tonight At the Romance Theatre, another Japanese movie Kid On The Slope and a Buster Keaton's silent film Sherlock Jr, which is part of the Silent Film Festival Thailand. All three shows have been fully booked, and it's expected that the cinema will receive thousands of fans who come to say goodbye throughout the day.
The Lido opened in 1968 as a 1,000-seat movie theatre. In 1993, a fire damaged the structure and the venue was renovated into a three-screen multiplex. For 50 years, Lido has served generations of filmgoers and endeared itself to regulars through its programming of non-Hollywood titles, human warmth, and old-fashioned, avuncular charm that makes it stand out especially in a time of robotic and sometimes noisy mall multiplexes.
Over the years, it has turned thousands of people into movie buffs and made them feel the blessing -- or the curse -- that the true home of film lovers is the cinema. The Lido and its staff will be greatly missed.
We asked Lido fans what they will miss the most about the movie house.
Kittisak Suwannabhokin Film and theatre critic
A memorable film seen at the Lido: Mackenna's Gold, in 1970 I think. It's not the first film I saw there, but I remember it because it was such an entertaining film. I also remember that during the Hollywood boycott [when no American films were shown in Bangkok in the late 1970s], Lido also screened a lot of Chinese and European films.
What I'll miss the most: Lido itself. In the past few years, I've only watched movies at Lido and nowhere else.
Prawit Taengaksorn Film lecturer/critic
The first film seen at the Lido: I wrote it down, it was a Chuck Norris film called Good Guy Wears Black, in March 1979. But the film that made me feel a bond with the Lido -- when it was still a stand-alone and before it became a three-screen place -- was a 1980 Israeli film Going Steady, which was a kind of rip off from Grease. It's kind of embarrassing, but I saw it 13 times at Lido because I fell in love with the actress.
What I'll miss the most: I missed the Lido when it was a stand-alone cinema -- for me, the Lido already ended in 1993 when the original structure caught fire and was turned into a three-screen venue. What I remember about it back then was the escalator that was almost always broken; the pirate ticket sellers who prowled the footpath outside; the foyer that was always too cold; and countless Z-grade movies I watched there -- City On Fire, Golden Girl, The Baltimore Bullet, etc.
The first film I remember seeing at the Lido: Song From The Second Floor [a 2000 Swedish film by Roy Andersson].
What I'll miss the most: The popcorn, because the flavour is different every day -- I mean, it's salt-heavy in the morning but not in the afternoon. But OK, a serious answer: I'll miss the layout of the theatre. Lido has three screens close to each other, and to me it feels like three classrooms. After you buy a ticket, you walk a few steps to enter one of the cinemas. Another few steps to the restroom. It's very convenient. It's like the designer had removed every surplus detail and what remains is the essential for people who come to watch movies.
Chalida Uabumrungjit Deputy director, Thai Film Archive
The first film seen at the Lido: I can't remember the first film I saw there. What I remember more was Lido when it was a stand-alone theatre. When it became a three-screen multiplex, at first I didn't like it so much. But then I realised it's better. The smaller rooms are better for art house movies, and when you want to see more than one movie when you come here.
What I'll miss the most: The people I've met here over the years. I feel like they're family.
Jit Phokaew Film buff
The first film seen at the Lido: I think it was Golden Swallow, a Hong Kong film by O Sing-Pui. It must have been around 1987 or 88. That means I've been coming here for 30 years.
What I'll miss the most: I'll miss the morning screening at 9.30am or 9.45am on the weekend. It's perfect for someone who wakes up early like me and also when I plan to see four films a day. The earliest show at other multiplex cinemas is 10.30am or 11am. Only at Apex [Lido and Scala] that has a very early show.
Manotham Theamtheabrat Banker/Film critic
The first film seen at the Lido: Marathon Man, with Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier, in July, 1977.
What I'll miss the most: I remember Sir Laurence Olivier flicking his hand to reveal a knife in Marathon Man; the image has stuck with me. I also remember the soundtrack from the Thai film Rak Kham Loke, which was the first Thai film to ever be released at the Lido, in 1978. I remember it because I had to leave the seat to use the bathroom and when I came back I almost couldn't locate my seat -- the whole 1,000 seat venue was packed. Another image that has stayed with me since is that of the curtain slowly coming down at the end of The Spy Who Loved Me, with the song Nobody Does It Better playing. That was in 1979.
Krittayanon Chamnanpanich PR officer
The first film seen at the Lido: I think it was the Japanese film Love Letter in 2003. But my best experience with Apex [which runs Lido and Scala] was in 1996 when I went to see Jurassic Park at Scala. It was my first date, I remember. I got a front-row seat because it was a hit film. So we went in and someone was already sitting there -- it's a ticketing mistake -- but the staff were very helpful and found us better seats.
What I'll miss the most: I will miss some of the happiest moments in my life.
Pornchai Wiriyaprapanon Film critic
Memorable film seen at the Lido: I just saw Sherlock JR, a Buster Keaton silent film showing this past weekend. I remember it because I love the film.
What I'll miss the most: I'll always miss the bookstore Prapanthasarn and the CD shop Do Rae Me, which moved from Lido years ago. But they were the places that kindled my lifelong interesting in reading, in music and film.
Jirassaya Wongsutin Filmmaker
Memorable film seen at the Lido: I can't remember the first film I saw there. But I remember watching Warrior in 2011 [a boxing film starring Tom Hardy] and I started crying heavily at the end. I had to sit there until the credits ended to calm myself down.
What I'll miss the most: The stamps on the loyalty card -- you get a free movie after you've watched 10. I will miss the satisfying feeling when I collected 10 stamps to earn the bonus film. When I was a student, that meant so much to me especially when I didn't have much money to watch all the films I wanted.
