Kings Cinema bounces back
ALEXANDRA – Young and old get back their premier entertainment spot.
The entertainment scene in Alex is returning to its glorious past, with the regeneration of its erstwhile movie spot, Kings Theatre.
The revamp of the facility, which was the township’s premier bioscope in yesteryears, will bring the vibe of recent times, and bring back the nostalgic past for some, who still remember its centrality in their old fun moments.
William Volmink, a descendant of the business family who own it in partnership with the Peoples Theatre, said, “The work started over the Easter period and films are now shown daily on the full big screen, with digital projection and a surrounding sound system. People bored with small home screens now have an alternative for a night out of fun, watching the latest local and international movies, and kids can watch action shows and stay off the streets and away from danger.”
The refurbished venue also invites use by crèches, schools and other agencies for fundraising events and talent search concerts under the company’s NPO, Kings Community Development. “This is our contribution to the community’s charitable causes, and to help scout local artistic talent who will grow into great actors and ambassadors for the township.”
Volmink added that shops have also been upgraded without major changes to the facility’s features, so that it earned a heritage status from the City of Joburg, to attract tourism. “Besides its age, the status also derives partly from the Apartheid police’s ire of its operations then, which included hosting banned political party meetings and showing undesired films, like the hugely popular Cry Freedom. “This resulted in its closure by the regime as a punishment, which denied thousands of people a spot for entertainment for many years.”
One of the first events after the revamp was the Joburg Film Festival, which Volmink hopes will encourage the council to consider the venue for local activities.
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