This is the first in a series of Throwback Thursday blogs that we'll be doing here featuring old places and establishments in Baguio City that has long been forgotten or gone. As an opener, we will be featuring long gone cinemas and movie houses in Baguio City that is a part of our childhood and teenage life. Before the advent of SM City Baguio Cinema, these old movie houses were big hits whenever top grossing movies were shown. Lot's of good old memories are connected with these movie houses. The four corners of these movie houses became a silent witness to many relationships that were formed and became stronger, friendships whose bonds became unbreakable, and individuals who just wants to enjoy each movies that were being shown. Remember the term "KA-DOUBLE"-two movies with different titles and genres shown one after another. Remember also a movie being cut in the middle of it's show due to the reason that the operator had to change the reel because another movie house with the same movie title needs the previous reel that was shown. And who could've forget those big signages with paintings of movie stars starring in a particular movie being displayed outside these movie houses. Those were the days indeed. Here are the list of old movie houses and cinemas here in Baguio City: PINES THEATER Located at Lower Session Road in front of the old Mercury Drug Store. Currently, the building where Pines Theater use to be located was converted into shops-drustores, RTW stores, and food court. A mix of Filipino and English movies are shown here. I remember watching "Life is Beautiful" and "Independence Day" movies here. Also heard that the Pines Theater building has a historical value as it was erected before World War 2. SESSION THEATER This was movie house is what you call a big shot as only English Movies are being shown here. Located at Middle Session Road where the famous Pizza Volante now currently stands. Experienced watching movies here a few times. PRINCE ALBERT CINEMA If you are a big fan of those ST (Sex Trip) flicks then you came to the right movie house. It was in this movie house where I came to be introduced to this kind of movies and it was also here where i came to know the big names in ST movies like Rosanna Roces, Gardo Versoza, Priscilla Almeda, etc. It was formerly located at Magsaysay Avenue and it was converted now into a country bar. FIRST CINEMA Had a very good memories about this one. It was here where I first entered a cinema and watched my first ever movie-"Way of Dragon"-courtesy of my Papa. I still clearly remembered that we watched it the orchestra in the evening. That was the only memory I had with my father taking me to the movies. First Cinema was located at was is now NOVO store at General Luna Road near University of Baguio. PLAZA THEATER Looking for a place to watch Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid, Philip Salvador and other big names in action movies before, then Plaza Theater is where you should go. It's located at the Plaza of Baguio City which is the Malcolm Square Park. The theater is now rented out to Ukay Ukay shops. CINESTAR Just beside Plaza Theater, most of the movies being shown here are low budgeted English movies starring obscure actors and actresses. MARESIEL THEATER Hope I got the name right. I clearly remembered that this movie house was located at what is now C&Triple A Supermarket along Abanao Street near the Baguio City Public Market. I don't recall though the type of movies that was being shown here. BAGUIO NEW CINEMA LOL to this movie house. This is the only movie house in Baguio City where they exhibit X-Rated movies. Yes, you heard me right! Me and my best friends sneaked one time in this movie house and lo and behold, we were treated to the most beautiful thing that we ever saw in our whole teenage life. Great memories right guys? Hahahaha. The cinema has long been gone and it was formerly located along T. Alonzo Street. OTHERS There were other cinemas/movie houses both here in Baguio City and in La Trinidad which I have already forgotten their names. One, is a movie house along Mabini Street which was destroyed during the great 1990 Baguio City earthquake and I believe there were some casualties who were trapped inside the theater when the earthquake happened. Another one is the only cinema in La Trinidad where I also frequent when I find the the shows in Baguio uninteresting. By the way, I was able to watched the movie "Titanic" in that particular movie house in La Trinidad because all the movie houses in Baguio that exhibited the movie were all in standing room only. These Baguio City movie houses may have long been gone but to us who were fortunate enough to watched a movie or two inside these great establishments, it's both a privilege and an honor to be a part of something that can be considered a treasure.
Until the next blog of our Throwback Thursday Series.
21 Comments
Kevin
10/16/2017 11:21:34 pm
Very interesting! thank you for sharing
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Baguio Family Time
10/18/2017 08:06:16 am
Thank you for appreciating the blog Sir Kevin.
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12/10/2017 09:07:13 pm
the oldest cinema ....you did not mention New Baguio Theater.....this where they showed movies of fernando Jr. during his prime....Nora aunor and vilma santos during their prime..
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Baguio Family Time
12/11/2017 02:16:12 pm
New Baguio Theater I think is the one which is located at T. Alonzo St. Sir. Thanks for your info though Sir.
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Ljhoy
3/30/2023 10:45:19 pm
Oro Cinema was also one the Old Cinemas here in Baguio, before it became Prince Albert
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Mannan
12/11/2017 07:54:33 am
Aurora Theater (Mabini)
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Baguio Family Time
12/11/2017 02:18:11 pm
Thanks for your added info Sir/Ma'am Mannan. I had a vague memory of Aurora Theater since this theater collapsed during the great earthquake of 1990. Garden Theater I forgot to include and this was located at the back of the original Good Taste Restaurant.
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Marc
1/31/2018 12:43:06 pm
Hi,san po gawi yung aurora theatre?anong establishment na po nakatayo ngaun dun?matagal kona kasi hinahanap at dun namatay ate ko 1990.thanks
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Baguio Family Time
2/2/2018 10:44:59 am
Hello Sir Marc. Thank you for your message and we are sorry for your family's loss. If memory serves me right, Aurora Theater was once located at Mabini Street and most probably it would be on the spot where Tiong San Mabini is standing right now or its nearby establishments and buildings.
meldz
11/30/2018 11:52:17 pm
in front of jqc, mabini st. where most of the business owners are muslims po
meldz
11/30/2018 11:57:04 pm
i guess, cinestar you mentioned was originally called luna theatre, if this was in malcolm square
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Baguio Family Time
12/1/2018 11:01:12 am
Hello Ma'am Meldz. I didn't know that the name of that particular movie theater beside Plaza Theater is Luna Theater because during our time in the 90's we came to know it by its name Cinestar.
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Julius
2/22/2019 11:34:45 pm
It breaks my heart when Pines Theater was gutted by fire. It was among the art deco buildings of Baguio.
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Baguio Family Time
2/24/2019 10:00:39 am
Thank you for your comment Sir Julius. I agree with you Sir that it is really heart breaking to see these once glorious structures in its current sad conditions. Some of them were turned to restos and 2nd hand clothing shops. Others were just left neglected and abandoned. Let's hope that one with a higher authority might take notice of the plight of these buildings and somehow start restoring them before it's too late.
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Maresciel
4/5/2020 07:55:05 pm
Hello I just want to correct the spelling of Maresciel Theater because this is how i got my name. My dad got it from this cinema. I remember when he accompanied me to enroll in SLU for college, he led me to this marketplace and we walked for a while and i asked him why we were in that crowded place, then we stopped and he asked me to look up and lo and behold my name is right there. It is such a unique name and all the people i meet would spell it wrong. I have been wanting to find a photo of that place and have it painted in canvass as a i am into paintings. If you can help me find an old photo, pls email me. Thanks in advance...
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Baguio Family Time
4/6/2020 08:14:47 pm
We are so delighted to hear the story behind your name Ma'am and thanks to your Dad for giving you such a wonderful name and something to remind you and us about the history of Baguio.
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Joy
11/11/2020 03:48:34 pm
Hi, there were 4 cinemas inside Baguio Center Mall called Silver City Cinemas and the one in La Trinidad (now TS) was Plaza La Trinidad. Great memories😊
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Baguio Family Time
11/15/2020 06:06:03 pm
Yes Ma'am Joy there were indeed 4 cinemas in Baguio Center Mall during it's early years but unfortunately they're closed already now. Just wasn't sure about the name of it though but thanks for reminding this author who's memory is not as sharp as it used to be :). I do agree that there used to be a lone movie theater in La Trinidad during the late 90's to the early 2000's Ma'am which was located inside Plaza La Trinidad Shopping Center. I clearly remember that one in La Trinidad because we watched the movie Titanic their due to standing room only in all cinemas and movie theaters in Baguio City. Great memories indeed Ma'am Joy that are long gone.
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Joel Rigonan
11/17/2023 11:16:11 pm
I was looking for this on the internet and that was the name. Plaza La Trinidad. It was one of the coolest places I’ve been in when I was a kid. I remember watching Voltes V, Bicentennial Man, Stuart Little. I also remember the premiere of Casper at Pines Cinema where I shouted “Wow Mommy! Ang laki ng TV!”
Jomz
9/24/2021 09:02:57 pm
If you want to go back as early as the 1900s, here are among the oldest cinemas here in Baguio:
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Baguio Family Time
9/27/2021 06:30:03 pm
Thank you for this great information Sir Jomz. It's indeed something that everyone from Baguio and that includes us, Baguio Family Time to know about the rich history of these Baguio cinemas and theatres.
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