End of an era: IMAX 20th Century woes proof of a dying culture?

 The movie theatre hype seems to have died with technology bringing big screen to the living room.

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The iconic Century Plaza in Nairobi CBD, home of the premier movie theatre Anga-IMAX 20th Century is the new theatre of drama in the city.

No blockbuster movie sessions are going on after Covid-19 stopped the action yet behind the soundproofed walls, the loud sound rolling from the entertainment hub is more than deafening. The surviving home of cinema could be closing down marking the end of an era of the reel-to-reel arena in the CBD. The action is as engaging as a climax thrush. It’s a thriller thunderbolt that has hooked on the corner of their seat.

Eight years after the current Arfa Afra Ltd took over the running of the theatre with a 10-year lease contract that expires in 2023, a brewing dispute between the Century Plaza landlord and the investors is getting nasty and now, auctioneers have been called in for the hammer’s drill. Through a public notice issued through the dailies this week, the movie theatre equipment such as projectors, TV sets, power back-up units, roof and wall-mounted speakers, POS, and seats as well as kitchen equipment from the establishment’s Arfa bar will be up for sale. The public auction has been set for Wednesday 15. Now Arfa Afra Ltd is bracing to halt the move – by all means necessary.

“All the above goods shall be sold as one lot. Viewing can be done on prior arrangements with our offices. A refundable deposit of Sh100,000 shall be paid for one to obtain a bidding number,” read the public notice put up by Ideal Auctioneers who are working on behalf of the Mama Ngina Street - Century Plaza - establishment landlord – one Gaetano Ruffo.

“We have been engaging Ruffo on this matter through our legal team. Everyone knows that the cinema industry has suffered because of all the Covid-19 restrictions and just like many others, we are down on our knees. We approximately have Sh4.5 million rent arrears accrued from the last three months or so and this is something we can solve amicably,” Kenneth Kimutai, the IMAX 20th Century general manager tells The Standard.

“We usually make our payments through a quarter system but we all know how things have been tough. I am aware that he is planning to renovate the building but I think it’s wrong to use this to kick us out while we know this is an iconic place known for cinema,” he adds noting that a rent deposit of Sh10 million that the landlord holds from the investors is enough to stop the eviction and the auction, the later that they claim having learned through the newspaper.

 “All the above goods shall be sold as one lot. Viewing can be done on prior arrangements with our offices. A refundable deposit of Sh100,000 shall be paid for one to obtain a bidding number,” read the public notice put up by Ideal Auctioneers who are working on behalf of the Mama Ngina Street - Century Plaza - establishment landlord.

IMAX 20th Century is the last surviving pioneer movie theatres with Century Plaza having been designed as a film theatre by its Italian owners decades ago. If closed, it will be an end of an era for such entertainment establishments that offered fun for lovers and friends seeking leisure and fun during their free time. It paints fainting shadows from the past when going out for a movie was a big deal, a move that earned many bragging rights to claim romance. With the famous having been Kenya Cinema, Nairobi Cinema, Odeon and Belle Vue Drive-in, all of which have since been converted into places of worship, movie halls were the weekend place to be for anyone claiming to be urban ‘cool’.

“I recall back in 1995 when I took my then-girlfriend, who is now my wife, to 20th Century for the Forest Whitaker directed romance and drama film Waiting to Exhale. It was a big deal proving you were a real man through getting your lover a movie ticket, buying popcorns and coffee into the movie hall and holding your emotions together for two hours. That was seen to be real romantic if not sexy,” says Festus Maithya who is currently a father of three.

“My first date was a movie date. I was so smitten that at the end of the movie, I ended kissing this guy this being my first kiss. From then on, we never missed any big movie in town until we part ways following his proposal to another woman who became his wife. I was so heartbroken after he left me that I never stepped into a movie theatre again,” remarks Rubbie Chemu, 32.

She recalls how men used to propose to their girlfriends in movie halls. Some would also take advantage of these secluded dark halls for sexual indulgence – popularly known as the late-night and early morning theatre backbench behaviour.      

Even with popular modern shopping malls still setting up state-of-the-art theatres such as Anga Sky at Panari Hotel and IMAX Diamond – along Mombasa Road and Parklands, respectively, both of which are run by the IMAX team – as well as the Fox Cinema centre along the Thika superhighway, the theatre movie show seems a dying practice. Technology has brought the big screen into households where one can access the latest movie at the touch of a button.

“Why do I need to go to a movie theatre and pay for a ticket, sit there with strangers and watch a movie for hours when I can still access the same via Netflix at the comfort of my living room,” wonders Nancy Kyalo.

“There is still a lot that fancies going to theatres but I don’t think it is a big deal anymore going to cinema halls. Slowly, this culture is dying,” she notes.

According to the Anga-IMAX 20th Century general manager Kennedy, cinema halls are till attracting many numbers especially when big Hollywood blockbuster movies are in season.

“You will be shocked that we get full bookings when we have big movies. Our Diamond, Parklands branch is one busy place. It is only that Covid-19 has interrupted things and with the new normal, people might not do things the same way again. Let’s wait and see what next,” concludes Kennedy.