Shanghai’s Old Outdoor Cinemas

Outdoor cinema has made something of a comeback in many cities around the world in recent years, but not in China to my knowledge. However, back in the thirties outdoor cinema was popular. In Shanghai there were weekend screening in Hongkew Park (now Lu Xun Park) as well as at the Hart Garden Lawn Cinema up on Hart Road (now Changde Road) close to the junction with Connaught Road (now Kanding Road). In 1934 the Hart Garden was actually showing 1932’s If I had a Million with an all-star cast. It seems like a pretty cheap date – 50 cents for the best seats. Just hope the rain stayed away….