The Historic Broadway Theatre of Madras

All hit films of yesteryear's superstar MGR used to get released in this theatre. Importantly, Haridass, the 1944 classic, ran for three successive years in this theatre. Despite being engulfed with such rich history, hardly anyone from today's Chennai could reminisce about this theatre. 

Located on Broadway Road and named after the Road as Broadway Cinemas, it was inaugurated in the 1920s. 

The city is growing faster, and the citizens of newly developed areas from OMRs and ECRs might not even know the old or the "original" Madras. George Town, the highly crowded locality, is where the city originated. This locality was planned and developed in the 1780s. Broadway, though it appears to be a misnomer today, was a prominent commercial thoroughfare in the 19th century. 

In 1897 CE, a few short clips were screened in the Victoria Hall; it was the first cinema viewing experience for the citizens of Madras. Since then, the animated photographs were regularly screened in the same venue and other places like the tents of Esplanade and the Egmore Museum Theatre. However, a permanent theatre with a well-conceived hall was opened only in 1911. It was named "Bioscope" and started by Mrs. Klug on Broadway Street. Unfortunately, it was closed down within a few months.

The Broadway Cinemas is located on the Street where the first theatre of the city was once located. In those days, when the entire Madras was comparatively a small city, it was a well-known entertainment site. Now, it's a forgotten history. Though the building remains intact, the theatre was permanently closed in the 2010s.

Happy travelling.