LIFE THEATER Of between heaven and hell, a state of being in a purgatory-like situation. Above photos the newly rebuilt Life Theater and the present day hell-like situation. Life Theater, now T. Villonco Building, designed by Pablo Antonio, on Quezon Boulevard, used to be one of Manilas movie houses showing only Filipino movies. It opened with Ang Maestra, starring Rosa del Rosario and Rogelio dela Rosa. For decades and decades, Life Theater along Quezon Blvd. was one of the most visited building in Manila’s busiest district, Quiapo. Erected in 1941, Life had art deco façade and interiors, in vogue at that time. The theater was destroyed during the liberation of Manila and was rebuilt in 1946 with the modern conveniences and a seating capacity of 1,144. The rebuilt Life opened with a Hollywood movie, A Thousand and One Nights. After which English and Tagalog films were shown in Life until the mid-‘50s when it became the exclusive home of Sampaguita movies. Life Theater was owned by Romeo Villonco, who continued the theatrical enterprise of his father, Dr. Teofilo Villonco. The Villoncos were original partners of LVN Studios, whose initials stood for De Leon, Villonco, Navoa. The family also owned Palace Theater on Ronquillo St., Quiapo. The white façade fused art deco streamlining and neoclassicism with its scaled round columns topped by a conical finial. The theater was also adorned with aluminum buffles, consistent with its Art Deco design. Along with the Times Theater, the theater is found along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo. It has since been converted to a shopping center. Like other stand-alone theaters in downtown Manila, Life closed shop in the ’90s when moviegoers began trooping to the malls for shopping and entertainment. Life is now made up of booths selling cheap goods, a shadow of its old glory.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 23:05:44 +0000
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