A prominent Bahraini historian and prolific author has released his latest book shedding light on entertainment venues and social gathering gems of yesteryear.
Entertainment Venues in Bahrain During the First Half of the Twentieth Century is Shura Council member Dr Mansoor Sarhan’s 43rd offering.
It highlights the literary and cultural history of Bahrain including the island’s gardens, springs, cafes, suqs, and cinemas.
“I decided to work on the book last year when Covid-19 spread globally and we had to stay indoors like everyone else,” said Mr Sarhan, 76, who is also the National Library at the Isa Cultural Centre director.
“I decided it was the best time to write a book on society, to remember the times when we were able to gather with friends and family which we were missing so much.”
His new work covers entertainment venues enjoyed by Bahrainis from the early 1900s to the end of the 1950s, such as Al Raha springs (Sitra) and the Gudaibiya Palace gardens. In addition, it documents the kingdom’s first zoo – in fact the first in the whole of the GCC – Hadiqat Al Baghsha, which opened in 1932.
“They brought different types of animals into this zoo, including birds, monkeys, giraffes and bears,” he said.
The iconic Water Garden in Salmaniya or ‘Al Hadiqa Al Ma’eeya’ is highlighted too. The author states the former government adviser Charles Belgrave started to work on the garden in 1947 and documents that a special event was organised to celebrate the late diplomat’s 25th wedding anniversary at the facility in 1951.
Picnics used to be a weekly event for many citizens, where groups of not less than 20 people would come together to spend a full day at a farm, playing, cooking, singing and dancing.
One of the most fascinating sections in the book focuses on the history of cinemas in Bahrain. “The first silent cinema was founded in 1922 in a cottage in Manama by Mahmood Al Sa’ati,” said Dr Sarhan
Dr Sarhan
“It was powered by diesel and was a silent medium because they lacked the technology for sound.
“After that came the 1938 cinema, which was called ‘Marsah Al Bahrain’ (later called the National Cinema) in Manama and was the first cinema with audio.”
He recalls moviegoers seated in benches and not recliners or cushion chairs like today.
The book further documents the Awali Cinema set up in Bapco, which was the first air-conditioned cinema in Bahrain which had proper seating. “It was opened to the public in the early fifties,” he added.
The iconic Lu’Lu’ cinema in Manama is also mentioned in the book that opened in 1950 and was designed to emulate the style of an Egyptian opera house. They had mirrors in that cinema, they called them magic mirrors. They would either make you look plump and short, or thin and tall!” he added.
“This book is for all ages. People will be reminded of the beautiful past and for the youngsters, they will get a glimpse of our old habits, customs and heritage and how we spent our time in those days.”
The book is available at Al Waqt bookshop and at the National Library, Isa Cultural Centre in Juffair.
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