Jurong, Singapore: Outdoor Movies at Singapore's Only Drive-In Outdoor Cinema
Singapore’s only open-air drive-in cinema, the Jurong Drive-In, was opened by the then Minister of Culture, Jek Yuen Thong, on 14 July 1971. The brainchild and pride of Cathay Organisation, it was located at Yuan Ching Road, next to the Japanese Gardens. Built on a 5.6-hectare site leased from the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), the cinema could accommodate 900 cars and an additional 300 people in its walk-in gallery. The Drive-In closed on 30 September 1985 due to poor attendance and increasing competition from video piracy.
History of the Outdoor Cinema
Cathay Organisation adopted the drive-in concept from the O’Halloran Hill cinema in Adelaide, Australia, opening Singapore’s first drive-in theater at Yuan Ching Road, Jurong on 14 July 1971 — also the largest in Asia. Premiering at the opening night was Ralph Thomas’ Doctor in Trouble; box-office proceeds were donated to Jurong Town Creche and Jurong Town Community Centre. On opening night, about 880 cars packed the site with an additional 300 patrons in the walk-in gallery. The outdoor screen measured 47 ft by 100 ft, tilted at six-and-a-half degrees and raised 25 ft above ground. Soundtracks were delivered via 899 speaker stands plus individual car speakers.
Description of the Drive-In
The Jurong Drive-In attracted thousands during its heyday in the 1970s. Outdoor movies screened daily at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Tickets: S$2 adults, S$1 for children under 12. The programme featured first-run English-language films and Hong Kong action movies. Bruce Lee films were especially popular; The Big Boss broke the drive-in’s box-office record, collecting S$12,000 in a single night.
The appeal was watching a giant screen from the privacy of the car — one of the few outings the whole family could share. But novelty wore off as the open-air setting left patrons at the mercy of tropical downpours. Windshield wipers running for hours were said to risk car ignition systems. Impatient patrons sometimes left their cars in long queues, and gate-crashers added to the disorder. Plans to open additional drive-in cinemas never materialised, leaving Jurong as Singapore’s only drive-in theater.
Outdoor Movies: Winding Down
By 1981 Cathay Organisation was already considering closure. In the years before it finally closed, average attendance had dropped to around 200 people or 100 cars per night — a fraction of the 900-car capacity. The decline was attributed primarily to video piracy. Motorcyclists began using the empty lot for illegal racing after shows ended. Cathay Organisation declined to renew its JTC lease, and on 30 September 1985 the Jurong Drive-In screened its last outdoor movies after 15 years of operation.
Drive-In Theater Revival
Drive-in cinema has been periodically revived in Singapore. In 1996 the People’s Association Paya Lebar carpark hosted a temporary drive-in for two nights (31 May–1 June) as part of the arts festival fringe. In 2003, Kallang carpark was the venue for a drive-in during the Romancing Singapore Festival. Outdoor films have also been held monthly at Carpark B, Downtown East (an NTUC Club at Pasir Ris).
From “Jurong Drive-in cinema” by Nureza Ahmad, National Library Board Singapore.