Rob MacDonald
Permanently closed 🙁 …
The Cathay Gallery
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The Cathay Gallery, hidden away on Level 2 of The Cathay building, serves as a captivating museum that preserves and showcases Singapore's cinematic heritage. This free-to-enter gallery houses an extensive collection of memorabilia spanning over 70 years of film history, including vintage projection equipment, movie posters, photographs, and personal items from the pioneering Loke family who founded Cathay Organisation.
The gallery traces the remarkable story of the Loke family, early pioneers in Singapore's film production and distribution industry, offering visitors insights into how cinema shaped the nation's cultural landscape. Displays feature artefacts from Singapore's golden age of film alongside more contemporary movie memorabilia, creating a narrative bridge between the country's cinematic past and present. The space itself evokes retro cinema vibes with thoughtful curation that appeals to both film buffs and casual visitors interested in Singapore's entertainment history.
Located at Dhoby Ghaut within the historic Cathay building, itself an architectural landmark blending Art Deco heritage with modern design, the gallery represents an often-overlooked cultural gem that many locals and tourists discover serendipitously. The compact yet comprehensive display makes it accessible for quick visits during shopping trips, while photography enthusiasts will find particularly rich material among the vintage equipment and nostalgic displays that tell the story of movies in Singapore.
The gallery traces the remarkable story of the Loke family, early pioneers in Singapore's film production and distribution industry, offering visitors insights into how cinema shaped the nation's cultural landscape. Displays feature artefacts from Singapore's golden age of film alongside more contemporary movie memorabilia, creating a narrative bridge between the country's cinematic past and present. The space itself evokes retro cinema vibes with thoughtful curation that appeals to both film buffs and casual visitors interested in Singapore's entertainment history.
Located at Dhoby Ghaut within the historic Cathay building, itself an architectural landmark blending Art Deco heritage with modern design, the gallery represents an often-overlooked cultural gem that many locals and tourists discover serendipitously. The compact yet comprehensive display makes it accessible for quick visits during shopping trips, while photography enthusiasts will find particularly rich material among the vintage equipment and nostalgic displays that tell the story of movies in Singapore.
Orchard Road
Operating Hours
Open Now
Closes in 17h 46m
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Friday
12–7 pm
Saturday
(Today)
12–7 pm
Sunday
12–7 pm
Photo Gallery
The Cathay Gallery shop front with a distinctive arched entrance and illuminated signage.
Display of historical photographs and colorful circular ornaments with portraits.
A display of Cathay's 85 years of cinema history with film reels, tickets, and memorabilia.
The Cathay Gallery entrance with pop art portraits and vintage projector.
A television screen displays a black and white film with English and Chinese subtitles.
A Panasonic screen displays "The Wild Wild Rose" with Chinese characters and floral imagery.
A vintage movie poster for 'Sun, Moon and Star' featuring three women and a soldier.
A display showcasing vintage movie posters, old televisions, and seating.
Display cases filled with vintage cameras and photographic equipment.
A black and white film clip titled 'Her Tender Heart' is displayed on a screen.
Interior of The Cathay Gallery showcasing vintage movie posters and fashion displays.
A display of vintage Cathay Hotel memorabilia including telephones, plates, and newspapers.
The Cathay Gallery features vibrant portraits displayed on a curved glass facade.
A screen displays a vintage scene of three women in uniform, balancing books on their heads.
The Cathay Gallery entrance with movie posters and company logo.
Interior view of The Cathay Gallery, showcasing historical exhibits and displays.
A black and white video plays on a screen, showing a woman and text.
A vintage movie poster for 'June Bride' featuring a smiling woman and scenes from the film.
A digital display shows the word MAT with a fraction 3/4.
A television screen displays a vibrant sunset with Chinese characters and English text.
A television screen displays a scene from the movie 'Our Sister Hedy' with subtitles.
A vintage film projector displayed at The Cathay Gallery with pop art portraits.
A television screen displays Chinese calligraphy and the text 'ESCORTS OVER TIGER HILLS'.
Vintage movie posters and books displayed in a gallery setting.
A diorama of a vintage room with traditional furniture and decor.
An exhibition display dedicated to Mrs. Loke Yew, featuring portraits, a bust, and artifacts.
A television screen displays the title 'Wife Of A Romantic Scholar' with Chinese characters.
A television screen displays text in a stylized font.
A display of vintage items including biscuits tins, shoes, and books, with black and white photos.
Mannequins display historical costumes in a gallery setting.
An exhibition showcasing vintage film projectors and historical cinema milestones.
A display featuring a red uniform, vintage film reels, and movie memorabilia.
Interior of The Cathay Gallery exhibition with historical displays and portraits.
Overall Rating
3.9
/
5
Based on 8 reviews
Mall Ranking
#1662
Out of 2294 shops
Category Ranking
Not enough ratings
Negative Reviews
Positive Reviews
Travis Lee
Nostalgic! I thought Cathay would shut down the museum once the mall reopened, but nope. They kept it and made it even better. Entrance is near the level 2 lift lobby. Operating hours are a bit limited, but hey, it’s free, so no complaints. It is a small exhibition, but a thoughtful one. Appreciate that Cathay chose to preserve this piece of history, scarifying precious rental space. Nice chance to show my kid what life was like before Netflix, when cinemas were popular and CRT TVs were part of life. I also picked up some fun bits about Cathay’s history. A great effort that adds character to the mall.
Hak Chng
History and films lovers will be thrilled to learn that Cathay has preserved Singapore's favourite childhood haunt in the second floor Cathay Gallery at the reopened Cathay. Business historians would be even more impressed at how the gallery pays tribute to woman founder Lim Cheng Kim, a Hokkien-Hakka entrepreneur who turned her dream to reality. 1 day ago
Mac Prichard
A small unstaffed museum about The Cathay Organization which for decades operated two film studios and a chain of movie theaters in Southeast Asia.Spend time watching the teasers for the Chinese and Malay language films made by the studios in the 1950s and 1960s. There's also a portion of a display case with souvenirs of the opening night of The Cathay Cinema on this site in October 1939 with a showing of "The Four Feathers."
Melissa Eisner
A cool little slice of Singaporean cinematic history. Free entry, lots of history about the Cathay and the movie industry and the benefactors. Worth a quick stop if you’re in the area.
Gary Ng
Bringing you down memory lane of the Cathay family, history and the world of filmography.
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