Category: Burma

Before the advent of DVDs and Video Streaming, one has to rely on the Silver Screen.

Cinemas in Rangoon

In our younger days, the cinemas in Rangoon include :

• Bayint Naung
• Carlton / Yuzana
• Excelsior / Waziya
• Globe / Gon
• Kar Htay
• Light house / Nay Pyi Daw
• Ma Yo San
• Myoma
• President / Thamada
• Palladium / Pa Pa Win
• Ritz
• Regent
• Royal / Taw Win
• Shwe Gon
• Shwe Mann
• Sun Thiri
• Tabin Shwe Htee
• Wizaya

Cost of cinema tickets

• President had Loge seats for five kyats
• Most cinemas have Dress Circle seats for K3.50.
• Back row seats cost K2.50.
• Middle row seats cost K1.50. UTC members get a discount rate of 90 pyas.
• Front row sets sell for 75 pyas.

Schedule

• Screening times were 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
• When a movie was offered in multiple cinemas, the starting times of the main feature were staggered (to allow the physical sharing of the movie reels across adjacent or close cinemas).
• New shows usually started on Fridays at 12:30 PM.
• Attendees for the “First Day First Show” usually indicated the popularity of a new movie.
• The movie “Hna ma let shawt nay le dawt” was one exception. Some believe U Khin Maung Yin (A60, Modern Artist) was ahead of the time.
• Before the main feature, there were news (e.g. by Rank Organization), cartoons and trailers (of forthcoming movies).

Popular movies

• Action
  e.g. The Longest Day, The Guns of Navarone
• Comedy
  e.g. Jerry Lewis, Norman Wisdom
• Drama
  e.g. Imitation of Life, Madam X
• Historical
  e.g. Ten Commandments, Ben Hur
• Musical
  e.g. South Pacific, Sound of Music
• Science Fiction
  e.g. Time Machine
• Suspense
  e.g. Dracula, Psycho
• Travelog
  e.g. Around the world in eighty days

Observations

• Cinema-scope, Todd AO productions were some of the then novel features.
• Most movie lengths were between 8000 to 12000 feet. Longer films required the change of viewing times (e.g. less shows per day).
• Movies needed approval from the Censor Board.
• Academy awards were given to eligible Burmese/Myanmar movies, directors, actors, …
• Cinemas were nationalized were nationalized a few years after the Coup d’etat.

• With the advent of TV, DVDs and the Internet, the former cinema goers around the world changed their viewing habits.
• A few years back, only a limited number of movies were produced in Myanmar.
• Some Myanmar movie stars and enthusiasts are building cinemas (some of them mega-cinemas) to revive the memories of the Silver Screen (and its improvements).

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2025

• Luyechun stands for Outstanding Student.
• The initial Luyechun program ran from 1964 to 1988.
• The Luyechun program was revived a few years back.

1964

Luyechun (Outstanding Student) Program was established in 1964. Eligible students from 7th Standard to 10th Standard were chosen to attend the Ngapali Luyechun Camp.

1964 Luyechuns include Ko Win Aung, Ko Oke Soe Kha (son of Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha) from Rangoon, Ma Pwint Than (Loikaw), Ko Aung Myint (Mandalay), and Ma Mie Mie Khine (Akyab).

1965

Luyechun Program was extended in 1965 for eligible students from Universities and Institutes. There were three Camps

• Inlay Camp for high school and university students
• Ngapali Camp for middle school students
• Combined Camp in Rangoon

I was selected as RIT Luyechun for the Inlay Camp along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ko Zaw Min [Nawaday] and Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Margaret).

Ko Kyaw Sein Koe (Victor Koe, GBNF), Ma Anita Aye Pe, Ko Khin Maung U and Ma Than Than Tin (Cherry Hlaing) were selected for IM(1).

Ko Tun Naung (GBNF, BDS, Stereo Khit Pioneer), Ko Soe Aung (IM2, elder brother of Ko Soe Myint [GBNF, UCC]), Ko Min Oo (Mathematics), Ko Ye Myint & Ma Khin Aye Than (Chemistry), Ko Myint Thein & Ko Soe Lwin (Physics), and Ko Tin Hlaing (Lay Dwin Thar Saw Chit, Burmese) were some who were selected for their disciplines.

Those from Matriculation include Ko Win Myint (later Bogyoke), Ko Aung Win (later RIT Saya), Uttam Singh (later NASA) and Ma Pwint Than (later EPC). They joined RIT.

Others include :
Ko Aung Shwe (brother of Tekkatho Phone Naing), Ko Than Sit (GBNF, Liver Foundation), Ko Aung Kyaw Nyunt (GBNF), Ko Aung Myint, Ko Thein Lwin, Nelson Kaw and Ko Kyaw Myint.

Multiple Luyechun

• Several students (e.g. Dr. Khin Maung U, Dr. Thynn Thynn Lynn, Daw Mie Mie Khine) were selected Luyechun multiple times.

Staff Sayas

• Some sayas from Universities and High Schools were chosen to manage the Luyechuns. e.g. U Aung Gyi (MASU), Daw Po (RASU), Dr. May May Yi (GBNF, IM2)
• Dr. Min Oo (SPHS63, Mathematics) was selected Luyechun in 1965 and later as a Staff Saya.

Guest Speaker

• Saya U Thein Han (Zawgyi), Saya Dr. Nyi Nyi and U Thu Ta (Meteorology) were Guest Speakers at the Inlay Luyechun Camp.
• Saya U Kyaw Myint (DHE) and I were Guest Speakers at the Nagapali Lu Ye Chun Camp in 1988.

Status

• Luyehun project ended in 1988.
• A few years back, an Association was formed for Lu Ye Chuns from 1964 to 1988.
• The 7th Annual General Meeting was held online in January 2021.
  

Sayings

• Laughter is the best medicine
  Feature in Reader’s Digest
• It takes less effort and nerves to smile than to frown.
• A Cartoon (or Comics) a day keeps the blues away.
• Cartoons (and Comics) have no age boundaries.

Early Cartoonists

• Aung Shein
• Ba Gyan
• Ba Htwe
• Heng Soon
• Kyaw San (“Ka Sa”)
• Pe Thein
• Shwe Ta Lay
• Than Kywe
• …
• They published Cartoons in Burmese and English newspapers, magazines, books, …
• The “Cartoon Festival” was held in U Ba Gyan Street (around Tazaung Daing).
• In the mid 1950s, there was a rift between the two factions of AFPFL. Some cartoonists took sides and a “price war” started. The cartoons, which sold for 60 pyas were then given away at bargain prices (any where between 10 and 50 pyas).

• There were two Gates during our RIT days.
  The RIT Main Gate was named “U Lu Paw” Gate (at the suggestion of Ko Win Thein (M67). The Side Gate used by those that came be Bus and Rail was known as “Sin Ye Thar” Gate.

• Ko Myint Soe (C68, GBNF) and Ko Myint Thein (M69, GBNF) are fondly called Maung Kabar or Kabar.
• About a decade ago, my spouse paid K10,000 for xeroxed copy of “old” cartoons published in the Rangoon Times.
  Some are political satire.

Engineer Cartoonists

• There may have been engineer/cartoonists before Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko (C64), Saya U Aung Myint (Pet69, GBNF), and U Myint Pe (M72).

U Khin Maung Phone Ko

• Saya U Moe Aung (EE 63) mentioned that Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko made his name in the media (e.g. Kye Mon Daily) with his “Vietnam” cartoons.
• Signature “Phone Ko” emphasized the “Na Gyee” (Big Na).
• Patron of the RIT Cartoon Box.
• Moved to Singapore.

U Aung Myint (GBNF)

• Saya U Aung Myint (Pet69) is known for “Kyant Ba Hone“. The character looks superficially like Nick Kelly, but the contents are different.
• Served as President of the RIT Cartoonists Association.
• Patron of the RIT Cartoon Box.
• Called “Delta Tun Shein” for his likeness to Saya U Tun Shein (Mathematics).
• Two of his early cartoons were about “Kar Ku La Thin Char” (Calculus) and the now obsolete “Slide Rule“.
  
  “Ah Ba, Kar Ku La Thin Char is fascinating.
  If you differentiate a Lada, you get a Sargalay.
  If you integrate a Sargalay, you get a Lada.”
  
  “Ah Ba, Slide Rule is fascinating.”
  “Lu Galay, Show me how to add 2 and 3 with your slide rule.
  “Ah Ba, I cannot do it.”
  “Then, show me how to subtract 2 from 3 with your slide rule.”
  “Ah Ba, I cannot do it.”
  “Lu Galay, Throw away your useless slide rule.”

U Myint Pe

• U Myint Pe (M72) has several hobbies.
• One of the “Mike Khe” and “Pho So Chin”.
  Admin of U70 musical group.
• Performed as Lu Shwin Daw Seik Kyee of the Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint at the Rangoon University Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1970.
• Under the patronage of Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko and Saya U Aung Myint, U Myint Pe implemented the RIT Cartoon Box using an old telephone kiosk for posting RIT-related cartoons (weekly).

RIT Cartoon Box

• The tradition was maintained by three (or more) generations of Cartoon Boxers.
• After 1988, the authorities ordered to close the Cartoon Box.
• The organizers of “Cartoon Box” spanning several years finally had a Grand Union prior to SPZP-2012. Most met face to face for the first time. They compiled selected cartoons from the RIT publications (Set Hmu Thadin Zin, Annual Magazines, Sar Saungs) for a book to commemorate SPZP-2012 and to re-display the Cartoon Box. Many (manned the booth at SPZP-2012 and autographed the cartoon books.
• The History of the Cartoon Box was published in the Swel Daw Yeik Magazine for SPZP-2012. U Myint Pe was a Contributing Editor.
• Collection of RIT Cartoons was published in time for SPZP-2012. During my visit to Yangon in March 2012, U Saw Lin (C73, GBNF) gave me a xeroxed copy of “Selected RIT Cartoons”.
• Pamphlet of RIT Cartoons distributed at Shwe YaDu in 2014 and SPZP-2016

Aw Pi Kye

• Aw Pi Kyeh (Mann Bei) served as Secretary of the RIT Cartoonists Association. He later headed the Myanmar Cartoonists Association.
  I met him twice during his visit to US : first at the San Francisco Bay Area Literary Talks in Fremont, Northern California and later in Los Angeles, Southern California.

Miscellaneous

• Joker was a contributor.

• Saya U Thiha Latt was one of the last “Cartoon Box” organizers. He also helped with the design/type setting of “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”, “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”, and “RIT Cartoon Collection”.

• U Myo Myint (Myat Myo Myint) is known for his Cover Designs, Pon Tus and Paintings. He also drew some cartoons for the RIT Magazine.
  One of them reminded me of three female friends who were known as “Half Size”, “Full Size” and “Double Size”. Sadly two : Sayama Daw Mya Mya Than (EP68) and Daw Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68) are GBNF.
  Another reminded of the several “Pho So Chin” and “Mike Khe” in the USA, Australia, Singapore and Myanmar.
  Yet another reminded me of some classmates who excel in extra curricular activities so much that they bade farewell to RIT before graduation.

• There were dozens of RIT/YIT/YTU cartoonists. U Myint Pe published a partial list.
• Maung Yit (Maung Maung Win, Moe Ma Ka) is one of the junior members of RIT Cartoon Box Contributors.

Sayings

• Laughter is the best medicine (Feature in Reader’s Digest)
• It takes less nerves to smile than to frown.
• A Cartoon a day keeps the blues away.
• Cartoons have no age boundaries.

Early Cartoonists

• Shwe Ta Lay
• U Ba Gyan
• U Heng Soon
• U Aung Shein
• U Pe Thein
• U Than Kywe
• U Ba Htwe
• U Kyaw San (“Ka Sa”)
• …
  
• They published Cartoons in Burmese and English newspapers, magazines, books, …
• The “Cartoon Festival” was held in U Ba Gyan Street (around Tazaung Daing).
• In the mid 1950s, there was a rift between the two factions of AFPFL. Some cartoonists took sides and a “price war” started. The cartoons, which sold for 60 pyas were then given away at bargain prices (any where between 10 and 50 pyas).
• There were two Gates during our RIT days.
  The RIT Main Gate was named “U Lu Paw” Gate (at the suggestion of Ko Win Thein (M67, GBNF). The Side Gate used by those that came be Bus and Rail was known as “Sin Ye Thar” Gate.
• Ko Myint Soe (C68, GBNF) and Ko Myint Thein (M69, GBNF) are fondly called Maung Kabar or Kabar.
• About a decade ago, my spouse paid K10,000 for xeroxed copy of old cartoons published in the Rangoon Times. Some are political satire.

Engineer Cartoonists

• There may have been engineer/cartoonists before Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko (C 64), Saya U Aung Myint (Pet 69, GBNF) and U Myint Pe (M 72).

U Khin Maung Phone Ko

• Saya U Moe Aung (EE 63) mentioned that Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko made his name in the media (e.g. Kye Mon Daily) with his “Vietnam” cartoons.
• His signature “Phone Ko” emphasized the “Na Gyee” (Big Na).
• He was a Patron of the RIT Cartoon Box.
• He moved to Singapore.

U Aung Myint

• Saya U Aung Myint (Pet69) is known for “Kyant Ba Hone“.
  The character looks superficially like Nick Kelly, but the contents are different.
• He served as President of the RIT Cartoonists Association.
• He was a Patron of the RIT Cartoon Box.
• He was called “Delta Tun Shein” for his likeness to Saya U Tun Shein (Mathematics).
• Two of his early cartoons were about “Kar Ku La Thin Char” (Calculus) and the now obsolete “Slide Rule“.
  
  “Ah Ba, Kar Ku La Thin Char is fascinating.
  If you differentiate a Lada, you get a Sargalay.
  If you integrate a Sargalay, you get a Lada.”
  
  “Ah Ba, Slide Rule is fascinating.”
  “Lu Galay, Show me how to add 2 and 3 with your slide rule.
  “Ah Ba, I cannot do it.”
  “Then, show me how to subtract 2 from 3 with your slide rule.”
  “Ah Ba, I cannot do it.”
  “Lu Galay, Throw away your useless slide rule.”

U Myint Pe

• U Myint Pe (M72) has several hobbies.
• He is one of the “Mike Khe” and “Pho So Chin”.
  He is admin of U70 musical group.
• He performed as Lu Shwin Daw Seik Kyee of the Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint at the Rangoon University Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1970.
• Under the patronage of Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko and Saya U Aung Myint, U Myint Pe implemented the RIT Cartoon Box using an old telephone kiosk for posting RIT-related cartoons (weekly).

RIT Cartoon Box

• The tradition was maintained by three (or more) generations of Cartoon Boxers.
• Cartoon Box was “ordered close” by authorities after 1988.
• The organizers of “Cartoon Box” spanning several years finally had a Grand Union prior to SPZP-2012. Most met face to face for the first time. They compiled selected cartoons from the RIT publications (Set Hmu Thadin Zin, Annual Magazines, Sar Saungs) for a book to commemorate SPZP-2012 and to re-display the Cartoon Box. Many manned the booth at SPZP-2012 and autographed the cartoon books.
• The history of Cartoon Box is published in the Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Magazine for SPZP-2012. U Myint Pe was a Contributing Editor.
• Collection of RIT Cartoons was published in time for SPZP-2012. During my visit to Yangon in March 2012, U Saw Lin (C73, GBNF) gave me a xeroxed copy of “Selected RIT Cartoons”.
• Pamphlet of RIT Cartoons distributed at Shwe YaDu in 2014 and SPZP-2016.

Aw Pi Kye

• Aw Pi Kyeh (Mann Bei) served as Secretary of the RIT Cartoonists Association. He later headed the Myanmar Cartoonists Association.
• I met him twice during his visit to US : first at the San Francisco Bay Area Literary Talks in Fremont, Northern California and later in Los Angeles, Southern California.

Miscellaneous

• Joker was also a contributor.

• Saya U Thiha Latt was one of the last “Cartoon Box” organizers. He also helped with the design/type setting of “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”, “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”, and “RIT Cartoon Collection”.
  

• U Myo Myint (Bagyee Myat Myo Myint) is known for his Cover Designs, Pon Tus and Paintings.
  He also drew some cartoons for the RIT Magazine.
  One of them reminded me of three female friends who were known as “Half Size”, “Full Size” and “Double Size”. Sadly two : Sayama Daw Mya Mya Than (EP68) and Daw Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68) are GBNF.
  Another reminded of the several “Pho So Chin” and “Mike Khe” in the USA, Australia, Singapore and Myanmar.
  Yet another reminded me of some classmates who excel in extra curricular activities so much that they bade farewell to RIT before graduation.

• There were dozens of RIT/YIT/YTU cartoonists. U Myint Pe published a partial list.

• Maung Yit (Maung Maung Win, MoeMaKa) is one of the junior members of RIT Cartoon Box Contributors.