Spectral Codex
西河戲院

Chinatown Rama Cinema

Locations
See Heng Lee Building from across the street. The theater entrance is on the right.
See Heng Lee Building from across the street. The theater entrance is on the right.

One of the last running vintage theaters in Bangkok, although it was likely only showing adult films for the last decade. It finally closed in the early 2020s and is now being used for storage. It was formerly known as Sai Ho Chinese Opera House (โรงงิ้วไซฮ้อ), Sri Muang Cinema (โรงหนังศรีเมือง) New Laem Thong Cinema (โรงหนังนิวแหลมทอง), and Chinatown Rama (ไชน่าทาวน์รามา). It is also known by its Chinese name, Sai Ho Theater (西河戲院).

An overgrown sign in 2018; only the rightmost character is visible.
An overgrown sign in 2018; only the rightmost character is visible.
One year later more of the name can be discerned.
One year later more of the name can be discerned.
Inside the cramped, dimly-lit lobby of the theater before it closed. The ticket booth is on the right.
Inside the cramped, dimly-lit lobby of the theater before it closed. The ticket booth is on the right.
Old movie posters in a case in the lobby.
Old movie posters in a case in the lobby.
The ticket booth after the theater closed.
The ticket booth after the theater closed.
Faded movie posters in the lobby in 2024.
Faded movie posters in the lobby in 2024.
The empty marquee around Lunar New Year in 2024.
The empty marquee around Lunar New Year in 2024.
One last look at the now-closed theater in 2024.
One last look at the now-closed theater in 2024.

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Author

Profile photo of Alexander Synaptic, founder of Spectral Codex
Alexander Synaptic
Curator, Spectral Codex

I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.