Tainan Guanghua Theater

Guanghua Theater (光華戲院) was established on Dongmen Roundabout (東門圓環) in Tainan in 1946. It operated though the 1960s, regularly hosting traveling acts such as the Sun Moon Garden Opera Troupe (日月園歌劇團) and screening films. According to my sources it closed around 1970 only to be converted into retail space. Later on it was converted into a clothing store. It is among the oldest surviving theaters in this historic city but any attempt at revitalization would be frustrated by complex property rights; there are something like 40 shareholders, many of whom are no longer residing in the country.

Date CapturedApril 5th, 2021 at 05:33 UTCCameraNIKON D3400LensAF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR or AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6GApertureƒ / 8Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length28.0 mmISO100Exposure Value14.6 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedApril 5th, 2021 at 05:24 UTCCameraNIKON D3400LensAF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR or AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6GApertureƒ / 8Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length25.0 mmISO100Exposure Value14.6 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedApril 5th, 2021 at 05:32 UTCCameraNIKON D3400LensAF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G or AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VRApertureƒ / 3.5Shutter Speed1/50 secFocal Length18.0 mmISO100Exposure Value9.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

From certain angles a small part of the original façade¹ can be seen behind the metal advertising banner out front. The theater building was also connected to the shophouses curving around the bend of the street to the left. Nothing of the original interior remains visible; everything has been covered by a metal substructure increasing floor space for the shop. Nevertheless, this is indeed the original theater building. Perhaps some day it will emerge from the shadows.