Head down to Yishun, and you definitely won’t miss Northpoint City, the massive mall connected to the MRT station. But if you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a cinema located within the mall, because Golden Village Yishun is actually right next door at Yishun 10.
This old-school building stands out against the modern facade of Northpoint City and holds an important place in Singapore’s cinematic scene. With recent news that it’s set to be redeveloped into a residential and commercial building, here’s a look back at the history of this iconic spot.
Image credit: u/urcommunist via Reddit
You might be used to going to the cinema and walking past rows of screening halls before finding yours, but 30-odd years ago, this wasn’t the norm at all. Back when most cinemas in Singapore only had a single screen, Yishun 10 changed the game as the country’s very 1st multiplex cinema. And as its name suggests, it housed a whopping 10 screening halls under 1 roof.
Image credit: u/ggkingg via Reddit
When Yishun 10 first opened on 27th May 1992, it looked like something straight out of a sci-fi film. While it was designed to look like a rocket ship from space, one look at the building might remind you of Optimus Prime if he transformed into a building instead of a truck, or as this Reddit comment describes it:
Screenshot from: Reddit
Image credit: u/ggkingg via Reddit
In true 90s fashion, the place was covered in neon lighting, so it really felt like you’d stepped into a spaceship.
Image credit: u/urcommunist via Reddit
The neon aesthetic wasn’t just restricted to the interior. If you ever walked past the building back in the day – or rather, back in the night – you’d have seen it glowing, looking like it belonged in TRON: Ares.
Image credit: u/ggkingg via Reddit
But Yishun 10 wasn’t just a spot for cinemagoers – the building also housed eateries on the ground floor, such as familiar favourites like Burger King and Long John Silver’s. In later years, it would also be home to eateries that are no longer around in Singapore, such as Wendy’s and BurgerUP.
Image credit: u/urcommunist via Reddit
This brand new concept proved popular among Singaporeans – by the end of 1993, the multiplex had seen more than 3 million visitors.
Image credit: Thiang
After 18 years in operation, the multiplex shuttered its doors temporarily in 2010 to undergo major renovations. Right before work started, they hosted a GV Yishun Renovation Party on 11th August 2010 to commemorate this milestone.
The party featured a screening of Phua Chu Kang The Movie, and the main characters, Phua Chu Kang and Rosie, even showed up to grace the event.
Image credit: Thiang
The event also featured a demolition hall, where visitors could take whatever they wanted from the multiplex, from movie posters and cutouts of the original carpets to even the cinema seats.
Image credit: Gabriel Ng via Google Maps
After 3 months of renovations, the cinema reopened its doors on 4th November 2010, and officially rebranded to GV Yishun. The building also got a fresh coat of silver that you can still see today, saying goodbye to its iconic postmodern facade. That said, the new look still resembles a modern, sleeker spaceship.
Image credit: W Lee via Google Maps
The interior also went through major changes, reflecting the familiar style that you’d recognise from other Golden Village cinemas islandwide.
Also, it might not be obvious to the average audience member, but the upgrades turned the cinema into a green multiplex – features like energy-saving LED lights and “self-cooling” air conditioning help keep the cinema’s carbon emissions low.
Recently, it was announced that Yishun 10 would be redeveloped for residential purposes. The new residential building would also include commercial space on the 1st floor.
Screenshot from: Reddit
With news of the redevelopment, Yishun residents and those who frequent the space have been reflecting on what Yishun 10 means to them. For many, it isn’t just another building, but a familiar landmark filled with memories, shaped not only by its pioneering cinema days but also by the many iconic tenants that have come and gone through its history.
Screenshot from: Reddit
But don’t worry if you haven’t had your fill of Arnold’s Fried Chicken at Yishun 10 yet – Frasers Property, the building’s owner, says that it’s still business as usual for now. There isn’t a confirmed date for when Yishun 10 will close for the last time, though they will update should there be any new developments, so you can still head down and enjoy another movie in the meantime.
I’m sure many of us have made core memories at the movies, so it’s sad to see yet another cinema bite the dust. But while it still stands, take the time to visit soon and relive some memories.
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Cover image adapted from: u/ggkingg & u/urcommunist via Reddit
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