DO YOU KNOW?? Streets in Chinatown (Part 2)
Some historial information about Smith Street.
In the Past
Smith Street was popularly referred to as hei yuen kai or "theatre street", a reference to the 834-seat Chinese theatre Lai Chun Yuen, which was located at No. 36 Smith Street. The theatre was built in 1887 and was very popular among the Cantonese community in Chinatown for Cantonese opera.
The popularity of the theatre gave rise to colloquial names for the streets surrounding it; Temple Street was hei yuen hau kai or "theatre back street", and Trengganu Street was hei yuen wang kai or "side street". Between the 1910s and 1920s, performances would play to a packed audience in the Chinese theatre.
Smith Street had a darker side, serving as a red light area between 1901 and 1930. There were at least 25 brothels on the street. It was only in 1930, after the Straits Settlement Ordinance No.15 entitled Women and Girl's Protection had come about, that prostitution was brought under control. The street was also popular as a place for those seeking jobs. Job seekers would congregate at this street for hire by prospective employers.
In the Present Days
The southern end of Smith Street has been converted into an outdoor eating area known as the Chinatown Food Street which officially opened on 13 November 2001. This was part of the Chinatown redevelopment project by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and supported by various government and grassroots agencies. The attractions on this Food Street are the hawker kiosks and shop-house restaurants offering a variety of Chinese delicacies. This section of the street is closed to traffic in the evening.
In the Past
Smith Street was popularly referred to as hei yuen kai or "theatre street", a reference to the 834-seat Chinese theatre Lai Chun Yuen, which was located at No. 36 Smith Street. The theatre was built in 1887 and was very popular among the Cantonese community in Chinatown for Cantonese opera.
The popularity of the theatre gave rise to colloquial names for the streets surrounding it; Temple Street was hei yuen hau kai or "theatre back street", and Trengganu Street was hei yuen wang kai or "side street". Between the 1910s and 1920s, performances would play to a packed audience in the Chinese theatre.
Smith Street had a darker side, serving as a red light area between 1901 and 1930. There were at least 25 brothels on the street. It was only in 1930, after the Straits Settlement Ordinance No.15 entitled Women and Girl's Protection had come about, that prostitution was brought under control. The street was also popular as a place for those seeking jobs. Job seekers would congregate at this street for hire by prospective employers.
In the Present Days
The southern end of Smith Street has been converted into an outdoor eating area known as the Chinatown Food Street which officially opened on 13 November 2001. This was part of the Chinatown redevelopment project by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and supported by various government and grassroots agencies. The attractions on this Food Street are the hawker kiosks and shop-house restaurants offering a variety of Chinese delicacies. This section of the street is closed to traffic in the evening.
(Information taken from http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg)
posted by Ling | 5:24 PM
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