Note: The parks are closed permanently. This website is for documentation and educational purposes only.
Disclaimer: We do not own any information found on this site. All credits to their original owners.
T H R E E
"Worlds"
The singapore legacy.
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The Three "Worlds"
The New World Amusement Park was the first to open in 1923, followed by the Great World in 1932 and the Happy World in 1937. Since western elements were associated with modernity, the parks offered a sense of freshness, as western entertainment culture was introduced to Singapore. When the “Worlds” were opened, people often flocked to these places as they became the new hotspots for gatherings.
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The “Worlds” would briefly be subjected under the Japanese military control during World War 2, providing entertainment to both the local populace and Japanese troops. The goal was to “maintain a facade of normality,” as well as to boost troops morale.
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After the Japanese Occupation, businesses continued in the parks and it was where people went for leisure. Despite its eventual decline in the 1960s, images of the “Worlds” as popular entertainment places are still etched in the memory of many older Singaporeans.
ABOUT US
We are a group of Year 2 NTU History Students (AY2020/21) doing a project focused on the history of the entertainment industry in Singapore - specifically on the Three "Worlds" [Great World, New World, Happy World].
During our research, we found that few academic scholars placed their focus on the entertainment scene in Singapore and even fewer secondary sources that analysed the significance of these three “Worlds”. There was little information about the pivotal roles these "Worlds" played in the entertainment scene in Singapore, even though these Worlds were significant places for leisure.
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As such, we wanted to document this aspect of Singapore’s history. Even though these “Worlds” no longer exist, they paved the way for many public entertainment activities and amusement parks that we know of today - Universal Studios Singapore, the annual Geylang Bazaar etc. Thus, we want to record down how the “Worlds” have transformed the entertainment industry since the colonial period.
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Through exploring the history of these amusement parks, we intend to use it as a lens to look at the world of entertainment in post-colonial Singapore. This website is thus our attempt at documenting events that happened in the "Worlds".
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Special thanks to our professor, Assistant Prof Koh Keng Wee for his patience and guidance throughout the project.
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By: Amanda Tan, Chen Yee (Xenon), Chua Qi Ting and Japhne Chua
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the information found here. All credits to their original owners.
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