Happy World Amusement Park, later known as Gay World Amusement Park, was first officially opened in 1937 [1] by George Lee Geok Eng, owner of George Lee Motors [2]. It was also the last of the three “worlds” ever built in Singapore’s history. Possibly inspired by the success of the two worlds, “New World” and “Great World,” which were built earlier, Happy World was conceived to take advantage of this rising popularity for amusement parks. Such popularity was unsurprising at that time. After all, during the colonial era, the lack of entertainment such as television and shopping centres [3] made “worlds” like Happy World appealing. 

Situated in Kallang, along 2 Geylang Road (formerly known as Geylang Lorong 2) [4], its location was within the vicinity of Chinese commercial and residential areas [5]. As a result, many of its initial visitors were of Chinese ethnicity, in which bulks of them were of Chaozhou and Fujian descent [6]. Happy World would gradually see an influx of foreign visitors when Kallang Airport was opened on 12 June 1937 [7]. After all, Happy World was situated right across the terminal, separated by Mountbatten Road [8]. Travellers who are looking for food and entertainment after a long flight journey could visit Happy World since it was the nearest amenities visitors could find at that time. 

Unlike the New World and Great World, which offered entertainment limited to a specific theme, Happy World was different. Instead, Happy World offered a fusion of Eastern and Western entertainment, a mixture that was not seen before in any of Singapore’s theme parks at that time [9]. These entertainments would include cabaret, operas, movies, gaming, sports matches, stunts and shopping [10]. Such exclusive forms of entertainment would see Singaporeans and foreigners alike to frequent often at Happy World, given that it offered entertainment that could not be replicated by the other “worlds” or amusement parks at that time. 

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Moreover, fees to recreations in Happy World were affordable. In the 1930s, entry to the cabaret cost between 50 cents and a dollar [11]. As such, it was unsurprising to see Happy World to be frequented by the rich and poor [12]. Many youths were often spotted patronising stalls in Happy World [13], possibly because it was seen as a cheap get away from school or work life.