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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H A P P Y W O R L D
THINGS TO do and see
ENTRANCE FEEs
Before entering Happy World Amusement Park, visitors will have to pay an entrance fee of 20 cents [1] before being allowed into the premises. Entrance fee would become free in 1987 due to declining visitorship [2].
A separate fee will be charged for entertainment programmes should visitors wish to partake any of the activities available inside the park. This would include amusement rides, cabaret, dancing, talkies, cinemas, theatres, sideshows, ronggeng halls and boxing matches [3] [4]. Food and stalls are also available for those who wish to grab a bite or purchase goods. Occasionally, trade fairs organised in Happy World would allow visitors to explore the latest products and services available in the market.
“Gay World Amusement Park Gate Admission Entertainment Tax,” Carousell, accessed November 11, 2020, https://www.carousell.sg/p/old-movies-ticket-in-the-70%E2%80%99s-219960282/.
Amusement rides
The main spotlight, like any other amusement parks, would be the amusement rides. In Happy World, such attractions include the Ferris Wheel [5], motor-cars, motor-boats and horses [6]. Game booths such as shooting range and shooting ducks [7] would attract people of all ages who want to win some prizes.
Picture: “Ferris Wheel Joyride in the Great World Amusement Park, Singapore,” From From Ferris Wheel Joyride to Singapore Flyer, accessed November 11, 2020, https://blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/2012/09/from-ferris-wheel-joyride-to-singapore.html.
On 6 May 1937, Happy World opened a new Cabaret in Singapore called Happy Cabaret [8]. Happy cabaret, which was designed to be circular in shape, was fitted with an excellent spring dance floor [9] that absorbs shock. This enhances performance and greatly reduces injuries [10]. Moreover, Happy Cabaret was equipped with neon lights, a new feature at that time, to add into the attractiveness of the hall [11]. Seating accommodations are arranged on a tiled flooring in the form of a semicircle [12] to give the audience a better view of the performance. To cater to those driving to Happy Cabaret, special facilities are provided for cars to drive right up to the porch of the dance hall [13].
Picture: “The Cabaret at the Happy World,” National Library Board, accessed November 11, 2020, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19370427-1.2.111.9?ST=1&AT=advanced&K=Happy%20World%20cabaret&KA=Happy%20World%20cabaret&DF=&DT=&Display=0&NPT=&L=&CTA=Illustration&QT=happy,world,cabaret&oref=article.
Happy World introduced its first ronggeng (traditional Javanese dance) when it was opened to the public in 1937 [14]. This was in conjunction with Happy World’s goal to offer an east-west fusion nightlife scene [15]. This could be seen when ronggeng dances were performed together with Kronchings, Rumba and Hawaiian dance together [16]. Ronggeng dances were often performed at Happy World’s Joget hall, where visitors have to pay 40 cents for a ten-minute dance [17]. Occasionally, ronggeng performed in Happy World was done for charitable purposes [18] [19].
Picture: “Dancing the Rongeng,” National Archives Singapore, accessed November 11, 2020, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/61e70158-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad.
Indoor stadium
Touted as Singapore’s largest indoor stadium till 31 December 1989 [20], the indoor stadium, also known as Happy World Stadium (later known as Gay World Stadium, and subsequently Geylang Indoor Stadium) [21] was a spacious arena that could accommodate up to 7000 spectators [22]. It was also known to hold numerous sporting events [23]. This would include boxing, basketball, volleyball and badminton [24]. Given its vast space, with 15 tiers running up the sides and a height of 25 feet (you have to climb 30 steps to get to it) [25], many sporting events could be accommodated since space was not a constraint for organisers. Notable events would be the boxing match between Ventura Marquez, a Mexican and Nai Boon Mah, a Siamese [26]. Happy World Stadium would also play host to the 1952 Thomas Cup Badminton Tournament [27] and later, the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) games in 1973 [28].
Picture: “Harlem Basketball Globetrotters at Happy World Stadium,” National Archives Singapore, accessed November 11, 2020, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/b522c484-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad.
Theatres & Cinemas
In Happy World, two kinds of entertainment were available for audiences to watch. They were theatres and cinemas. In the case of theatres, audiences will be treated to four open theatres that would feature four different types of live plays. They were Chinese, Indian, Malay and performances by conjurers and magicians [29]. These live performances would surely captivate those who prefer the immediacy and ‘realness’ that theatres would bring along.
For those who prefer to immerse themselves with a new type of entertainment and expose themselves to a different environment, Happy Theatre will gladly take up the role for it. This form of cinema was initially an open-air talkie “theatre,” [30] a unique film that included synchronised dialogue. It was able to accommodate approximately 300 people, and several hundred more if it is a standing room [31]. Prominent films at that time would be “Where is George,” [32] a 1930s British comedy film. Such cinemas would grow in Happy World when Eng Wah first opened Victory Theatre in 1945 [33]. By the 1980s, there were a total of 5 cinemas in Happy (Gay) world. They were Happy Theatre, Victory Theatre, Silver City Theatre, New Victory Theatre and New Happy Cinema [34]. All these cinemas would focus on different types of films. For example, Happy, Victory and Silver City Theatre specialised in Chinese movies, New Victory theatre focused on Malay and Indonesian films, and New Happy Cinema showed Tamil films exclusively in 1982 [35].
Picture: “Two of the open air theatres,” National Archives Singapore, accessed November 11, 2020, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19370427-1.2.111.9?ST=1&AT=advanced&K=Happy%20World%20cabaret&KA=Happy%20World%20cabaret&DF=&DT=&Display=0&NPT=&L=&CTA=Illustration&QT=happy,world,cabaret&oref=article.
Food & Retail Outlets
Visitors craving for local street food can look forward to Happy World’s food stalls that are lined up within the compounds of Happy World. The stalls were strategically located at various entertainment outlets such that patrons could grab a bite easily without the need to travel far away [36]. Visitors looking to dine at restaurants could patronise various restaurants located within Happy World. This includes ‘Happy Restaurant,’ a two-storeyed structure with a roof garden that offers Chinese and European dishes [37]. For visitors looking for famous or more ‘atas’ restaurants, they can look forward to Tai Thong Restaurant, a fully air-conditioned restaurant [38]. After an enjoyable meal, visitors can visit stalls and emporiums like Sin Hua Emporium [39] to purchase various merchandise before ending your day in Happy World.
Picture: “Gay World Tai Thong Restaurant,” Lee Kip Lin and National Library Board, accessed November 11, 2020, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/pictures/details/9f2c8c6f-60d1-4a64-9577-f04ff3733ddf?download=yes.
Side Shows
Occasionally, Happy World will play host to a series of sideshows to keep the crowd entertained. This includes the “Shot from Cannon,” where visitors get to see a man being shot from the cannon [40].
Picture: "Minister for Health Yong Nyuk Lin (Second from right) visits exhibition booths during opening of National Day exposition 1967 at Gay World Amusement Park," National Archives Singapore, accessed November 11, 2020, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/cb1d3784-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad.
Trade Fairs
Since its opening in 1937, it has hosted a series of trade exhibitions. Its very first trade exhibition was held in 1939, in which Happy World hosted Singapore’s first engineering exhibition [41]. Its huge success led to Happy World hosting the first Engineering and Trade exhibition in 1948 [42]. Its last major trade fair was held in 1966, in which it promoted Singapore and Malaysian manufactured goods [43]. Subsequent trade fairs would be limited to furniture [44], in which the target audience would be Singaporeans.
Picture: "Parliamentary secretary to Ministry of Social Affairs Chan Chee Seng opens trade fair at Gay World," National Archives Singapore, accessed November 11, 2020, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/c755e433-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad.
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[43 “Big Easter Trade Fair Opens This Evening,” The Straits Times, April 7, 1966, 6, accessed October 24, 2020, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19660407-1.2.43
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