Gay World (), formerly known as Happy World () was one of the famous trio of "World" amusement parks in Kallang, Singapore.Martin, Mayo. "From Gay World to Pop Yeh Yeh: When Geylang rocked the '60s" Channel NewsAsia. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017. It was formerly located between Geylang Road and Grove Road (now Mountbatten Road). Together with the other two "Worlds", Great World Amusement Park (1930s–1978) at Kim Seng Road and New World Amusement Park (1923–1987) at Jalan Besar, Gay World Park was hustling and bustling with nightlife during the 1930s to 1960s."Gay World (Happy World)" Infopedia. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017. These amusement parks were especially popular among Singaporeans, as it was the locals' only form of entertainment, before television or shopping malls were introduced. Gay World Park was an all-in-one complex, where visitors were offered a wide range of entertainment, from films to shopping and games. However, as its popularity began to dip in the 1970s, Gay World Park was eventually demolished in 2000 to make way for residential estates."Gay World no more" The Straits Times, 14 June 2004, Page 2. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
History
Establishment Gay World was set up in 1936 by George Lee Geok Eng of George Lee Motors at a cost of $350,000. This amusement park was originally known as Happy World when it first started operations in April 1937."The Three Worlds in Singapore" SURE. Retrieved 30 January 2017. It was later renamed Gay World Park in 1966 when Eng Wah Organization officially took over ownership of the park. Even though the other two amusement parks were already well-established before the introduction of Happy World and had mechanical rides such as ferris wheels as attractors, Happy World still managed to attract crowds as it offered a unique fusion of Eastern and Western entertainment concepts. From traditional Javanese dances (called ronggeng), to films, cultural shows, cabaret performances, and sports matches, Happy World offered affordable entertainment for many Singaporeans."Singapore Places that You'll Forever Miss" Going to Singapore – What I didn't know about the Lion City. Retrieved 30 January 2017. Happy World, however, in comparison to the other 2 amusement worlds, was not designed to attract the family demographic, but more of a greater impression of adult entertainment. Once inside, the first programs visitors would face would be two nightclubs flanking the entrance. The most striking characteristics of Happy World was the Happy World Stadium, greatly recognised for its massive octagonal shape of about in diameter, and its Happy World Cabaret where men flocked to mingle with taxi-girls for a price.
Opening ceremony On 6 May 1937, Happy World celebrated its opening with a grand affair, with over 1000 guests drinking over 100 gallons of champagne. Tea was served to the guests in the cabaret as well as to 100 tables set up inside the main entrance gates at the park. Only several stalls, the cabaret and the Happy Cinema had completed construction at this time. Guests were given a performance at the cabaret by Ms Maudrene Yap prior to the opening of the dance floor to guests. Opening of Happy World, 7 May 1937, Page 9. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
Impacts on the surroundings During the peak of Happy World's popularity, its nightlife had a profound impact on its surrounding streets for decades to come with the creation of the red-light district along the even numbered Lorongs and the lesser known establishment of the Happy Charity School in 1946 on Lorong 14. The school was founded by dance hostesses of Happy World Cabaret and funded entirely by their profits.
Japanese occupation During the period leading to World War II, Happy World began to host fundraising events to support China in its war relief efforts. The Singapore Overseas Chinese Relief Fund Committee, at the time headed by the businessman and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, organised frequent performances at Happy World to gather funds for China."Happy World" Morning Tribune, 30 September 1939, Page 4. Retrieved 30 January 2017. In May 1939, Tan addressed a crowd of over 10,000 at Happy World in an event to raise funds for war relief efforts. Tan Kah Kee's Biography. Retrieved 22 February 2017. During this period, another form of "entertainment" was introduced in Happy World. Then, Japanese air raids were rampant, and the cabarets, with their bright lights and attractive decorations were easily targeted. As such, when the air raids sirens were sounded, the Cabarets would switch off all the lights in the park to avoid the Japanese bombings. In these periods of "blackout", many men would then take the opportunity to engage in some form of hanky panky."Shaw Online – About Shaw – Shaw History". Retrieved 30 January 2017. These events were later known to be the famous "blackout dances". When the Japanese took over Singapore in 1942, businesses at the parks were temporarily closed. However, the Japanese encouraged the Shaw Brothers to re-open the parks, but this time, under the Japanese military control. Happy World was assured to be safe from raids, but it was to be partially converted to a gambling den. The Japanese made use of these gambling dens to earn profits, from taxes and licence fees. This meant that Happy World could continue its usual operations, and nightlife in Geylang resumed.
Post-war These gambling dens were later closed down when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. Happy World resumed operationsOng, Yanqing Vanessa., Kuan Wah. Pitt, Tik Loong Stanley. Tan, and Huiwen Michelle. Tay. Memories unfolded: a guide to memories at Old Ford Factory. Singapore: National Archives of Singapore, 2008. and Singaporeans continued to swarm to Happy World in the evenings. It was renamed to Gay World in 1966.
Fall in popularity However, in the 1970s, popularity of Gay World began to decline due to various factors.
Urban redevelopment In the late 1960s, the Singaporean government became increasingly concerned with issues related to gangsterism and associated them with the nightlife scene in the country. Finally, in 1972, after a stabbing incident at the Boiler Room club in Mandarin Hotel, the government issued a total ban on live music in clubs. The ban lasted for five years. As urban redevelopment plans in Singapore went underway, "the character of the Geylang of the numbered lorongs was changing, too. The rich folks who lived in those grand bungalows … were slowly shifting out. Sleaze and vice, which for the longest time was discretely tucked away, started to become more prominent." (Mr Joseph Pereira, Geylang resident) Consequently, visitors to Gay World also progressively declined.
Frequent fires Another factor that caused Gay World's drop in popularity was the frequent fires that ravaged the park. In 1962, fire broke out twice within 2 months. This caused the damage of a theatre, part of the Cabaret and 26 stalls. Fire troubles continued to plague the park in the following years – twice in 1972, once in 1976, which destroyed more than $500,000 worth of goods,ST=1&AT=search&k=gay%20world%20fire&QT=gay,world,fire&oref=article "$500,000 Fire". New Nation, 14 November 1976, Page 4. Retrieved 30 January 2017. with further fires in 1977, 1983, and 1988.
New forms of entertainment Most importantly, with the establishment of new attractive and fascinating shopping malls, as well as the rise of television, Gay World Park could no longer outcompete these newer and more interesting forms of entertainment."Oh, so many worlds apart!" New Nation, 13 July 1976, Page 10,11. Retrieved 30 January 2017. In a bid to revive its past glory, Gay World Park began to roll out free admissions in 1987."From Amusement Park To Cement Park." Times of My Life. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2017. However, visitation to the park remained low as it could not compete with the newer cineplexes popping up all over the country at the time with only one of its cinemas left in operation.Marsita Omar and Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman Gay World (Happy World), "Singapore Infopedia", 2005
Decline of the three "Worlds" In fact, this decline in popularity due to newer forms of entertainment was not exclusive to Gay World Park. The other two Worlds (New World and Great World) also saw a significant decrease in patrons, which ultimately led to the closure of Great World in 1978 and New World in 1987. New World was sold to City Development for future commercial redevelopmentsOmar, Marsita. "New World Park" Infopedia. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2017. and today, City Square Mall and City Square Residences occupies the site of New World. Similarly, Great World was sold to a Malaysian Chinese investor and was later redeveloped to become Great World City Shopping Centre.Omar, Marsita and Makeswary Periasamy. "Great World Amusement Park" Infopedia. 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
Closure and demolition
As visitors became scarce, the state of Gay World Park deteriorated and the park was no longer properly maintained. It was even reported that rats and stray dogs were often seen running around the complex. In 2000, it was announced that this 3.2-hectare amusement park was to be torn down as the site has been zoned for future residential estates. Eng Wah Organization discontinued its lease to the park and the 150 tenants were notified by the Land Office to vacate the building. However, many tenants were reluctant to leave, and when the lease for Gay World Park was temporarily extended, some shops continued operations. Unfortunately, as power and water supply were cut, these remaining tenants had to resort to portable generators and car batteries for electricity. In 2001, the last basketball match at Gay World Park was played. The following day, the entire park was torn down along with the Geylang Indoor Stadium (originally the Gay World Park indoor stadium)."Theme Parks in Singapore" www.roots.sg. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
Entertainment Gay World Park was best known for its nightlife scene, from movies to cabarets, from sport games to shopping. Gay World catered to the young and the old, attracting many couples and families to frequent the park.
Cinema Gay World used to have four cinemas, including the Victory Theatre, Silver City, Happy Theatre, and New Happy Theatre."A Century of Cinemas, Movies and Blockbusters" Remember Singapore. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017. Victory Theatre and Happy Theatre was the first two theatres ever opened by Eng Wah Theatres Organisation. Victory Theatre was especially popular among couples because of its unique open-air theatre concept. This large theatre could accommodate up to 300 seating audiences and several hundred more standing audiences."Singapore's New Playground". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 27 April 1937, Page 1. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
Dance hall/cabaret Professional bands dished out live music performances in the dancehall, providing the perfect ambience for dancing, from jazz to ronggeng to joget.Junaini, Hidzir. "Club Malam: Reimagining classic Malay dance music & 1950s Singapore nightlife through a modern lens." Bandwagon – Live music, bands and concert guide for Singapore, Manila and Kuala Lumpur. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017. In addition, cabaret performances in the dance hall were also extremely well-received as cabarets were one of the most well-known forms of entertainment back in the 19th century."Worlds of days gone by". New Nation, 28 April 1980, Page 9. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
Cabaret girls, also known as "taxi dancers", were dance partners that one could engage. Men could purchase dance coupons that entitled them to three dances with these Chinese, Siamese, and Filipino taxi dancers for a dollar.
Impact and influences