THERE was a time when Karachi had a vibrant cinema culture, with movie theatres spread right across the city from end to end. There was hardly a major area that did not have a cinema, or cinemas, of its own. The arterial M.A. Jinnah Road was a particular area that attracted cinema-goers because of the range of movies on offer at the number of theatres that it played host to; from English and Urdu movies to those in Punjabi and Pashto, they allusedtobe there.

Nishat, Capri and Prince cinemas were the talk of the town for their selection of amazing Hollywood offerings.

On the other side of the road, there was Plaza Cinema, and within the same vicinity, there were Naz, Godeon, Reno, Kaiser, Rivoli, Kohinoor and Jubilee cinemas.

The place used to be a happening place from around 2pm onwards when families used to frequent the area till around 9pm.

The late-night shows, from 9pm to midnight, were generally meant for either couples or all-male audiences.

The same was true of downtown Saddar, which was a walking distance from the M.A. Jinnah Road. From Bambino, Star, Lyric, Scala, Odeon and Regal to Paradise, Palace, Rio, Rex and Capitol, the movie buffs were spoilt for choices. Mind you, all the cinemas named above from Nishat to Capitol were located within a two-mile radius. And, yet, it was notpossible to simply walk in at will and get a seat in the hall. Buying tickets `in the black` was quite common, with families generally preferring to opt for advance booking.

Away from the city centre, there were cinemas in areas as far as Malir, Landhi and Quaidabad at one end, and Keamari at the other.

Likewise, there were several in Liaquatabad and Federal B Area. They all did a roaring business. And, then,who can forget the Drive-in Cinema in Gulshan-i-Iqbal? The elite used to frequent the place to watch movies while sitting in their cars.

Going to cinemas was part of a thriving culture that is no more. The cinema halls of today, the few that there are, are not meant for the masses. They just cannot afford it. What a pity, indeed.

Albert Samuel Karachi