Cinema Alegria
永樂戲院
Copyright © Cultural Mapping 2020
Cinema Alegria is in Art Deco style and was built in 1957 by a designer Aureliano Guterres Jorge. The architectural design of the cinema has certain purposes. The appearance clearly shows two distinct areas, the street-facing block, with careful architectural detailing to attract the public, and the technical areas, with a plain design. With three-story, the main façade is centered by a prominent slim tower decorated with curved horizontal protrusions. The ground floor is open with a large concrete slab canopy extending into the sidewalk, creating a shaded area for crowds to gather before and in between the screenings and performances. The careful detailing of the façade and public area extends inside into the highlight of the building, the two main screening rooms.
It is the oldest surviving theater in Macau and is located in Estrada do Repouso, Nº 85E. It is divided into three houses and has a total of 1,160 seats. And its Chinese name “永樂大戲院” is displayed vertically on a large rectangular neon sign affixed to its wall to create an impressive look for the cinema. Besides movie screening, the cinema was equipped with a large stage in 1957 to turn it into a major venue for holding community activities and Cantonese opera performances in Macao. Local singing associations are its regular users and different kinds of community activities are held there. Cinema Alegria has satisfied the specific needs of the people in a specific period so that both generations of Macao people have unforgettable memories. As Macau gradually develops into a world tourism and leisure center, the Alegria cinema can still stand upright, which is essential to convince the current generation of Macao people of the significance of the cinema.
永樂戲院是一座具有裝飾藝術風格的建築, 由設計師Aureliano Guterres Jorge於1957年建造，永樂戲院的建築設計皆有其建造目的。外觀上清晰地展示了兩個截然不同的區域，面向街道的部分富有吸引大眾目光的建築細節，而技術功能的區域則採用簡潔的設計。樓高三層，其主立面集中於突出的細長塔，上面圍繞著一圈圈水準突出的飾環。地面層開敞，有一大型的混凝土簷篷延伸至行人路，遮簷提供了在表演或電影放映前及中場休息時人群聚集的空間。外立面和公共區域的細緻細節延伸至建築物內兩個主要放映室的亮點。
它是澳門僅存的最古老的劇院，坐落在鏡湖馬路85號。它分為三棟房屋，共設有1,160個座位。它的中文名稱“永樂大戲院”垂直地顯示在牆上的矩形霓虹燈上，給電影院創造了令人印象深刻的外觀。除電影放映外，電影院還於1957年配備了大型舞臺，成為在澳門舉辦社區活動和粵劇表演的主要場所。該戲院還是當地歌唱協會的常用場地，用於舉行不同性質的社區活動，滿足了特定時期人民的特定需求，為兩代澳門人創造了難忘的回憶。澳門逐漸發展成為世界旅遊休閒中心時，但永樂戲院仍然屹立不倒，這對於說服當代澳門人該建築的價值是至關重要的。
“Butterfly Method” Analysis：
The drama that were staged on the stage became a historical memory witnessed by Macao residents. Everyone thinks this place provides cordial feelings and has a spirit of offering help. Therefore, Cinema Alegria is an indispensable place to accompany the community's growth and to continue hold love and memories.
時光飛逝，舞台上上演過的節目則成為不少澳門人的共同見證的歷史回憶。大家認為這個地方很有親切感和擁有守望相助的精神。所以永樂是陪着大家成長, 延續愛和回憶的重要地方, 認為是未來不可缺少的重要部分。
Reference:
AllAboutMacau Media. (2014). About Cinema Alegria. Retrieved from https://aamacau.com/2014/05/12/%E5%85%89%E5%BD%B1%E5%A4%A2%E8%A3%8F%E4%BA%BA%EF%BC%9A%E6%B0%B8%E6%A8%82%E6%88%B2%E9%99%A2/
Macau Memory. (2019). Patriotic Xinqiao District Neighborhood - Oral tradition. Retrieved from https://www.macaumemory.mo/oralhistory_8e8b309c2180474a9c4da75f6365cac9
Open house Macau. (2003). Art Deco-Cinema Alegria. Retrieved from https://www.openhousemacau.com/plan/cinema-alegria/
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