I just found this incredible book about Kuwait dating back to 1975. It has a ton of great pictures which I will scan every now and then and post over here. The caption under the picture above reads:
Kuwait also enjoys some of the more sophisticated pleasures of the West, and even the Far West. Here, for example, is a drive-in cinema in the open air not far from the city. In order to enable you to watch a film in comfort without moving from your seat, two large “pumps” introduce into your car the sound track of the film being shown and the air-conditioning which is essential at the height of the summer. All you have to do is to watch.
It sucks that no one has invented the time machine yet!
33 replies on “The good old days”
Have you ever been to drive in cinema before?
Whats the name of the book?
https://www.go-bookworld.com/si/000116.html
THIS IS A PICTURE BOOK OF KUWAIT, PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KUWAIT. KUWAIT, OSCAR MITRI, KUWAIT GOVERNMENT PRESS, KUWAIT, FIRST EDITION, 1969, 90 PAGES. This book is photographed by Oscar Mitri, who was the chief photographer of Al-Araby, the widest circulated magazine in the Middle East. This book tells the story of modern Kuwait in a unique artistic way of its people, their way of life and their traditions which are still very much alive amidst the great steps taken to transform this country from an arid desert into one of the most modern and advanced countries in the World. This book is heavy on pictures, and the main text is the description of each photograph.
lol
So that makes the pictures from 1969 or before. I remember the drive in cinema on the 6th ring road, I’ve been there several times but never saw the air conditioning thing. It must’ve been broken sometime during the 70s or early 80s 🙂
I just inquired and the drive-in didn’t exist in 1969. It was built around 1974 or thereabouts
Mark if you have an extra copy of the book, I’ll buy it from you!
Great photo Mark! I look forward to seeing future postings from this book.
Hope they are just as random and… uh.. eloquent 🙂
Cheers
Well according to Amazon there are 1969, 1972 and 1975 editions of the book. I have the 1975 edition. Will post more pictures soon 🙂
ayam =)
Do you like the old days because you had hair?
Ummm I still have hair dude what made u think I am bald?
Beautiful days. Back then Kuwait was much more beautiful and people were friendly and open minded. Even patriotic songs back then were more meaningful! Please keep posting new pictures Mark.
How retro, the peak time of weird ass inventions…air conditioning + speakers, that’s just damn smart 😛
Is the drive in still operational?
You are the time machine, thank you captain Mark for the nice journey to the beautiful time.
Mark ur da man…Hi-Res scans please I love the 80’s 70’s.
is the book available here in kuwait?
when did they close seeenma alsyarat ?
i remember i went more than once with my parents but i cant remember when was the last time
Before we had bedo Kuwait was the best country ever.
ikhnigatni i3abra
Thanks Mark.. brought back memories of a time when thing were different. More serene .. more pure.. more innocent.. when living was a pleasure .. not a rat race it is today.. like Yawash said you are the time machine. I loved your peice about the old police cars.. it brought back fond memories because my dad when he first came to this country worked as driver for one of the police colonels at the time and i still remember once when he took us to meet the old man how they had one of those old police cars out front. This was the old police station in Kuwait city right in front of the old Baladiya office. it was fun Thank You again
Montana 80: Those who you are blaming for making Kuwait less pretty as you say; did not make a riot to close the Cars Cinima!! though understandably they were not a pro-“modernity” social force; they are not the ones to blame for the country’s mess. That is largely the government’s fault as the priorities shifted from building the country the building the personal wealth!!….
Its been three days and you haven’t posted anything. Helloo? Where are you??
friday and saturday are my days off!
That was fun, it’s sad…Why did they shut it down?
🙁
Those truly were the good old days! Often, when I reminisce about my wonder years growing up in Koweit I cannot help gush with emotion about Salem Mubarak street with its spiffy La Patisserie, Al Wazzan Tea House, The New Supermarket, The Family Bookshop, Al Ritaj, Domus Scandinavia and Mobilia House.
No retail development in Kuwait or the Gulf will ever be able to rekindle that high street magic, which was Salem Mubarak Street(circa 1970- late 80s); Kuwait’s answer to Avenues des Champs-Elysees in more ways than one.
Bin 3amo bedo destroyed Q8 and that’s reality deal with it.
Dancing Girls I’ve lived right on Salem Mubarek Street for 30 years now. I was there for the opening of A&W (used to live right above it) and there was this really great toy store on the corner next to it which had a huge train set on display.
You also forgot to mention Cartier and Gucci (or was it Channel?) and Swan Lakes, Bells, Fay Bookshop, Barakat, Computer World and Fisherprice!
Not to forget the Funny Girl, Gian Franco Ferre, Versailles, Le Paysage and many many other chic boutiques and stores. Mark, I guess our paths must have crossed somewhere since, essentially, I used to live in a flat above La Millionaire.
Do I know you? 🙂
…And next to A&W was Mr. Donut, the first donut shop of it’s kind in Kuwait.
Swan Lake was where we all got our music, our mix tapes.
The Video Club for our weekly movie fix (and weekly Top of the Pops shows).
The Cartier store carried Ferrari watches, pens and leather goods, which were my favorites.
Marzouk Pearl was where we got Fruit Loops etc from the US (before TSC). The Sea club (nadee be7ri at ras Salmiya) was where our moms took us everyday to swim every day and play with our friends in the summer.
Barakaat hasn’t changed one bit!
Mugahwee was for back to school stuff of course.
I was only a few years old at the time this book was published, but I can distinctly remember the drive in cinema. I always wanted to go but most of the time I just got glimpses of the movies from the highway and wished I was there watching with everyone else.
Thanks for the link to the book, I have bought it already on Amazon.
I have this book with me since 83 and have to rather sheepishly admit to tearing most of the images out for my middle school collage.
Yes, the good ‘ol days – don’t we miss them every now and again?
But again, change they say is good; it’s the only constant in our lives.
You know what we miss us for us most especially, our “Ghubara” item number for the Eid El Watani celebrations.
All
Actually this is the picture of my brother my mom and I. I am the son of Oscar Mitri, thank you for showcasing this picture, it brings a lot of memories.