Opposite the Mamprobi Presbyterian Church and five meters away on the right side of Mamprobi post office in Accra, is Plaza cinema. As a young boy growing up in Mamprobi in the early 90s, I saw thousands of movie-goers who huddled Plaza cinema just to watch movies.
Built over 50 years ago, Plaza cinema was not the only cinema then. We had: Rex, Roxy, Orion, Opera, Globe, Dunia, Ophel, Orbit, Laskala, Olympio, 5-Star, Royal, Rega cinemas respectively, and others (my memory can’t recall). Today, most of these cinemas have been architecturally turned into churches and big stores.
Currently, National Theatre and the Accra Mall – Silverbird Cinemas serve as the steadiest venue for movie makers as far as movie premiering or screening is concerned. Out of the lot, the only existing old cinema that caught my attention for this write up is Plaza cinema, because, I grew up seeing it and went there on many occasions to watch movies.
I recall watching old Ghanaian movies such as; Confessions, You Can’t Laugh, Dangerous Game, The Police Officer, Escape to Love, Justice, Babina, Out of Sight, Out of Love, Expectations, Kanana, When the Heart Decides, Ghost Tears, Dark Sands, Suspense, Namishia, The Noise of Silence, A Mother’s Revenge, Baby Thief, My Sweetie, A Stab in the Dark, Loving You, Unconditional Love, Who killed Nancy?, Double Trouble, I Surrender, Fatal Decision, Candidate for Hell, Marijata, Just Once, Cracked Illusion, Diabolo, Black Sunday, Okukuseku and others. Indeed, when we were we then, where were you?
Comparing Plaza Cinema to National Theatre and Silverbird Cinemas, the former has many comparative advantages to the latter. Plaza cinema if architecturally re-crafted, can accommodate 15,000 audiences. It has a large reserved land size for car parks.
Location-wise, Plaza cinema is at a vantage point, thus, on the main Mamprobi road. Hundred meters from its right side is Mamprobi police station. Another hundred meters from its left side is Korle-Bu teaching hospital. The essence is that, if organizers face unwarranted hooliganism from agitated audience, policemen can just walk to the scene and calm the grounds.
Should there be casualties, they can be conveyed to Korle-Bu in no time for medical attention. Aside using the cinema for movie premiers, it can also be used for almost all showbiz or entertainment concerts. Truly, a great asset is left in shambles.
Unfortunately, the over 50 year old Plaza cinema is still physically standing but wailing for attention. My recent regular evening visits to the cinema to see how the cinema is faring gave me moistened eyes. A cinema that has hosted thousands of audience before now hosts between 10-16 movie-goers.