Since Uhuru in 1963 and up to the mid 1970s cinemas in Kenya showed the News Pictorial. Some may remember this news program. It was presented in black and white and lasted around 10 minutes.
The News Pictorial covered 3-4 events of interest in commonwealth countries. Common events included the Queen visiting a commonwealth country. I clearly remember in one issue News Pictorial covered the building and opening of the new 680 Hotel on Kenyatta Avenue as it was a large, successfully completed, private company project in the quickly developing independent Kenya!
Another memorable issue was the coverage of 10th Anniversary celebrations on Jamhuri Day 1973 at Uhuru Park, Nairobi. Many heads of states including Emperor Haile Selassie and President Nimeiry were present. Film patrons reacted with excitement (as they usually did) when they saw President Idi Amin arrive. Our jaws dropped when we saw President Amin, the gentleman who upended the lives of thousands of Ugandan Ismailis a few months earlier in August 1972 sitting close to the Aga Khan on the main dais!! (see the British Pathe segment below including minutes 1.26 to 1.35)
At the Regal the News Pictorial was played during every show after the national anthem. Each week a staff member would walk over to the British Council in City House to pick up a brand-new copy of the News Pictorial. Cinemas in Mombasa would receive the News Pictorial at the same time as cinemas in Nairobi.
Beginning in 1968 the Regal would show only English movies and it was common to have both the News Pictorial and a cartoon or another short program before the trailers of upcoming films.
If you only watched Indian movies chances are that you never saw the News Pictorial as cinemas did not show this during Indian shows given the length of Indian films!!
The News Pictorial was great in that we got a glimpse of what was happening in some African countries and other commonwealth countries.
After 1975 the News Pictorial was replaced with the very interesting Kenya Newsreel. More on that later!!
see British Pathe on 10th Anniversary of Jamhuri Day in 1973 : https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/221304/
Below photo: 680 Hotel in Nairobi
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