Belle Vue Drive In Cinema, Nairobi
photo taken this month (by Fayzal Verjee)
This plot totaling 23 acres lies empty as there is a row over the estate!!
Being a projectionist in Mombasa, as elsewhere, was considered a coveted job in the days of celluloid 35mm film, and before the mass adoption of VHS and DVD. Projectionists were unionized with assured annual salary increases. At the Regal they put in around 25hrs of work per week! It was great if you liked watching movies, worked independently and took pride in an error free movie run. On the other hand, it could get tedious being stuck in one room for 3hrs especially in Mombasa's heat.
Nairobi, 1960s The photo was taken from the just constructed Ambassadeur Hotel in Nairobi Can you see the cinema?? see photo on the far le...