What a wonderful trip down memory lane for me. I lived in Singapore from the beginning of 1958, and can recall the places shown as if it were only yesterday. We had a house up Pasir Panjang Hill and another we rented near the McRitchie Reservoir. Back then Lornie Road was not that busy and we used to go out of the bottom of the garden and across into the grounds of the reservoir for wonderful walks, seeing all sorts of wildlife, and almost nobody there, apart from people collecting crickets. I used to go into the kampong near to where we lived in Pasir Panjang often, and in effect was able to run wild. Pitcher plants grew wild in the hill to the back of us and we had a nutmeg and banana tree in the garden. I went to sleep every night listening to the nightjar and the people next door playing Mahjong. will never forget it.
Yah, I was a local peranakan kid in the end 50s/early 60s spending a few days each school break with my cousin in Pasir Panjang/Clementi Road junction area. Memories...
Simply wonderful. I went there near the end of 1959 to work as an RAF serviceman for two and a half years. It was a priceless privilege without comparison. My best friends remain still the Chinese friends made in those days. Thank you for posting this delightful reminder of those wonderful happy days. I have enjoyed several visits since those days and hope to do so again, and again and again!
This is the country I grew up. These are the memories of my Singapore that will remain with me for the rest of my old age. Oh, how I miss those days. Just only pure true Singaporeans about!
I had no idea how Singapore was once looked like till I found this lovely documentary. It comes with so much old memories that were worth recollecting our distant past.
WONDERFUL..!! I was there from 1971 to 1997 with my wife and 3 children....I was with United College of S E Asia on Dover Road... Great to see such film. Brian Green
This video brings back nostalgic memories. A travel back in time to a colonial outpost, Britisher visitors wearing ties and colourful dresses. The BOAC flight passes over an old Singapore coast line that barely exists now! The flim shows busy markets, hawkers using old style balances, a Chinese funeral, Buddhist temple, gardens and monkeys. The Van Kleef Aquarium that fascinated me for it was there I saw a real,live shark! The Race Course,Chinese Lion Dance and Dragons. It displays the multi culture of old Singapore, Indians Sikhs,Chinese,Malay, Britishers dancing and the quaint Chinese Opera. A veritable time capsule. Even the old Airport with the Maharaja icon of Air India, KLM and Malaysia Airways!
Until u Kenna spitted on by some crude ass in public n beaten up by hooligans for no good reason. No aircon shopping malls during hot summer n then before u know it, u r crying mama I wan go back to future.
A lovely glimpse of old Singapore. I remember many things from my childhood in the 60's that now do not exist. I like the old style English narrator too. The English has changed. Sounds different today.
Jawa Deepak English changes constantly, with words being added to dictionaries every year, and people using different dialects and accents wherever you go. Not sure what you think people are speaking, if it's not English.
Singapore in all her rustic splendour many years ago - people were hardworking, friendly and fun-loving. I was a kampong kid where I had many friends of different races. We played together, ate together and bathed together. We were not rich but we were happy and life was not hectic nor threatening. We lived from day to day and always hoped for a better tomorrow. We lived in attap houses and sometimes in quarters accorded to us by employers if our parents worked for them. The skyline was totally different with much greenery around and the air was much cooler and healthier than it is today. Oh, how I miss the life in Singapore of yesteryear; a period in our history that only those who lived then would know. And like the song titled "River of No Return", she is gone, gone forever to be lost in the stormy sea. Yes, I can still hear it calling - "No Return! No Return!"
Lim I Khiw Hi...I have a question about Singapore. Maybe you can clarify. I heard that the Kallang River (or maybe some other river in Sinagpore) was very polluted and smelly in the 1960s. Pigs were soaking in the water to cool them selves in the hot summer. Then came Lew Kuan Yew, who get rid of all the pigs and closed down all the small butcher shops that sold fly infested meat. He came up with plans to clean all the rivers. How far is this true? How bad were the rivers in Singapore in those days?
Yes the rivers were filthy and the stench was horrendous. All waste human and animal had ended up there for years prior. When the plans for Boat Quay came about, one thing was clear they had to clean it. They spent years doing that.
I can remember as a child in the late 1950s passing over that white bridge you see at 5:04 and it was not only really smelly but the water was green! There were many hundreds of families living on the water on sampans with no sanitation systems. I hated going over that bridge.
Wonderful memory’s of my childhood years living in Singapore and what was then Malaya, ultimately Malaysia. (1951-1971) I flew into and out of the airport in the clip ( Paya Lebar) on the same type of airliners that appear in the clip. Many thanks for posting this.
As a young Singaporean, I am really thankful for the contributions that our founding fathers and leaders have done for our country. I believe the younger generation should have a stronger sense of national pride as well as nationhood in order for them to strive to progress forward as one people and one nation. (:
During those younger times, we have nationhood. Now with more than 40% foreigners permanently anchored here, Singapore citizens had turned their nationhood to LanParhood.
Sea view hotel, it’s a legend even for me. Place was truly a luxurious seaside resort until land reclamation took that away. It’s just a memory today, one largely forgotten.
Very interesting. However, this is only one small part of Singapore at that time, the part that the British and other westerners were exposed to. A far larger part of Singapore at that time really was just rural area, kampong, which was very different from the clean, built up places featured in the video.
Singapore,the most fascinating country in the world, I did severl years in RAF service, later NZ Naval Service after which I visited Singapore every two or three years. Heaven to me, Lee Kuan Yew put the place 'on the map' prior ro which it was something of a shambles, with very rich and incredibly poor during the 60's it was slowly changed under the PAP, Look at the country now, perhaps one of the richest in the world ,great educational centre, and my regular visits ovee the past sixtty years has only seen even more improvements.Terry Offord
I do have seen the filthy side of old Singapore. Poverty,slums and no electricity or piped water in rural areas. We used kerosene lanterns till a private company supplied electric power from a nearby flim theater! It provided low power and dim bulbs,especially when night show was on! Singapore then had open toilets where the sewage was physically collected and disposed off by very poor, I'll clad Chinese coolies. I recall one such worker, who smelled horribly and could barely read or write or even speak Malay. I do recollect the rich fauna and flora, most of it native. The jungle was always waiting nearby with quick growing Lallang elephant grass, frogs, birds,snakes, iguanas,monkeys and wild pigs. I read somewhere, tigers once used to live in Singapore till they were exterminated. The island got its name"Singa-pore" or Lion City from the tiger, which must have crossed the narrow straits from Johore! The small vegetable farms with poultry, pigs, ponds with Carp fish and hard working farmers,mostly women working in their fields,even at night in the moonlight. That is now all history. I used to fear the Chinese New Year celebrations when incessant fireworks were set off, creating mountains of rubbish and thick suffocating smoke. As children we hunted around looking for smouldering stubs or unexploded crackers to play with.
I am born in 1965, the year Singapore became independent, my family and I remember we had little and live a tough life, the kampung I lived in at Chua Ch Kang Road was not well developed. Road was just muddy tracks.I’m amazed they could capture such scenic places of Singapore which I never get to experience growing up.I have lived to see the transformation of Singapore.
After so many years, S'pore still remains a place of crossroads in the region. Some footage are quite spectacular.Always wondered how the Padang scene and City Hall looked like during its heyday and here it is. There's a book depicting photos of old buildings then and it was certainly more beautiful. As independent Singapore matures as a nation, it should restore more of the recreational factor which the Brits advocated then.Nice vid of the old Singapore charms. School kids should be shown this.
Having lived in Singapore in the mid 90s & visiting regularly since then, I sorta 'miss' the 'old' Singapore although I must admit I appreciated its modern comforts!
What comforts? 24/7 traffic jams Noisy People acting as robots Expensive housing And the Singaporean seem not appreciated by there own government. Elderly people without government support Etc Etc
Thanks for posting this priceless piece of history which is worth preserving. Highly recommended for younger Singaporeans to watch it so they can know how Singapore was like in those days and compare to the present.
I went to Singapore and It was very nice and friendly and so clean,and such behaved people with the laws that have have, to keep people in line and the Merlion sure is a beautiful work of art half Lion half fish or mermaid
Thank you so much for this! My Dad was based at Changi Naval base (aged 22 🥰). I was born at Changi Hospital in 1958 - we were living in Brockhampton Gardens, Serangoon, then. Both my parents died recently and I so wish I had spotted this whilst they were still alive! ❤️❤️
Absolutely amazing film! I am a Singaporaholic, and have been going there annually for several years. I love the place, the people, the city, the food. The city today does note even remotely resemble what this film shows! Perhaps with the exception of the satay vendors. And how those people/men could physically function wearing a suit and tie in that unimaginably oppressive heat. Just wonderful!
My mother was born in 1957 in Singapore, so it's amazing to see what it was like back then. She used to tell me how it was when she was growing up, now I can actually see in technicolour! It's amazing this was just 29 years before I was born, and it's been almost 27 years since I was born, also in Singapore. It seems to have changed so much more from 1957-1986 than 1986-2013, but it has changed a lot since then too.
I love it. Brings back sweet memories of my hometown. Life was simple then, and we always had time for friends and relatives and relate to one another face to face!!!
I have visited twice in the last 25 yrs and had been disappointed that every where was very modern, it has moved with time but I feel lost the character and history of the country,call me nostalgic! I loved the film
I was born in 1947 and lived at Kampong Bedok. in 1957, from Siglap to Changi and beyond to Loyang, Pasir Ris, and Ponggol along the coast were all fishing villages. In addition, inland in Ponggol, what is now Sengkang were pig farms. Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh were all farms - so was much of Chua Chu Kang, Jurong, Bukit Batok and Lim Chu Kang. This film is a promotional film to attract tourists and visitors. At that time, the percentage of Singaporeans who had the means to travel outside Singapore was less than 10%. So before you throw bricks at the Government who since 1959 had been transforming Singapore, do your homework first. Memories are always treasurable. I, too, treasure my memories of old Bedok, Siglap, Katong and I miss my beachfront at Bedok. Land reclamation took it away. But we have been progressing since 1950s. Don't let political bias shut your eyes from real progress made.
***** Hi...I have a question about Singapore. Maybe you can clarify. I heard that the Kallang River (or maybe some other river in Sinagpore) was very polluted and smelly in the 1960s. Pigs were soaking in the water to cool them selves in the hot summer. Then came Lew Kuan Yew, who get rid of all the pigs and closed down all the small butcher shops that sold fly infested meat. He came up with plans to clean all the rivers. How far is this true? How bad were the rivers in Singapore in those days?
in 1980, a ten year target was given to clean up both Singapore River and Kallang River. The mouths of both rivers met at what is now Kallang Basin and Marina Bay. By 1990, the rivers were clean enough for people to swim. What we did was to divert all household water and waste into sewerage channels, move all industrial activities away from the river, and only allowed rain water to go into the rivers. By 2010, we had built a barrage/dam at the mouth of Marina Bay to control the water level and Marina Bay and Kallang Basin are now part of our downtown reservoir. Singapore is now Asia's leader in fresh water management.
That's the remarkable Lockheed Constellation they flew in on... beautiful old plane. I remember flying in those when I was a kid traveling the world with my family...
Thank You sir for posting this such a historical treasure . I'm a Malaysian born in 1971 in East Malaysia's Sarawak but this video of Singapore looks every bit the same like the rest of Malaysia then and now and also my hometown of Kuching where I grew up . Look at those rich people especially the Chinese " TOW-KAY " . Even if compared to 2014 standards , they are still rich . Terima Kaseh , Kawan . Kalau ada filem macham ini lagi , kasi main dalam ini computer ! Saya suka mau tengok !
I notice people from yesteryears were so full of grace and gentle, especially the ladies. Now modern Singaporeans are running a rat's race, highly stressed and walk around with stone cold faces.
Yes, a rat race. I visited Singapore many times in the 2000's. I witnessed two fights between locals on the MRT and when I accidentally dialled a wrong phone number (and apologised) the guy called me back in a terrible rage threatening to call the police. Lots of stressed, paranoid people and lots of resentment against expats, or 'foreign talent' as the expat community is referred to. All of Singapore has been completely rebuilt and a lot of the places that were once interesting have now gone. Places like Raffles are just overpriced tourist traps these days. If you want to visit an authentic colonial hotel go the E&O Hotel in Penang. I understand that the cost of living is extremely high and that people have to work all the time to survive, but I haven't been to Singapore for a long time and have absolutely no desire to return.
@Seb Kes if Spore still mostly private land ....you will be homeless sleeping on the street. Like HK it's super sky high price for HDB flats ! A one room flats will cost millions of dollar by now! Can't u think,,!!??
@@desdes6830 That was a different kind of challenge but there were plenty of opportunities for the educated and there sure was lots of leisure time Now, we are enslaved to this world system. It'll be a blessing if we have enough sleep.
This FISHING VILLAGE looked suspiciously modern and developed for its time. Definitely much better condition than most countries in Asia or even the world.
I was born in 1954 in the east coast area of Siglap. Loved it then! My fav aunt appears in 6 min 22-24 sec slot. And again with her best fren Betty. (Her shots are from the back n side.)
Love, love my old home town at Katong, tembeling road, good old memories, life was exiting and people were friendly, Malays, Chinese, Indians, we were all one big family Love the night markets, and i really miss my Singspore, married at 22 and have been living in New Zealand for 52 years, life is good in NZ but Singapore will always be home for me ❤
I'm here at my hotel in Singapore after an exciting day exploring China town, Kampong Glam and Little India. it's a packed day for sure. This film truly fascinates me! Of course a lot had changed since the 50s, but the uniqueness and charm of Singapore remains, and gets even better with time. Interesting to see Malayan airways being featured, which is of course now split into Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Good and balanced comments, ti cross check the truth compare it with British Colonial India where the cities were even richer re: the prevalent resources of cotton and steel which was what oil became to Singapore later. Pls. excuse my enthusiasm, I see Singapore as a fantastic preview of what India will be in the near future just as my classmate shared that Hong-Kong is the future of China, back 20 yrs. ago in grad. school. Beautiful future, Singapore is a major investor in the Indian economy and vice versa.
After Singapore Independence in August 1965, the British retreated to Hong Kong where they controlled till July 1997. As was the case with other Commonwealth countries, most vestiges of British rule were eliminated but not Singapore. Even then all signs continued to be English hence most Singaporeans continued their way of thinking based on British inputs. The Privy Council continued to have an influence on court appeals. The British Cambridge GCE exams continued till today. Hence the standard of spoken and written English is higher than all other South East Asian countries.
A Singaporean born in 1956 a year before this footage was made, I think it was meant to promote Singapore to the world for tourism purposes. Anyway these period of time I didn't get to live it as I was still too young to appreciates, not until in the late 60's & early 70's when I was a runaway boy (after I took my PSLE) but it was still not much different as most of the places featured in the footage were still existed at the time but now I think some of it can only be found on postcards what a shame!
During this time the automobile also has this Flip up signal light and the "mata cheng teh kor"...polis wear khaki shorts. How many can remember this unique featues? Thank you for sharing this priceless moment in time.
@sonnymak Singapore is definitely better today than it was in 1957. There were far more poor people in those days. Health care was terrible. Schools were bad. There were communists everywhere, Lots of people were unemployed. There were riots. According to Newsweek, we now have the world's most dynamic economy, the 4th best education system and 7 best health care in the world. We were nowhere like that in 1957. This is a documentary showing the better side of Singapore for a British audience.
But now Singapore is basically a Socialist state. So in many ways the Communists didn't leave, they just changed forms. Also, a lot of Singaporeans now live in cramped government provided housing but they aren't rich at all. In fact, they have just enough to survive but little else. They don't have a car and their apartments are tiny. That's not what I would call a good quality of life. Health care is not an issue if you know how to look after yourself. In a country like Singapore, you are basically dependent on the basic services and infrastructure provided by the state - very few people have the means or land available to grow their own food and they become dependent on health care due to becoming sick as a result of their stressful lifestyles, junk food, food containing additives and pesticides etc. and pharmaceuticals. Back in 1957, Singaporeans were likely a lot healthier than they are now.
I was fortunate to be based there in the miltary from 1954-57.absolutly adored the way of life,food,customs, and traditions.far different from my home country of england.still have great memory's from those long ago days.
How i wished time will b rewinded to 1958. It's so free n easy n stressless life.Every thing seems so simple n easy to manage. How time flies, still flying b4 we know that have to the end of the road. Life is short, death is certain.
to those people who belieived LKY turned a swamp into modern metropolis, this clip should debunk that. To those M'sians who always compare how lagging behind Malaysia to Singapore, this should show u ingrates that Singapore was already well advance in 1957 far ahead of Malaya. S'pore percapita USD 600 pa, Malaya USD 250pa 1957. And S'pore was and still is the magnate that attracts the bright and brigtest of Malaya's talents. Rememebr P Ramlee, Goh Keng Swee, Yong Pung How, JB Jeyaratnam?
Hahaha...its all done by the British.. u do nothing...the malaysian had ringgit..but Singapore???dollar???haha..what the hell bro..still cant find your own currency until now huh!!!??
Yeah British built it ground up for Singapore and Hong kong. LKY stole the crown by just doing the icing. If not bcos of the British both islands will be like Taiwan
You must understand that this documentary is aimed at a British audience who wanted to believe that colonialism is a benigh force that benefited the "inferior races" that they ruled. I suggest you read, "The White Man's burden", by Kipling. So they showed the good side of Singapore. They don't put in the slums, the diseases, the riots, the poverty etc. Life is definitely better now.
To those that were here before, come back and relive the moments again. The places might have changed quite a lot but I am sure the Singapore experience will not disappoint.
Singapore hasn't changed. It's still the foreigner who enjoys the high life, with some locals, but the best things in life here are still for the foreigners. We haven't become a nation. It still feels very colonial. Sorry SG, I love you but I must speak the truth
no ERP, no COE, no GST, easy going-slow pace lifestyle, no NS for young men, cyclist can ride on the road safely as the car move very relax and slow, clean beach, no massive foreign pinoys and anehs swarming into this land. I would do anything and dont mind giving up internet, mp3(i can listen to much better quality, Vinyl) and iPhone just so i can go back to real Singapore.
I am 62 and just waiting for the greed to be in self destruct and the locust to find other green crops, this is where hope for the next generation, continue watching our Old singapore once we were, in preparing inspiration to be given to every baby born today ,of future governing from scratch.. should there be another future Temasek Holding make sure to sub the job only to Singaporean (age 14 to positive independent grandma grandpa,so as not to let a creation on Dependent fund moving in its own circle while the profit goes into private pocket within the circle, through non tranferable insurance account) This video of dancing is still alive and kicking in spirit..waiting for Singapore to be in abandon state.(It will happen just like the Roman or British Empire of ancient) A civilization need to be made before a governing can make an application in "Becoming" this is the beauty of true Singaporean that is to be happen again.God willing cos all knowledge in still in the blood cell travelling with time. We are peaceful bunch just like our Ancestor that came with ship from all parts of the world. Only True blood Singaporean can take this journey - Only Spiritual Trust Fund can overcome obsticals with both positive and negative inteligence in one Goal Shooting. The next level gorvening will be the Gamers with professionals occupation of today. They are the only bunch that working on combine pos & neg inside their humble in combine team effort for a common shared prized after top beast termination. I am an old F1 aunty that can see hope in every ruins..so i forwarding my advance inteligence to all young and restless Singaporean out there. Looking at picture is only half the knowledge,building what is seen with own hand is the complete knowledge that come with complete joy and satisfaction. Thank you for loving Our Singapore. Majulah Singapura!! PEACE
So true, I was born here in 1957 and I admit I am proud to be one True Singaporean, so much in black & white days of the British colonised days linger on. Thank you Britain for taking care of us during our infancy era.
What a wonderful trip down memory lane for me. I lived in Singapore from the beginning of 1958, and can recall the places shown as if it were only yesterday. We had a house up Pasir Panjang Hill and another we rented near the McRitchie Reservoir. Back then Lornie Road was not that busy and we used to go out of the bottom of the garden and across into the grounds of the reservoir for wonderful walks, seeing all sorts of wildlife, and almost nobody there, apart from people collecting crickets. I used to go into the kampong near to where we lived in Pasir Panjang often, and in effect was able to run wild. Pitcher plants grew wild in the hill to the back of us and we had a nutmeg and banana tree in the garden. I went to sleep every night listening to the nightjar and the people next door playing Mahjong. will never forget it.
Beautiful description
Yah, I was a local peranakan kid in the end 50s/early 60s spending a few days each school break with my cousin in Pasir Panjang/Clementi Road junction area. Memories...
Eric Yeo wow you guys are old how old Are you guys?
@@Eid_Mubarak We're in our 60s now.
Eric Yeo okay well I’m 22
My grandmother who came to Singapore in the late 30s is still alive and well.
thanks whomever posted this. such nostalgia. My father appears in the 13th minute playing his clarinet twice in the minute. so proud:)
Cool
Wow 8 year old comment
Ancient
G ww
wow
2020 anyone?
+1
iLLa Crow corona quarantine
When China was quarantined, the world was so clean and peaceful.
2018
Here
Simply wonderful. I went there near the end of 1959 to work as an RAF serviceman for two and a half years. It was a priceless privilege without comparison. My best friends remain still the Chinese friends made in those days. Thank you for posting this delightful reminder of those wonderful happy days. I have enjoyed several visits since those days and hope to do so again, and again and again!
This is the country I grew up. These are the memories of my Singapore that will remain with me for the rest of my old age. Oh, how I miss those days. Just only pure true Singaporeans about!
I had no idea how Singapore was once looked like till I found this lovely documentary. It comes with so much old memories that were worth recollecting our distant past.
I was born in Singapore 1960 - this brought back a flood of wonderful memories. A great film & a wonderful place - still is!
@if singapore she said she was born in 1960. At that time Singapore was under British. So...
Priceless video. Thank you. 🙏👌👍
Oh most of them are still there, just have new buildings around them.
WONDERFUL..!! I was there from 1971 to 1997 with my wife and 3 children....I was with United College of S E Asia on Dover Road...
Great to see such film. Brian Green
Please Come Again Sir💐
Mr. Green? Did you teach woodwork? If so, I was one of your students
Simply awesome documentary of my home my Singapore. Thank you for preserving this film on Singapore. Its a beautiful beautiful country...
This video brings back nostalgic memories. A travel back in time to a colonial outpost, Britisher visitors wearing ties and colourful dresses. The BOAC flight passes over an old Singapore coast line that barely exists now! The flim shows busy markets, hawkers using old style balances, a Chinese funeral, Buddhist temple, gardens and monkeys. The Van Kleef Aquarium that fascinated me for it was there I saw a real,live shark! The Race Course,Chinese Lion Dance and Dragons. It displays the multi culture of old Singapore, Indians Sikhs,Chinese,Malay, Britishers dancing and the quaint Chinese Opera. A veritable time capsule. Even the old Airport with the Maharaja icon of Air India, KLM and Malaysia Airways!
is it me or does the past looked so much more entertaining then the present? haha
Looking back at how Singapore was in the past always fascinates me.
no I also feel sg was better back then especially if you had enough money
sih1688
This is before most of that.
Agree...
What you nuts?? You want to be under colonial rule..
Until u Kenna spitted on by some crude ass in public n beaten up by hooligans for no good reason. No aircon shopping malls during hot summer n then before u know it, u r crying mama I wan go back to future.
A lovely glimpse of old Singapore. I remember many things from my childhood in the 60's that now do not exist. I like the old style English narrator too. The English has changed. Sounds different today.
Jawa Deepak English changes constantly, with words being added to dictionaries every year, and people using different dialects and accents wherever you go. Not sure what you think people are speaking, if it's not English.
Yes, I agreed. Nowadays Singaporean don't use proper grammar.
Singaporean don't speak English... They speak Singlish...
@@iwinlee Singlish hanggok kau, English always e not proper line.
Old skool narrator had to speak in certain way cuz the old recorders were cui. Now people can speak naturly
Singapore in all her rustic splendour many years ago - people were hardworking, friendly and fun-loving. I was a kampong kid where I had many friends of different races. We played together, ate together and bathed together. We were not rich but we were happy and life was not hectic nor threatening. We lived from day to day and always hoped for a better tomorrow. We lived in attap houses and sometimes in quarters accorded to us by employers if our parents worked for them. The skyline was totally different with much greenery around and the air was much cooler and healthier than it is today. Oh, how I miss the life in Singapore of yesteryear; a period in our history that only those who lived then would know. And like the song titled "River of No Return", she is gone, gone forever to be lost in the stormy sea. Yes, I can still hear it calling - "No Return! No Return!"
Lim I Khiw Hi...I have a question about Singapore. Maybe you can clarify. I heard that the Kallang River (or maybe some other river in Sinagpore) was very polluted and smelly in the 1960s. Pigs were soaking in the water to cool them selves in the hot summer. Then came Lew Kuan Yew, who get rid of all the pigs and closed down all the small butcher shops that sold fly infested meat. He came up with plans to clean all the rivers. How far is this true? How bad were the rivers in Singapore in those days?
Yes the rivers were filthy and the stench was horrendous. All waste human and animal had ended up there for years prior. When the plans for Boat Quay came about, one thing was clear they had to clean it. They spent years doing that.
hello Bostonite1985, send me an email to ronho@cpak.com.sg and I will give you facts and stories on river clean up.
I can remember as a child in the late 1950s passing over that white bridge you see at 5:04 and it was not only really smelly but the water was green! There were many hundreds of families living on the water on sampans with no sanitation systems. I hated going over that bridge.
Did YoU JuST AsSUMe it's GeNDER??????
Wonderful memory’s of my childhood years living in Singapore and what was then Malaya, ultimately Malaysia. (1951-1971) I flew into and out of the airport in the clip ( Paya Lebar) on the same type of airliners that appear in the clip. Many thanks for posting this.
cool =) thanks for sharing how my motherland looks like in the 1957 so beautiful and another charm
Thank you for sharing this amazing old documentary film of 🇸🇬 singapura
As a young Singaporean, I am really thankful for the contributions that our founding fathers and leaders have done for our country. I believe the younger generation should have a stronger sense of national pride as well as nationhood in order for them to strive to progress forward as one people and one nation. (:
derekcsy90*2020 how young u now 🙂
During those younger times, we have nationhood. Now with more than 40% foreigners permanently anchored here, Singapore citizens had turned their nationhood to LanParhood.
Sea view hotel, it’s a legend even for me. Place was truly a luxurious seaside resort until land reclamation took that away. It’s just a memory today, one largely forgotten.
Very sad. The original Adelphi Hotel also closed. =(
it's very sad to know that all these are gone now.. people seem to be much carefree and happier in the past...
Because they are all smiling for the camera
Go to Singapore. The spirit of this video still lives.
I am still here! Was posted to Singapore in 1957 and stayed 3 years. Great then. Spoiled now.
@@davidnelson702 Singapore is a soulless commercial place.
Very interesting. However, this is only one small part of Singapore at that time, the part that the British and other westerners were exposed to. A far larger part of Singapore at that time really was just rural area, kampong, which was very different from the clean, built up places featured in the video.
Singapore,the most fascinating country in the world, I did severl years in RAF service, later NZ Naval Service after which I visited Singapore every two or three years. Heaven to me, Lee Kuan Yew put the place 'on the map' prior ro which it was something of a shambles, with very rich and incredibly poor during the 60's it was slowly changed under the PAP, Look at the country now, perhaps one of the richest in the world ,great educational centre, and my regular visits ovee the past sixtty years has only seen even more improvements.Terry Offord
I do have seen the filthy side of old Singapore. Poverty,slums and no electricity or piped water in rural areas. We used kerosene lanterns till a private company supplied electric power from a nearby flim theater! It provided low power and dim bulbs,especially when night show was on! Singapore then had open toilets where the sewage was physically collected and disposed off by very poor, I'll clad Chinese coolies. I recall one such worker, who smelled horribly and could barely read or write or even speak Malay. I do recollect the rich fauna and flora, most of it native. The jungle was always waiting nearby with quick growing Lallang elephant grass, frogs, birds,snakes, iguanas,monkeys and wild pigs. I read somewhere, tigers once used to live in Singapore till they were exterminated. The island got its name"Singa-pore" or Lion City from the tiger, which must have crossed the narrow straits from Johore! The small vegetable farms with poultry, pigs, ponds with Carp fish and hard working farmers,mostly women working in their fields,even at night in the moonlight. That is now all history. I used to fear the Chinese New Year celebrations when incessant fireworks were set off, creating mountains of rubbish and thick suffocating smoke. As children we hunted around looking for smouldering stubs or unexploded crackers to play with.
Malaya (now Malaysia n Singapore)..so nostalgic😐😌✌🇲🇾🇸🇬
People malays over in singapore
I am born in 1965, the year Singapore became independent, my family and I remember we had little and live a tough life, the kampung I lived in at Chua Ch Kang Road was not well developed. Road was just muddy tracks.I’m amazed they could capture such scenic places of Singapore which I never get to experience growing up.I have lived to see the transformation of Singapore.
After so many years, S'pore still remains a place of crossroads in the region. Some footage are quite spectacular.Always wondered how the Padang scene and City Hall looked like during its heyday and here it is. There's a book depicting photos of old buildings then and it was certainly more beautiful. As independent Singapore matures as a nation, it should restore more of the recreational factor which the Brits advocated then.Nice vid of the old Singapore charms. School kids should be shown this.
Love this film. Thanks so much for uploading it. It brings back memories of the good-O-days.
Having lived in Singapore in the mid 90s & visiting regularly since then, I sorta 'miss' the 'old' Singapore although I must admit I appreciated its modern comforts!
What comforts?
24/7 traffic jams
Noisy
People acting as robots
Expensive housing
And the Singaporean seem not appreciated by there own government.
Elderly people without government support
Etc
Etc
OMG thank you so much. I always wanted to see more of the old singapore film. Thank you so much.
Thanks for posting this priceless piece of history which is worth preserving. Highly recommended for younger Singaporeans to watch it so they can know how Singapore was like in those days and compare to the present.
I went to Singapore and It was very nice and friendly and so clean,and such behaved people with the laws that have have, to keep people in line and the Merlion sure is a beautiful work of art half Lion half fish or mermaid
Thank you so much for this! My Dad was based at Changi Naval base (aged 22 🥰). I was born at Changi Hospital in 1958 - we were living in Brockhampton Gardens, Serangoon, then. Both my parents died recently and I so wish I had spotted this whilst they were still alive! ❤️❤️
Absolutely amazing film! I am a Singaporaholic, and have been going there annually for several years. I love the place, the people, the city, the food. The city today does note even remotely resemble what this film shows! Perhaps with the exception of the satay vendors. And how those people/men could physically function wearing a suit and tie in that unimaginably oppressive heat. Just wonderful!
I love how at 14:29 she's eating satay at a hawker centre in a ballgown and he in suit and tie.
*class*
Only a Westerner would wear such impractical clothing to go out in the equatorial heat and humidity.
@@HillTrekkerSarge Mad dogs and Englishmen lol :)
Love Singapore a lot since my university days and once visit NUS in 1984! Went there several times and have witnessed its progress!
This is fantabulous stuff. It is really wonderful that this film has been so carefully preserved. THANK you for uploading.
My mother was born in 1957 in Singapore, so it's amazing to see what it was like back then. She used to tell me how it was when she was growing up, now I can actually see in technicolour! It's amazing this was just 29 years before I was born, and it's been almost 27 years since I was born, also in Singapore. It seems to have changed so much more from 1957-1986 than 1986-2013, but it has changed a lot since then too.
Thank you so much for sharing this lovely video. Hello from Singapore
I love it. Brings back sweet memories of my hometown. Life was simple then, and we always had time for friends and relatives and relate to one another face to face!!!
I think people were less complicated then.
I have visited twice in the last 25 yrs and had been disappointed that every where was very modern, it has moved with time but I feel lost the character and history of the country,call me nostalgic! I loved the film
Hello, Diane,
How are you doing today?
Beautiful place, wonderful people.
I was born in 1947 and lived at Kampong Bedok. in 1957, from Siglap to Changi and beyond to Loyang, Pasir Ris, and Ponggol along the coast were all fishing villages. In addition, inland in Ponggol, what is now Sengkang were pig farms. Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh were all farms - so was much of Chua Chu Kang, Jurong, Bukit Batok and Lim Chu Kang. This film is a promotional film to attract tourists and visitors. At that time, the percentage of Singaporeans who had the means to travel outside Singapore was less than 10%. So before you throw bricks at the Government who since 1959 had been transforming Singapore, do your homework first. Memories are always treasurable. I, too, treasure my memories of old Bedok, Siglap, Katong and I miss my beachfront at Bedok. Land reclamation took it away. But we have been progressing since 1950s. Don't let political bias shut your eyes from real progress made.
***** Hi...I have a question about Singapore. Maybe you can clarify. I heard that the Kallang River (or maybe some other river in Sinagpore) was very polluted and smelly in the 1960s. Pigs were soaking in the water to cool them selves in the hot summer. Then came Lew Kuan Yew, who get rid of all the pigs and closed down all the small butcher shops that sold fly infested meat. He came up with plans to clean all the rivers. How far is this true? How bad were the rivers in Singapore in those days?
Bostonite1985 yes thats true by the way their government find a solution for that polluted river !
in 1980, a ten year target was given to clean up both Singapore River and Kallang River. The mouths of both rivers met at what is now Kallang Basin and Marina Bay. By 1990, the rivers were clean enough for people to swim. What we did was to divert all household water and waste into sewerage channels, move all industrial activities away from the river, and only allowed rain water to go into the rivers. By 2010, we had built a barrage/dam at the mouth of Marina Bay to control the water level and Marina Bay and Kallang Basin are now part of our downtown reservoir. Singapore is now Asia's leader in fresh water management.
*****
great story !! i hope Manila have a time to be like Singapore !! but right now they cleaning up Pasig river !!
Ronald Ho
How are you old fellow? We never did seen eyes to eyes when we were in the same trade in Lower Delta Road way back in the 70s.
Beautiful look at SG before it became over modernized
Thanks!!
👏🌹🙏 It was so nice to watch the good old days!! All the best!!
🇳🇵Love from Nepal !!!
I really love the old taste of Singapore, especially those beautiful architectural buildings. Too bad, most of them are no longer here :-(
Nice documentary film well preserved of the bygone days of Singapur, Very clear & very effective narration then, Hats off to the film production team,
That's the remarkable Lockheed Constellation they flew in on... beautiful old plane. I remember flying in those when I was a kid traveling the world with my family...
Thanks for this video. It brings back many childhood memories growing up in Singapore
Thank You sir for posting this such a historical treasure . I'm a Malaysian born in 1971 in East Malaysia's Sarawak but this video of Singapore looks every bit the same like the rest of Malaysia then and now and also my hometown of Kuching where I grew up .
Look at those rich people especially the Chinese " TOW-KAY " . Even if compared to 2014 standards , they are still rich .
Terima Kaseh , Kawan . Kalau ada filem macham ini lagi , kasi main dalam ini computer ! Saya suka mau tengok !
You're welcomed , Viper RKO!
I notice people from yesteryears were so full of grace and gentle, especially the ladies. Now modern Singaporeans are running a rat's race, highly stressed and walk around with stone cold faces.
correct
Say No To Pap......
100%
Yes, a rat race. I visited Singapore many times in the 2000's. I witnessed two fights between locals on the MRT and when I accidentally dialled a wrong phone number (and apologised) the guy called me back in a terrible rage threatening to call the police. Lots of stressed, paranoid people and lots of resentment against expats, or 'foreign talent' as the expat community is referred to. All of Singapore has been completely rebuilt and a lot of the places that were once interesting have now gone. Places like Raffles are just overpriced tourist traps these days. If you want to visit an authentic colonial hotel go the E&O Hotel in Penang. I understand that the cost of living is extremely high and that people have to work all the time to survive, but I haven't been to Singapore for a long time and have absolutely no desire to return.
@Seb Kes if Spore still mostly private land ....you will be homeless sleeping on the street. Like HK it's super sky high price for HDB flats ! A one room flats will cost millions of dollar by now! Can't u think,,!!??
Simply a work of art, I never knew someone would post about my own Country, but, you made my dreams come true.
wow!thanks to UA-cam I could watch this amazing old people and stuffs that used to be in Singapore once upon a time......
Those old people are very lucky . Moreever there no tall biilding but people was happy not rich but simple n happy is most important.
ash unknown happy? Don’t think so.. my parent / grandparent used to say how life was hard back than and how we have it good now.
@@desdes6830 That was a different kind of challenge but there were plenty of opportunities for the educated and there sure was lots of leisure time Now, we are enslaved to this world system. It'll be a blessing if we have enough sleep.
Life then was marvellous even with less of everything
God bless all the souls of Singaporeans past.
Thanks for enriching our lives.
This FISHING VILLAGE looked suspiciously modern and developed for its time. Definitely much better condition than most countries in Asia or even the world.
It was already a bustling city even in the 1950s.....
I love old Singapore videos
I was born in 1954 in the east coast area of Siglap. Loved it then! My fav aunt appears in 6 min 22-24 sec slot. And again with her best fren Betty. (Her shots are from the back n side.)
So much character and beauty.
Love this. Thanks for posting this up. So rare!
The Lion City, 1957.. as amazing
its very lovely to see many people and cultures practiced back then
Love, love my old home town at Katong, tembeling road, good old memories, life was exiting and people were friendly, Malays, Chinese, Indians, we were all one big family
Love the night markets, and i really miss my Singspore, married at 22 and have been living in New Zealand for 52 years, life is good in NZ but Singapore will always be home for me ❤
12:35 Kelab Dondang Sayang,.. classic laah
I'm here at my hotel in Singapore after an exciting day exploring China town, Kampong Glam and Little India. it's a packed day for sure. This film truly fascinates me! Of course a lot had changed since the 50s, but the uniqueness and charm of Singapore remains, and gets even better with time. Interesting to see Malayan airways being featured, which is of course now split into Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Wow... This looks pretty swanky for a fishing village...
this was before lky he was still in law skool llearning british law and solar energy...the brits already did a fabulous work here..
+Vizo Linz I love the sarcasm 😅
seriously so many people are being brainwashed. UK built many establishments before they left in 65
Brits already did 90 percent of the upgrading works it seems
Good and balanced comments, ti cross check the truth compare it with British Colonial India where the cities were even richer re: the prevalent resources of cotton and steel which was what oil became to Singapore later.
Pls. excuse my enthusiasm, I see Singapore as a fantastic preview of what India will be in the near future just as my classmate shared that Hong-Kong is the future of China, back 20 yrs. ago in grad. school.
Beautiful future, Singapore is a major investor in the Indian economy and vice versa.
Pavan C. Joshi fuck india
Fascinating to see Singapore as it was.. oh, and happy birthday Singapore !
All Singaporeans & future Singaporeans should watch the film, & remember how far Singapore has come. Incredible.
After Singapore Independence in August 1965, the British retreated to Hong Kong where they controlled till July 1997. As was the case with other Commonwealth countries, most vestiges of British rule were eliminated but not Singapore. Even then all signs continued to be English hence most Singaporeans continued their way of thinking based on British inputs. The Privy Council continued to have an influence on court appeals. The British Cambridge GCE exams continued till today. Hence the standard of spoken and written English is higher than all other South East Asian countries.
Brorn in Singapore Gleneagles Hospital, my late father married my mum there. Still have family living there. It's a beautiful clean country.
A Singaporean born in 1956 a year before this footage was made, I think it was meant to promote Singapore to the world for tourism purposes. Anyway these period of time I didn't get to live it as I was still too young to appreciates, not until in the late 60's & early 70's when I was a runaway boy (after I took my PSLE) but it was still not much different as most of the places featured in the footage were still existed at the time but now I think some of it can only be found on postcards what a shame!
I was born in 1952 I love the old days now days live is so boring
UA-cam recommendations doing good work.
The infrastructure of Singapore in 1957 looks very advanced.
During this time the automobile also has this Flip up signal light and the "mata cheng teh kor"...polis wear khaki shorts. How many can remember this unique featues? Thank you for sharing this priceless moment in time.
I found this video while doing a group project and I was so surprised that this video is as old as me not to mention I'm only a week thsn it💀
Nostalgic!! Nostalgic stuff!! Great upload!! Thanks...
It's for a free trip back to the past! I am from singapore bte :D
@sonnymak Singapore is definitely better today than it was in 1957. There were far more poor people in those days. Health care was terrible. Schools were bad. There were communists everywhere, Lots of people were unemployed. There were riots. According to Newsweek, we now have the world's most dynamic economy, the 4th best education system and 7 best health care in the world. We were nowhere like that in 1957.
This is a documentary showing the better side of Singapore for a British audience.
But now Singapore is basically a Socialist state. So in many ways the Communists didn't leave, they just changed forms. Also, a lot of Singaporeans now live in cramped government provided housing but they aren't rich at all. In fact, they have just enough to survive but little else. They don't have a car and their apartments are tiny. That's not what I would call a good quality of life.
Health care is not an issue if you know how to look after yourself. In a country like Singapore, you are basically dependent on the basic services and infrastructure provided by the state - very few people have the means or land available to grow their own food and they become dependent on health care due to becoming sick as a result of their stressful lifestyles, junk food, food containing additives and pesticides etc. and pharmaceuticals. Back in 1957, Singaporeans were likely a lot healthier than they are now.
that's usually how it goes to gloss over colonialism
de cassowary, are you Singaporean?
The Rock because singapore doesnt have much land?
Communists in Singapore? I thought they were more of a problem in Malaya. Hence that's why Malayan Emergency happened.
I was fortunate to be based there in the miltary from 1954-57.absolutly adored the way of life,food,customs, and traditions.far different from my home country of england.still have great memory's from those long ago days.
Best time travel back into singapore simple past 👍👏
How i wished time will b rewinded to 1958. It's so free n easy n stressless life.Every thing seems so simple n easy to manage. How time flies, still flying b4 we know that have to the end of the road. Life is short, death is certain.
to those people who belieived LKY turned a swamp into modern metropolis, this clip should debunk that. To those M'sians who always compare how lagging behind Malaysia to Singapore, this should show u ingrates that Singapore was already well advance in 1957 far ahead of Malaya. S'pore percapita USD 600 pa, Malaya USD 250pa 1957. And S'pore was and still is the magnate that attracts the bright and brigtest of Malaya's talents. Rememebr P Ramlee, Goh Keng Swee, Yong Pung How, JB Jeyaratnam?
Hahaha...its all done by the British.. u do nothing...the malaysian had ringgit..but Singapore???dollar???haha..what the hell bro..still cant find your own currency until now huh!!!??
Yeah British built it ground up for Singapore and Hong kong. LKY stole the crown by just doing the icing. If not bcos of the British both islands will be like Taiwan
1957, the newly formed Malaysia becomes a member of the British Commonwealth declared by Queen Elizabeth the Second.
Lovely video. Thank you
Stuck with the COVID-19 at home and now I just finished looking at a old footage more than 70 years ago....Wow!!
You must understand that this documentary is aimed at a British audience who wanted to believe that colonialism is a benigh force that benefited the "inferior races" that they ruled. I suggest you read, "The White Man's burden", by Kipling. So they showed the good side of Singapore. They don't put in the slums, the diseases, the riots, the poverty etc. Life is definitely better now.
To those that were here before, come back and relive the moments again. The places might have changed quite a lot but I am sure the Singapore experience will not disappoint.
Stayed in YMCA there for several times once I visited there. Met different people.
Didn't expect it is as clean as today.. :)
Singapore hasn't changed. It's still the foreigner who enjoys the high life, with some locals, but the best things in life here are still for the foreigners. We haven't become a nation. It still feels very colonial. Sorry SG, I love you but I must speak the truth
This is by Filem Negara!
I like it
Its like a old james bond movie
Rajender Rajender yeah
See Singapore was NOT just a fishing village before Independence. It was already a beautiful city.
It's still as amazing as ever.
i remember watching this in some museum before
i think it was old ford factory
singapore duit dollar tp dikuasai oleh cina
It seems that youtube has begun recommending this to everyone... nice :)
Noted at 1.52 it said Singapore Airport. Some foreigner consider this is their home. At 2.52 noted the bus coach label as "Malayan Airvvays"
It belonged to the British before gaining independence in 1965.
Malayan airways started in Singapore. The first flight took off from Singapore in 1947.
Thanks for sharing
One of my grand aunty was a beautiful stewardess during this time.
Good old Paya Lebar airport. Took 3 days to fly from London in 1957!!!!
no ERP, no COE, no GST, easy going-slow pace lifestyle, no NS for young men, cyclist can ride on the road safely as the car move very relax and slow, clean beach, no massive foreign pinoys and anehs swarming into this land. I would do anything and dont mind giving up internet, mp3(i can listen to much better quality, Vinyl) and iPhone just so i can go back to real Singapore.
blooduhz yah! I 100% agree with you!
Bring the time machine back to passed years. I would love to hop in
I am 62 and just waiting for the greed to be in self destruct and the locust to find other green crops, this is where hope for the next generation, continue watching our Old singapore once we were, in preparing inspiration to be given to every baby born today ,of future governing from scratch.. should there be another future Temasek Holding make sure to sub the job only to Singaporean (age 14 to positive independent grandma grandpa,so as not to let a creation on Dependent fund moving in its own circle while the profit goes into private pocket within the circle, through non tranferable insurance account) This video of dancing is still alive and kicking in spirit..waiting for Singapore to be in abandon state.(It will happen just like the Roman or British Empire of ancient) A civilization need to be made before a governing can make an application in "Becoming" this is the beauty of true Singaporean that is to be happen again.God willing cos all knowledge in still in the blood cell travelling with time. We are peaceful bunch just like our Ancestor that came with ship from all parts of the world. Only True blood Singaporean can take this journey - Only Spiritual Trust Fund can overcome obsticals with both positive and negative inteligence in one Goal Shooting. The next level gorvening will be the Gamers with professionals occupation of today. They are the only bunch that working on combine pos & neg inside their humble in combine team effort for a common shared prized after top beast termination. I am an old F1 aunty that can see hope in every ruins..so i forwarding my advance inteligence to all young and restless Singaporean out there. Looking at picture is only half the knowledge,building what is seen with own hand is the complete knowledge that come with complete joy and satisfaction. Thank you for loving Our Singapore. Majulah Singapura!! PEACE
Some of the old timers have told me, how great that city once was.
So true, I was born here in 1957 and I admit I am proud to be one True Singaporean, so much in black & white days of the British colonised days linger on. Thank you Britain for taking care of us during our infancy era.