Former Site of Chongqing Cathay Theatre

　　Cathay Theatre was built on February 8, 1937. It was located at the entrance of Chaijia Lane, which is now next to the Metersbonwe Times Department Store in the bustling Jiefangbei area. When the theatre first opened, it had 1,500 seats and six frosted chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, with light shining through the gaps in the surrounding walls. There were also eight large fans on the walls, and neon lights spelling out the five large characters “Cathay Theatre” at the entrance. The entire building was truly quite fashionable at that time.

　　However, Cathay’s fame did not come from its architecture but from the theatrical performances during the War of Resistance against Japan. During the war, Beijing had fallen and Shanghai had become an isolated island. Many cultural and performing arts professionals flocked to the wartime capital. In this relatively peaceful and stable mountain city, a strong cultural and artistic atmosphere emerged. Even more remarkable was that in the first few years of the wartime capital, they staged many anti-war plays, making every effort to promote the resistance. Many of these plays were performed at Cathay Theatre.

　　Cathay Theatre in Chongqing, which staged 94 plays during the War of Resistance, has been hailed as a jewel in the history of Chinese theatres. It served as a performance base for anti-Japanese salvation plays in the rear areas.

　　On October 1, 1937, the Outcry Troupe performed "Defend the Lugou Bridge" at Cathay, marking the beginning of wartime drama performances in Chongqing. After that, Cathay became a base for wartime drama performances in the rear. Famous plays such as "Put Down Your Whip" and "Eight Hundred Heroes" premiered here.

　　In the history of Chinese theatre, there were several famous "Chongqing Fog Season Performances." These performances were mainly held at Cathay. During the two Fog Season performances, many plays became well known to later generations, such as Xia Yan's "Fascist Bacteria," Chen Baichen's "Wedding March," Ouyang Yuqian's "The Loyal King Li Xiucheng," and Lao She's "The Problem of Face."

　　In October 1938, the Japanese army launched a large-scale offensive against China, and the public launched a donation campaign. The Chongqing film and theatre industry decided to stage "Fight for Freedom and Peace" to raise 50,000 yuan to make 50,000 winter uniforms. Not only were regular tickets snapped up, but many people also bought honor tickets. Shi Man said, "Back then, those who paid high prices for performance tickets did so to resist Japan and to show patriotism."

　　"The film and theatre stars of the rear areas not only performed under the bombs but also participated in anti-Japanese salvation performances as if they were going to war," Shi Man said. As soon as the air raid sirens sounded, performances at the grand theatre would immediately close. Once the air raid was over, actors and audiences returned to the theatre. Wartime performances at Cathay were never interrupted for long.

　　By 1943, when the government officially banned drama performances at Cathay Theatre, 94 plays had already been staged there. To this day, the stone wall on the right side of the foyer of Cathay Cinema still bears the inscriptions of artists such as Guo Moruo, Xia Yan, and Bai Yang, left for the theatre.

　　On the stage of Cathay Theatre, many outstanding figures in the history of Chinese theatre and cinema left their mark. Names such as Zhang Ruifang, Qin Yi, Shu Xiuwen, Chen Bore, Li Lili, Zhao Dan, Bai Yang, Lan Ma, and Jin Shan shone like a constellation, illuminating the stage of Cathay Theatre and the gloomy skies of the fog-shrouded wartime capital, as well as the Chinese theatre scene during the war.