Old-school retro dating is right here at this special exhibition on entertainment before TV!

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
 
In today’s world where you can watch movies, follow dramas, and listen to music just by scrolling on your phone, it’s hard to imagine what people did for entertainment before 1962, back when TV stations hadn’t even gone on air yet. The Taipei Municipal Archives has specially organized an exhibition titled “The Entertainment Era—Remembering the Ten Years Without TV,” allowing visitors to step back into the dating scene of the 1950s.

The special exhibition “The Entertainment Era—Remembering the Ten Years Without TV” takes visitors through group fun like binge-watching shows and following celebrities, sweet couple outings, and solo “dates with yourself.” Featuring over 300 artifacts from the era—including audio clips, vintage photos, vinyl records, magazines, and books—it connects five major categories: glove puppetry, Taiwanese opera, movies, radio, and print media. It takes exhibition-goers back to the TV-less age and reveals a history of entertainment filled with charm and human warmth.

The direction of the exhibition poster title, written from right to left, is not just a design gimmick but a faithful representation of post-war era traces. The exhibition is divided into four themed zones: “Lively Theater Stalls—Grab a Seat and Enjoy the Show” focusing on glove puppetry, “Handkerchief Friends Unite—Chasing Stars Across Taiwan” highlighting Taiwanese opera, “Movie Dates—Sweet Coffee Moments” centered on cinema, and “Solo at Home—Knowing the World” dedicated to radio and print. These are thoughtfully combined with nostalgic entertainment settings.

In the glove puppetry zone, there’s an interactive “Golden Light” stage featuring the character “Elderly Strange Swordsman,” personally voiced by Huang Wenlang, head of the Wuzhouyuan Puppet Troupe. Drop a coin to experience the “tricks” of one-man puppetry behind the sword fights and flashes. Back when Taiwan was still largely agrarian, going to temple fairs to “watch Taiwanese opera” was a huge event for girls. The “Taiwanese Opera Star-Chasing Map” in the center of the exhibition space lets you witness the enthusiasm of girl squads binge-watching dramas together. Five major stars—Liao Qiongzhi, Black Cat Yun, Du Huiyu, the Hong Mingxue and Hong Mingxiu sisters, and Xu Xiunian—“voice” their performances once more, with such impressive singing that visitors rush to tip them with “red envelopes”!