Early last year, I made a trip back to Ipoh for three weeks to take some photos of the city I was born and grew up in. Among my first stop was at Cowan Street. The once famous Jubilee Park was located on this street. Jubilee Park to Ipoh was what BB Park was to Kuala Lumpur and New World to Singapore in those good old days. These were the happening places then – the places for old and young to go for some entertainments. Sad to say, all three were now history.
On the right side you can see two windows where cinema goers used to queue up to buy tickets for a show (there were cinemas inside Jubilee Park). Have you queue up here before to buy tickets?
I remember along this corridor, there were some Nepalese gemstones traders selling their wares here at night. Their products were laid on the floor and curious onlookers hassle for the correct prices. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires…they were glittering and sparkling to my young eyes. Dad often took me here when I was a mere kid. From this, a lifetime love affair was born – I simply loved colorful gemstones, even to this day!
Watch out for the inside of Jubilee Park and you will be sadden how this site, once the most popular entertainment spot in Ipoh, had turned into an eerie and abandoned place…..
Do you have childhood memories of this place to share too?
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188 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh 
I seldom go to the Jubilee Park when I was a kid but only went to the cinema once or twice when I was a kid. My hubby frequented this place to play games when he was young and also to ride the bumper cars 🙂
Hi Barb,
I’m sure he will have lots of memories of this place to treasure and share! 🙂
Thanks for reminding me. Yes those bumper cars, with sparks flying when they zip around.
Hi 16LeechStreet,
I rode on them too, before moving on to the carousel and Ferris wheel! 🙂 Those were care-free days indeed…..
My maternal grandpa worked for Shaw Brothers. We frequented the cinema a lot – back in those days, we just tell the cinema ticket counter our grandfather’s name, he/she will hand us the tickets FOC. We watched a lot of Chinese kung-fu movies. I was very young then (6 or 7 years old). Also for other Shaw Brothers’ cinemas, he will get us tickets for the movies.
Jubiliee Park (above the car park) my mom said it used to be a cabaret. SHe said my dad took her dancing there once.
Hi Dawn,
Yeah, my family got free tickets to most cinemas in Ipoh in those days because we allowed them to place their advertisement boards outside dad’s coffee shop.
Your mom was right. There was a cabaret inside Jubilee Park for those who fancied some footwork. 🙂
I always went to jubilee park when I was a kid as I stayed nearby and also an arcade games fan. it really leave lots of memories for me. hope the developers can relive this area.
Hi Christopher,
A recent visit inside Jubilee Park revealed a totally neglected and abandoned place. Only a barber was still operating near the entrance. Our childhood playground was left to die a slow death…..
I remember with fondness of Jubilee Park in the early seventies when my late Dad used to take me there to eat satay!!