Since it was designated as a historic building, local residents complain that the Siluo Theater in Yunlin County’s Siluo Township has not been revitalized, looks terribly shabby and is causing problems for the local area.
The Siluo Theater was built in the 1930s. The two-story concrete building has enough seats to accommodate 500 people, and in the old days it used to show movies and put on plays. It was once an important local entertainment venue, and for a while a commercial district formed around it. Following the decline of movie theaters, the Siluo Theater has been out of business for a long time. However, the theater is an important witness to local development, so 15 years ago the county government designated it as a historic building and erected an information signboard.
Local residents have many complaints. They say that when the Siluo Theater was first listed as a historic building, people in the area had great expectations, hoping that the county government could revitalize it so as to bring in lots of tourists and revive the once-prosperous movie theater commercial area. However, up until today the theater remains derelict. Its roof has almost collapsed so that water accumulates whenever it rains and it has become a hotbed for mosquitoes to breed. The first-floor balcony has been cracked by creeping tree roots, the concrete stairs on the right-hand side are lopsided and the building looks terribly dilapidated.
Photo: Chen Tsan-kun, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者陳燦坤
The biggest annoyance for local residents is that the theater has become a home for stray animals, with feral cats and dogs taking up residence one after another. There have also been sightings of snakes. At one time people suspected that a bitch had given birth to a litter of puppies in the theater, attracting fleas from all around. Locals say they are not opposed to preserving the theater, but they want the county government to manage it properly.
The county government’s Cultural Affairs Department says the theater is a private business and the department needs to get all the owners’ agreement before refurbishing it. The Cultural Affairs Department will soon help out by tidying up the surrounding environment, while continuing to communicate with the owners so that it can set about refurbishing and revitalizing the theater as soon as possible.(Liberty Times, translated by Julian Clegg)
位於雲林縣西螺鎮的西螺戲院登錄為歷史建築後，居民抱怨未見活化，外觀殘破不堪，造成地方困擾。
Photo: Chen Tsan-kun, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者陳燦坤
西螺戲院創建於一九三○年代，為兩層樓混凝土建築，座位可容納五百人，早期播放電影兼上演戲劇，曾是地方重要休閒場所，周邊一度形成繁華商圈，隨著電影院沒落，西螺戲院歇業多時，但戲院是地方發展重要見證，縣府在十五年前登錄歷史建物，同時樹立導覽看板解說。
居民埋怨，當初西螺戲院登錄為歷史建築，地方滿懷希望，期待縣府能夠活化、帶動觀光人潮，重現戲院商圈昔日榮景，然而迄今戲院依舊荒廢，屋頂幾乎坍塌，下雨到處積水，成了蚊蟲孳生溫床，戲院二樓陽台遭樹根鑽出裂縫，右側混凝土階梯傾斜，外觀殘破不堪。
居民最感困擾的是西螺戲院已成了流浪動物之家，野貓、野狗相繼入住，還曾看到蛇出沒，之前疑有一條母狗在戲院產下一窩小狗，引來跳蚤聚集，他們不反對保留戲院，但希望縣府善加管理。
縣府文化處坦言戲院是私人產業，整修需徵得全部持有人同意，文化處近期將協助周遭整理環境，同時持續與持有人溝通，儘快推動整修、活化。
(自由時報記者陳燦坤)
Nestled in the mountain region of northern Taiwan lies a small village that was once bustling due to a thriving coal industry, only to later gain fame for an entirely different reason — cats. This is Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村), located in Ruifang District, New Taipei City. Traditional Coal Mining and Village Transformation Houtong was originally known as “Monkey Cave” (houtong, 猴洞), a name derived from the wild monkeys that once inhabited caves in the surrounding hills. During the Japanese colonial period in the early 20th century, rich coal deposits were discovered and developed, rapidly turning Houtong into one of northern Taiwan’s
Beatboxing is the art of making drum sounds using nothing but your mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. This incredible skill turns your voice into a personal drum kit, allowing you to create beats and rhythms that sound just like those of real instruments. Born from hip-hop culture in the 1980s, beatboxing has evolved into a global form of musical expression found in various genres. What makes beatboxing so special? First, it requires no equipment at all. This accessibility allows you to develop your musical sense and rhythm skills wherever you are. Plus, beatboxing is a fantastic way to express
A: British singer Calum Scott is currently touring Taiwan again, staging a show at the K-Arena on Saturday. B: Didn’t Calum release a reimagined duet with the late pop diva Whitney Houston for her classic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)?” A: Yup the track uses the legendary singer’s original vocal, transforming into a new ballad duet. B: I remember that the 1987 megahit topped the charts around the world, winning Whitney a second Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. A: And she will receive her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on the eve
對話 Dialogue 清清：氣象預報說週末好像有寒流，天氣這麼冷，我只想宅在家裡。 Qīngqīng: Qìxiàng yùbào shuō zhōumò hǎoxiàng yǒu hánliú, tiānqì zhème lěng, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zhái zài jiālǐ. 華華：說到這個，我週末想約剛認識的新朋友出去玩，但寒流來的話戶外活動可能不太合適，我還不知道要做什麼好。 Huáhua: Shuō dào zhège, wǒ zhōumò xiǎng yuē gāng rènshí de xīn péngyǒu chūqù wán, dàn hánliú lái de huà hùwài huódòng kěnéng bú tài héshì, wǒ hái bù zhīdào yào zuò shénme hǎo. 清清：要不要考慮去玩密室脫逃？我以前跟朋友去過，很好玩，而且不怕風吹雨淋。 Qīngqīng: Yào bú yào kǎolǜ qù wán mìshì tuōtáo? Wǒ yǐqián gēn péngyǒu qù guò, hěn hǎowán, érqiě bú pà fēng chuī yǔ lín. 華華：我覺得不錯，可是我們才剛認識，會不會太尷尬？ Huáhua: Wǒ juéde búcuò, kěshì wǒmen cái gāng rènshí, huì bú huì tài gāngà? 清清：不會啦！玩密室脫逃需要大家一起合作，反而更容易變熟。 Qīngqīng: Bú huì la! Wán mìshì tuōtáo xūyào dàjiā yìqǐ hézuò, fǎn’ér gèng róngyì
RSS