Ooty gets antique cine equipment museum

The ‘Assems Cine Museum’ at Assembly Rooms, constructed almost 150 years ago was thrown open to the public by the Nilgiris District Collector Innocent Divya on Wednesday. Among the displays are two German-made Bauer B6 film projectors that used in the 1950s. “The museum will help the young generation know about the old equipment that were used in a theatre, said the Collector.

Considered to be a pride of the hills, the museum has on display antique pieces used in the theatre at Assembly Rooms. Most of the equipment are still in good working condition.

Many actors and popular personalities have watched films here in the past. From Indian film personalities like Amitabh Bachchan to Hollywood actor Hugh Griffith of Ben Hur fame had visited the theatre.

Called Misquith’s Rooms in the past, the Assembly Rooms acquired its current name in 1886. The ancient building owned initially by Tonga Browne was actually operating tonga services between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam. It was later taken over by Lady Willingdon in the 1920’s and dedicated to the public.

Past records reveal that the building was used to host cultural events and drama. With the passage of time, the building had gone through periodical renovations, while the Bauer B6 projectors were replaced with advanced digital equipment.

Now, these antique pieces have been preserved in the museum for posterity. District Collector Innocent Divya, who declared open the museum, said that it would be a feather in the cap of the Queen of the Hills.