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  Sala Chaleum Krung

 

Thailand

Sala Chaleum Krung Royal Theatre in Bangkok. At the time of its opening in 1933, the neon lights on top of the facade allegedly were the largest in Asia.

 

It is located on Charoen Krung Road and originally opened as a movie theatre, yet today it hosts performances of Khon, i.e. classical Thai dance (fig.).

 

  Sala Chaleum Krung

 

  Sala Chaleum Krung

 

The theatre was built as part of the 1932 celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and was financed by King Rama VII, who was himself a passionate film pioneer and enthusiast (fig.).

 

Therefore, in reverence of and in reference to King Rama VII, an adaptation of his royal seal is incorporated in the  theatre's lobby. His seal, a rack with three horizontal arrows (fig.) known as Prajadhipok Saktitejana, is displayed at the lobby's bar in the form of three interlaced rings with three arrows, a design also integrated in the window lattices, in which the thicker bars represent the three arrows.

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