Copied as received....on WhatsApp
A one pound loaf of bread was 34 cents, an egg was 25 cents, beef was 1.50 a pound, cigarettes were 10 cents per stick. Aerated waters were in the 10-25 cents range. Locally made strong drinks were less than Rs. 10 a bottle, beers were in the 2/- 5 /- range.
The bus fare from Dehiwela to Mount Lavinia was 5 cents for the ½ ticket. The air fare Colombo to Jaffna was 110/-. A seat in the airconditioned coach of the Yal Devi train was similarly priced.
A good (very) pair of shoes was about 100/- today rubber slippers can be more than this.
G.C. Roche imported Globe butter (then in paper wrappers) after the IMPORT BAN this was not available and there was a bland apology for a table spread Blue Brand which got nicknamed Blue Bland.
Party Catering was just a phone call away with Cyril Rodrigos (Pagoda Tea Room), Fountain Café, Elephant House, Joe Wallace, Thegis Appuhamy, they had to be informed; of persons, children and adults, cultural and religious meal restrictions of the gathering uniformed waiters would be sent with the correct selection of food and drink in the correct quantities and service requisites.
There were no 3 wheeler TUKS then, taxis were Morris Minors with their hiring car registration numbers in red on a white background the meters were electro mechanical devices branded Halda or Argo, the first’ section’ was 50 cents probably for ½ mile after which the meter clicked rapidly in further 10 cent multiples. Quickshaws had a radio monitored taxi service with a fleet of Renault 4 CV cars. Towards the end of the 1960s taxis were black with a yellow roof.
The air-conditioned cinemas were the Liberty, Majestic, Regal (before 1928 it was known as the Empire Picture Palace), Empire Theatre which was the Public Hall, the Rio and the Savoy. The New Olympia had a ‘temperamental’ central air-conditioner halfway through the show it was ‘Central Heating’.
Cinemas had shows at 10.30am 2.30pm 6.30pm and 9.30pm, The 9.30pm screening usually finished around midnight, but there was a CTB bus service available to go home to any suburban destination.
The introduction of television in the late 1970s diminished cinema patronizing. Admission tickets were structured Rs.4.50 for the Balcony seats, ODC was 3.50,
DC (Dress Circle) was 2.50, there was another class at 1.50 and the Gallery was 50 cents popular with ‘the working class’ Smoking was allowed there were many advertisements for cigarettes and drinks on screen (very much ’taboo’ today. If arranged with the bar and the row/ seat number given a waiter would bring your drink to the seat. The vernacular expression for cinema going was going to the ‘bio-scope’
The Colombo Gas and Water Company had their Gasworks in central Pettah. A ‘piped gas network supplied gas to street lights and some residences for cooking.
This system was referred to as TOWN GAS. There were gas meters in homes which were read monthly and a bill issued.
The big school laboratories were also supplied with Town Gas.
Another feature seen upto the 1960s was that of the PETITION WRITER, These persons operated outside Court houses and Kachcheries on folding stools with a portable typewriter on their lap typing letters.
In the ‘first wave’ of NATIONALIZATION in the early 1960s the Insurance companies along with the oil companies and schools were TAKEN OVER.
Import controls and a subsequent IMPORT BAN were enforced. There was mass RETRENCHMENT, some big stores CLOSED DOWN It was impossible to obtain an imported item unless from an overseas traveler, or an Embassy auction. This situation prevailed until imports were liberalized in the late 1970s.
Refrigerators were kerosene oil operated Ammonia gas heat exchange process type. Electric ‘fridges’ were introduced later. The brands noticed were Electrolux, GEC, Kelvinator ‘.
Leonard. Fridges were usually placed in the living rooms of Ceylonese households in view as a status symbol. Air conditioners were rarely seen in homes, other than in Embassies and foreigner occupied houses. the makes noticed were Carrier, Admiral , Hotpoint, Fridgidaire.
Horse Racing was a popular past – time.
Golf was played in many courses, Anderson Golf Links near Narahenpita, the flats stand here. Where the BMICH stands today was the Havelock Golf Links at one time known as Victoria Golf Links. The Ridgway Golf Links /Royal Colombo Golf Club still exists at a location in the Borella area.
Book Stores of days gone by were;
CAVES, MC CALLUMS, LAKE HOUSE, K.V.G. DE SILVA, M.D. GUNASENA, DANIELS, ZUBHAIR MAKEEN, and the Department Stores had specialized ‘book departments’.
Most family run pharmacies, grocers’ and wine shops were initially established and run by the Baratha community, Gomez, Paiva, Fernando (not Pranandhu), Alvarez(Kalutara) Gonsal (Kurunegala), Pinto, Costa, De Croos, Silvera, Morais.
Architects of yesteryear were; Geoffrey Bawa,(Edward Red & Begg) J.C. Nilgiriya, Homi Billimoria, Leon Monk, Ulrik Plessner.
Legal ‘Eagles’ were; G.G. Ponnambalam, Colvin R de Silva, H.V. Perera, H. H. Basnayake, Mervyn St. S. Casie Chetty, Herbert Wanigatunga N.K. Choksy, K. Shinya, R.L. Perera and the firms of Julius &Creasey, F.J. & G de Saram, D.L.& F De Saram
Chartered Accountants’ firms were; Ford Rhodes & Thornton, Duncan Watkins later evolved as Turquand Youngs, Cecil Arsecularatne, Carter de Costa, Pope & Co,. Alles Martin, Burah & Hathy.
Clocks and watches were sold and serviced by K. Don Willies, W.A.de Silvas , Wimaladharma Brothers and David Pereras.
The establishments for furniture were, Anglo Oriental (Colombo Apothecaries), Don Carolis, Decarnes, Broughams, Ceylon Furnishing House associated with J. Botticelli.
Engineering firms were Walkers, Browns, Colombo Commercials, Hoare & Co, Hayley & Kenny, Parakrama Engineers, Jinsena Foundry, The GOVERNMENT FACTORY, Walker & Greig, D.K. Mody, Fentons, Hendersons
Opticians were COLOMBO OPTICAL SERVICES on Upper Chatham Street later known as Eric Rajapakshe., Albert Edirisinghe’s, Colombo Apothecaries, William Pedris
The recognized hotels were the Grand Oriental, Galle Face, Bristol, Mount Lavinia, in Kandy Queens and Suisse, in Nuwara Eliya, the Grand (in the early 1960s a room was Rs.37.50) and St.Andrews, New Oriental Galle and some of the better Rest Houses.
A telephone call required dialing 0 to get the OPERATOR. If it was an ‘OUT OF AREA’ CALL the Operator would indicate how long the connection would take to complete due to the queue of waiting call requests & it was usual to be told 3 hours a situation today which would invite a ‘maternal reference.’ Old telephone switchboards were of heavy wood construction with jacks and inlet input sockets which the operator manually ‘fed ‘ in and out, later there were more ‘user friendly triggers’ .
The Lower Middle Class and the Middle Class experienced a better way of life when compared with today’s standards.
A one pound loaf of bread was 34 cents, an egg was 25 cents, beef was 1.50 a pound, cigarettes were 10 cents per stick. Aerated waters were in the 10-25 cents range. Locally made strong drinks were less than Rs. 10 a bottle, beers were in the 2/- 5 /- range.
The bus fare from Dehiwela to Mount Lavinia was 5 cents for the ½ ticket. The air fare Colombo to Jaffna was 110/-. A seat in the airconditioned coach of the Yal Devi train was similarly priced.
A good (very) pair of shoes was about 100/- today rubber slippers can be more than this.
G.C. Roche imported Globe butter (then in paper wrappers) after the IMPORT BAN this was not available and there was a bland apology for a table spread Blue Brand which got nicknamed Blue Bland.
Party Catering was just a phone call away with Cyril Rodrigos (Pagoda Tea Room), Fountain Café, Elephant House, Joe Wallace, Thegis Appuhamy, they had to be informed; of persons, children and adults, cultural and religious meal restrictions of the gathering uniformed waiters would be sent with the correct selection of food and drink in the correct quantities and service requisites.
There were no 3 wheeler TUKS then, taxis were Morris Minors with their hiring car registration numbers in red on a white background the meters were electro mechanical devices branded Halda or Argo, the first’ section’ was 50 cents probably for ½ mile after which the meter clicked rapidly in further 10 cent multiples. Quickshaws had a radio monitored taxi service with a fleet of Renault 4 CV cars. Towards the end of the 1960s taxis were black with a yellow roof.
The air-conditioned cinemas were the Liberty, Majestic, Regal (before 1928 it was known as the Empire Picture Palace), Empire Theatre which was the Public Hall, the Rio and the Savoy. The New Olympia had a ‘temperamental’ central air-conditioner halfway through the show it was ‘Central Heating’.
Cinemas had shows at 10.30am 2.30pm 6.30pm and 9.30pm, The 9.30pm screening usually finished around midnight, but there was a CTB bus service available to go home to any suburban destination.
The introduction of television in the late 1970s diminished cinema patronizing. Admission tickets were structured Rs.4.50 for the Balcony seats, ODC was 3.50,
DC (Dress Circle) was 2.50, there was another class at 1.50 and the Gallery was 50 cents popular with ‘the working class’ Smoking was allowed there were many advertisements for cigarettes and drinks on screen (very much ’taboo’ today. If arranged with the bar and the row/ seat number given a waiter would bring your drink to the seat. The vernacular expression for cinema going was going to the ‘bio-scope’
The Colombo Gas and Water Company had their Gasworks in central Pettah. A ‘piped gas network supplied gas to street lights and some residences for cooking.
This system was referred to as TOWN GAS. There were gas meters in homes which were read monthly and a bill issued.
The big school laboratories were also supplied with Town Gas.
Another feature seen upto the 1960s was that of the PETITION WRITER, These persons operated outside Court houses and Kachcheries on folding stools with a portable typewriter on their lap typing letters.
In the ‘first wave’ of NATIONALIZATION in the early 1960s the Insurance companies along with the oil companies and schools were TAKEN OVER.
Import controls and a subsequent IMPORT BAN were enforced. There was mass RETRENCHMENT, some big stores CLOSED DOWN It was impossible to obtain an imported item unless from an overseas traveler, or an Embassy auction. This situation prevailed until imports were liberalized in the late 1970s.
Refrigerators were kerosene oil operated Ammonia gas heat exchange process type. Electric ‘fridges’ were introduced later. The brands noticed were Electrolux, GEC, Kelvinator ‘.
Leonard. Fridges were usually placed in the living rooms of Ceylonese households in view as a status symbol. Air conditioners were rarely seen in homes, other than in Embassies and foreigner occupied houses. the makes noticed were Carrier, Admiral , Hotpoint, Fridgidaire.
Horse Racing was a popular past – time.
Golf was played in many courses, Anderson Golf Links near Narahenpita, the flats stand here. Where the BMICH stands today was the Havelock Golf Links at one time known as Victoria Golf Links. The Ridgway Golf Links /Royal Colombo Golf Club still exists at a location in the Borella area.
Book Stores of days gone by were;
CAVES, MC CALLUMS, LAKE HOUSE, K.V.G. DE SILVA, M.D. GUNASENA, DANIELS, ZUBHAIR MAKEEN, and the Department Stores had specialized ‘book departments’.
Most family run pharmacies, grocers’ and wine shops were initially established and run by the Baratha community, Gomez, Paiva, Fernando (not Pranandhu), Alvarez(Kalutara) Gonsal (Kurunegala), Pinto, Costa, De Croos, Silvera, Morais.
Architects of yesteryear were; Geoffrey Bawa,(Edward Red & Begg) J.C. Nilgiriya, Homi Billimoria, Leon Monk, Ulrik Plessner.
Legal ‘Eagles’ were; G.G. Ponnambalam, Colvin R de Silva, H.V. Perera, H. H. Basnayake, Mervyn St. S. Casie Chetty, Herbert Wanigatunga N.K. Choksy, K. Shinya, R.L. Perera and the firms of Julius &Creasey, F.J. & G de Saram, D.L.& F De Saram
Chartered Accountants’ firms were; Ford Rhodes & Thornton, Duncan Watkins later evolved as Turquand Youngs, Cecil Arsecularatne, Carter de Costa, Pope & Co,. Alles Martin, Burah & Hathy.
Clocks and watches were sold and serviced by K. Don Willies, W.A.de Silvas , Wimaladharma Brothers and David Pereras.
The establishments for furniture were, Anglo Oriental (Colombo Apothecaries), Don Carolis, Decarnes, Broughams, Ceylon Furnishing House associated with J. Botticelli.
Engineering firms were Walkers, Browns, Colombo Commercials, Hoare & Co, Hayley & Kenny, Parakrama Engineers, Jinsena Foundry, The GOVERNMENT FACTORY, Walker & Greig, D.K. Mody, Fentons, Hendersons
Opticians were COLOMBO OPTICAL SERVICES on Upper Chatham Street later known as Eric Rajapakshe., Albert Edirisinghe’s, Colombo Apothecaries, William Pedris
The recognized hotels were the Grand Oriental, Galle Face, Bristol, Mount Lavinia, in Kandy Queens and Suisse, in Nuwara Eliya, the Grand (in the early 1960s a room was Rs.37.50) and St.Andrews, New Oriental Galle and some of the better Rest Houses.
A telephone call required dialing 0 to get the OPERATOR. If it was an ‘OUT OF AREA’ CALL the Operator would indicate how long the connection would take to complete due to the queue of waiting call requests & it was usual to be told 3 hours a situation today which would invite a ‘maternal reference.’ Old telephone switchboards were of heavy wood construction with jacks and inlet input sockets which the operator manually ‘fed ‘ in and out, later there were more ‘user friendly triggers’ .
The Lower Middle Class and the Middle Class experienced a better way of life when compared with today’s standards.
