This was the site of one of three cinemas in the capital built in 1953. Called the New Boon Pang Theatre, it was established after the Boon Pang Cinema built in 1939 met with an unfortunately explosive end during the First World War.
Many Malaysian films were featured in this single screen cinema. But on the 23rd October 1968, it was the first cinema to feature the first Bruneian film ever produced, Gema Dari Menara, which translates to Echoes of the Minaret. The New Boon Pang Theatre has long been demolished and the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Headquarters now takes its place.
