Loke Wan Tho is an eminent name in the cinema and business world. A successful businessman, cinema magnate and an esteemed philanthropist, he had a great love for birds. His great collection of photographs as an ornithologist have been published in Angkor and the Khmers, a book by MacDonald, published by the Oxford University Press in the year 1987.
Loke Wan Tho, the founder of the Cathay Cinema and the Motion Picture and General Investments Limited, was born on the 14th of June 1914. Well known as the cinema magnate of Malaysia, Loke Wan Tho was also an ornithologists and philanthropist.
Early Life of Loke Wan Tho
Born to the family of a millionaire father, Loke Wan Tho was the ninth child of Towkay Loke Yew. He completed his early education from the old Victoria Institution, which was founded by the British to educate the Chinese boys and Loke wan Tho’s father was a trustee of the school. Later due to health problems, Loke Wan Tho joined the Chillon College in Switzerland. A bright student, Loke Wan Tho excelled in his studies and sports. He was the captain for the soccer team of the school and was also titled Chillon’s Victor Ludorum. During his school days, Loke Wan Tho won several awards and set several records.
Loke Wan Tho pursued his higher education from the King’s College of Cambridge University. He passed his graduation with English Literature and History in the year 1936. He then joined the London School of Economics and after completing his education from there, Loke Wan Tho returned to Malaysia in the year 1939.
Entrepreneur Loke Wan Tho
Realizing the big responsibility on his young shoulder, Loke Wan Tho, now started towards his career. He aimed to expand the company, Associated Theaters Ltd, which had been started by his mother in 1935. Loke Wan Tho built the Cathay cinema in Singapore and the Pavilion Cinema in Kuala Lumpur and with the growth of his cinema work, in the year 1959 the present Associated Theaters Ltd was renamed as the Cathay Organization. In this time period Loke Wan Tho, had created a number of classic Malay films including Orang Minyak, Pontianak, Hang Tuah, Bawang Merah, Hang Jebat and Bawang Puteh.
In the year 1955, he purchased the Yung Hwa Studio of Honk Kong and started the production of Chinese films that would be put up in all his theaters, established in Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and Borneo. This made the Cathay stars famous not only in Borneo, Bangkok
Singapore and Malaysia but also all over Indochina,
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Thailand, Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Sarawak.
A popular brand in the world of Chinese and Malay cinema, Loke Wan Tho’s Cathy Organization did not only make films but also ran a chain of hotels and restaurants in Singapore and Fiji. Apart from this Loke Wan Tho had also nurtured his fathers business and owned rubber, palm oil and coconut plantations in Malaysia.
Professional Achievements of Loke Wan Tho
A well-known name in the business world, Loke Wan Tho earned a lot of fame and served at a high post in various other companies. With his immense knowledge, talent and business sense, Loke Wan Tho was served as the chairman of the Malayan Airways Ltd, Malayan Banking and Singapore Telephone Board. He also enjoyed office as one of the board of directors for Kwong Yik Bank, H A O'Connors Ltd, Wearne Brothers, Straits Steamship Co Ltd, Sime Darby, Great Eastern Life, and Rediffusion Ltd (Singapore).
Loke Wan Tho the Philanthropist
A philanthropist like his father, Loke wan Tho made several contribution for the betterment and upliftment of the society. He made generous charity for the development of institutions, helping disadvantaged aspiring students and artists. He made great financial contribution towards the promulgation of scientific and research works and actively participated in the same. Loke Wan Tho always rendered help in all forms that could help the society and people grow and achieve their goals.
Loke Wan Tho the Ornithologist
Loke wan Tho was a great bird lover. His love for birds could be seen in his fine photography. He contributed a lot towards the preservation of birds and as an ornithologist served several organizations working for the promotion and preservation of birds and Nature. In the year 1962, he participated as the Malayan delegate to the Conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the First World Conference on National Parks at Seattle. He was the proud member of the British Ornithologists' Union, the International Council for Bird Preservation and the British Wildfowl Trust. He was also a member of the Royal Photographic Society and the Photographic Society of America.
A great cinema maker, an exceptional photographer, a bird lover, philanthropist and a name in the business world, Loke wan Tho met with an air crash in Taiwan. He died on June 20, 1964, but is still remembered for his immense contribution to the society.
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