SHANGHAI is once again a trend-setter in the entertainment industry, as it was in the early 1920s, when it had already become a heaven for movie-goers.

The operation of cinema chains in the city had become quite mature and reached the latest international practice.

"The cinema chains were clearly categorized into three major types, same as today," said Camille Lok, a 75-year-old retired editor who was among the older generation of film buffs.

"If my memory isn't betraying me, the most expensive theatre in the 1930s was the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the average price of each ticket might have been more than 50 yuan (US$6) in today's money."

Lok explained the reason for the theatre being so expensive - it was situated in the most extravagant entertainment venue in the city and in addition to its state-of-the-art facilities, the service was superb.

Lok recalled: "Wow, they had a few charming Byelorussian ushers who sometimes dressed in Chinese Cheongsam."

Lok's words were earnestly echoed by Ren Rongrong, a famous fairytale writer, now in his eighties.

"My first experience of putting on my 'Sunday-best' was inevitably related to the Grand Theatre," he said.

At that time, Ren was only a high school boy with little pocket money, nevertheless, he devoted most of his money to his hobby: going to the movies.

Due to the price, Ren usually could only afford tickets for the ground floor of the theatre on most occasions and seldom went upstairs to the balcony.

But once, when tickets for the seats downstairs had sold out, Ren was determined to see the movie and bought a ticket for the balcony for 6 Jiao Da Yang (0.6 yuan).

In anticipation of meeting the Byelorussian ushers and appearing his best, Ren bought his first suit and went to the movie.

After the first rank of the "super cine-line" came the second group, which also screened Hollywood movies, but with a time lag.

Lok recounted his happy experience at the Carlton Theatre watching "Gone with the Wind". Ticket sales went crazy, it was impossible to obtain a ticket in the super cine-line, so many turned to the secondary line.

When the subtitles appeared, marking the beginning of the movie, many couldn't hide their excitement, reading aloud with simultaneous rhythm "GONE-WITH-..."

Lok said with a naughty smile: "I was one of them."

Just as Vivian Leigh is the Cinderella for boys, for girls, Gregory Peck was prince charming.

The writer Cheng Naishan said: "One major criterion for a die-hard fan was whether she could properly pronounce Peck's English name."