Throughout much of the 1960's and 70's there were major wars raging in Thailand's neighbors, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. As a result of these wars agricultural production dropped severely in those countries. Bullets, bombs and land mines make it a bit difficult for farmers to till their fields and plant their crops. In Thailand, however, there were only minor skirmishes in some remote jungle areas, leaving most of the Thai agricultural sector to benefit economically from the losses incurred across the border. Thai-grown rice shot up in value as Lao consumers just across the border looked towards their war-free neighbor for the staple food item.
A corrugated tin wall shrouds most of the facade of the old Sri Pathana Theater, obscuring what was once the lone theater serving the surrounding 5 villages in rural Chiang Rai.
Soon after the war ended in 1975 rice prices began to level off in Thailand. As agricultural production resumed in Laos, diplomatic relations between the two countries were cut and exports to Laos from Thailand ceased, Thai rice was in less demand. Meanwhile, that enterprising family from Pa Sak Noi, enriched during the war years through their rice transport business, rolled their profits into the entertainment industry. The Sri Pathana Theater was born.
Looking at the facade, into the lobby. The greenish box in the corner was the ticket booth.
A poster for the Thai film "Chui Chai" still lingers in the lobby.
Pictures of the king and queen hang at the top of the lobby, above the door. The staircase led to balcony-level seating, the projection booth and the sound room, where live dubbers, sent by the film distribution company, would perform the voices for foreign movies.
Most of this theater was made of wood, which poses a contradiction to something I was told a few weeks ago. A former theater owner in Nong Khai (see post "Thai movie theater history 101" from 4/21/09 for more details) explained that the Thai government outlawed wooden theaters in the late 1960's, citing them as fire hazards. The Sri Pathana, however, was built in 1978. Chaweewa, the owner, said she had never heard of that law. A trip to the local university library should put an end to this issue.
Through the door and into the auditorium!
The Sri Pathana was small, but they would manage to squeeze as many as 700 viewers in at one time for more popular movies. The entry fee was one baht in the early years of the theater. 
The lower walls of the auditorium were made of brick and cement, while the upper part was wood. Notice the strings hanging down from the widows so that they could be opened for ventilation.
Fan vent and the remains of old posters inside the auditorium.
Poster for "Bruce Li in New Guinea," glued to the wall.
Old wall fan, out of its natural habitat.
This is Chaweewa pictured above. Her memory of past events and her kindness in sharing them made for one of the most insightful experiences I've had since I started searching for old theaters. Her stories helped shed new light on a number of issues which I otherwise would never have picked up on. Chaweewa and her husband truly were agents of change, to use the anthropological term.
From cinema to karaoke hall, the Dok Kham Tai Rama Theater is testament to the evolution of entertainment in this corner of the world. While the operational costs for theaters like this outweigh the profits, there is money to be made in Karaoke - a more interactive and stimulating past-time than film for the average person of today.
A twenty minute bus ride from Payao city will bring you to the suburb of Dok Kham Tai; an unassuming little town, which culminates aesthetically in a tree lined canal that snakes through its center. Sound interesting? Well it's really not. I couldn't think of a more perfect example of how our love for conveniences (the home entertainment center) detracts from our cities and towns (no more movie theater). For Dok Kham Tai, it's the difference between having and not having a cultural venue. These are the things that add spice to life.
The lifeless auditorium, in the past one of Dok Kham Tai's most important social spaces, now all but forgotten by a culture-less town.
This was the first time I've encountered a projector still in the theater. Generally they are sold off along with the sound system and seats. The label on the back says Peerless, but apparently the Peerless company, based in Melrose Park, Illinois in the USA, only manufactures projector mounts and related equipment, not projectors themselves. Whatever make and model the projector is, it's at least 20 years old, as that's when the theater closed down.
I'm guessing that this projector is actually much older than 20 years. If you look in the opening you can see that it required a carbon rod for its light source. I'm no expert, but I don't think that style of projection is used much anymore.
Despite its grandiosity, the Meuang Thong Rama only had 800 seats, significantly fewer than some of the smaller theaters in Thailand, though it was ostensibly built with a mind towards the comfort of the theater patron, not how many of them could be squeezed in.
The Meuang Thong Rama Theater was completed and in opened in 1975. Soon thereafter, Payao city's only other theater - the Payao Rama (see two posts prior for more details) - closed its doors, yielding to the modern comforts provided by the Meaung Thong Rama.
The Meuang Thong Rama Theater is now owned by Kongsak Taranisorn (pictured above), but it was the brainchild of Kongsak's father, who designed and built it with the intentions of creating the best theater that money could buy. His dream was realized and for many years the Meuang Thong Rama was the province's premiere movie theater. Its large size, however, eventually contributed to its demise, as electricity costs for such a megalith began to exceed revenue, and audiences opted for the convenience of home viewing over the big screen.
Choose between the rustic Pua Rama Theater....
...the stately Mansruang Theater...
...the simple yet handsome Wiang Mai...
...the trilingual Viang Samay...
...the faded, but still charming Thepbanterng Theater...
...the dazzling Peth Siam...
...the perennially classic Laochaleun..
...the subtly attractive Peth Rama...
..the very green Hong Rama, from Sokhothai, Thailand...
...the worn down, yet imposing Vista Theater...
...the colossus of Udon, the Amporn...
...the exotic Bua Savan, from Vientiane, Laos...
...the very 1950's Chalermradna Theater, another Udon giant...
...the always inspiring Amarin...
...the plain but nice Rasopsuk Ram Theater...
Cinema has not been completely eliminated from the list of things to do in Payao city. Thanks to the Thana company, the Payao Rama Theater, a city staple for at least 40 years - 50 by one account - continues to show movies. But that wasn't always the case. In the mid-70's a second, even larger theater opened up in town and put the Payao Rama out of business. It remained vacant until the second theater itself closed down 6 years ago. Then the Thana company, seeing a niche that needed filling, bought the Payao Rama, rehabbed it and gave it a second life as the Thana Cineplax.
Built at a 45 degree angle from the street, the old Payao Rama is the lone place to watch a film on teh big screen in the entire province of Payao at the moment. 
Original signage pivoted at a 45 degree angle from the rest of the building to face the street.
Thana has done a great job with this old theater. The interior was tastefully remodeled in the last five years, complete with comfy reclining seats, a new sound system and top-notch projection. The lobby looks like it's likewise had a makeover.
Posters for upcoming films
View of the lobby just before showtime. 
Night shot of lobby
The lobby after the movie let out and all the customers had gone home. I like this photo a lot.