Loke Wan Tho

Loke Wan Tho (陆运涛) (Dato) (b. 14 June 1915,¹ Kuala Lumpur, Malaya–d. 20 June 1964, Taichung, Taiwan) was a prominent film entrepreneur who built up Cathay Organisation and established Cathay cinema.² He was the first board chairman of the National Library,³ and the first Asian chairman of Malayan Airways (later renamed Malaysian Airways).⁴ He died in a plane crash on 20 June 1964.⁵

Early life
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, Loke was one of the three children of business tycoon Loke Yew and his fourth wife, Lim Cheng Kim. The elder Loke passed away in 1917, when Loke was two years old.⁶ Loke’s early education took place at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur.⁷ For the sake of Loke’s weak health, his mother brought him and his two sisters, Yuen Theng and Yuen Peng to Switzerland at the recommendation of their family doctor.⁸ He studied at Chillion College in Montreux, Switzerland (1929–33),⁹ and then read English literature and history at King’s College, Cambridge (1933–36). After graduating in 1936, Loke spent a year at the London School of Economics.¹⁰ He participated actively in sports while studying, and represented his schools in football, long jump and badminton.¹¹ He was the school athletics champion at Chillion College, a long jump champion in the United Kingdom and the badminton singles champion at the London School of Economics.¹² He was also well known for his keen interest in photography and ornithology, which are captured in two publications, Angkor (1958; later republished as Angkor and the Khmers¹³), to which he contributed photos,¹⁴ and A Company of Birds (1958).¹⁵

Loke returned to Singapore when World War II broke out.¹⁶ At the onset of the war, he tried to flee to Indonesia on board the Nora Moller, but the ship was bombed and sunk.¹⁷ Loke sustained serious injuries to his skin and eyes, and was rescued by an Australian cruiser.¹⁸ He left for India after he recovered, as Jakarta seemed set to be occupied by the Japanese.¹⁹ The time spent recuperating at an Indian hospital had a catalytic effect on Loke. Not only did he learn how the poor lived, he also realised how little he knew of his father’s business. As a result, he resolved to learn business upon his return to Malaya. It was also in India that he made the acquaintance of an Indian ornithologist, Salim Ali, with whom he scoured the countryside for birds.²⁰

Film entrepreneur
After the Japanese Occupation (1942–45), Loke rebuilt the film business that his family had been involved in before the war.²¹ On 18 July 1935, Loke, together with his mother, a relative, Khoo Teik Ee and Max Baker, founded Associated Theatres Limited in Kuala Lumpur.²² As Loke was still studying in England, the business was overseen by Khoo.²³ The latter’s untimely death in 1953 left Loke to take on the role of chairman of several companies.²⁴

Cathay was the first major cinema to resume operations after the war, with screenings of Desert Victory on 23 September 1945.²⁵ In 1947, Loke travelled to the United States and England with his wife and mother in search of new facilities and equipment for his theatres. He later inked a deal with Rank Organisation in 1947 to transfer 35 percent of the shares in Associated Theatres to Rank’s subsidiary, Overseas Cinematograph Theatres. In December 1947, Loke formed Caravan Films to send mobile film units to screen movies in Malayan estates and villages.²⁶ April 1948 saw the acquisition of theatres in Penang and the formation of International Theatres Ltd, giving Loke and Rank access to 19 cinemas. Under his stewardship, Loke expanded his chain of cinemas in 1948 to places such as Penang, Thailand and Borneo.²⁷

By the 1950s, Loke was set to expand the film markets in Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Brunei.²⁸ He set up studios to produce films for his cinema chain – Cathay-Keris Studio produced Malay films, and Yung Hwa Studio focused on Chinese films.²⁹ He placed all the family’s cinemas, which then comprised Associated Theatres, Loke Theatres and International Theatres, under the Cathay banner in 1959.³⁰ Cathay in the 1950s and the early ’60s was regarded as a powerful film empire, with Loke as the main driver.³¹

Death
However, Loke’s life was prematurely terminated on 20 June 1964 when the plane carrying him and his wife crashed shortly after leaving Taichung, Taiwan.³² The two had attended the 11th Asian Film Festival in Taipei days before the tragedy.³³ His untimely death was a shock to the region.³⁴

Social contributions
Apart from his film business, Loke was also active in other fields and social causes.³⁵ Loke contributed a collection of 99 paintings and sketches by local artists to the National Museum. Known as the Dato Loke Wan Tho Collection of Paintings, an exhibition of the pieces was held in 1962.³⁶ In addition to being chairman of Cathay Organisation and Malayan Banking³⁷ at the time of his death, Loke had also been the chairman of Malaysian Airways (previously known as Malayan Airways) since 1959 – the first Asian appointed to that position.³⁸ He was first chairman of the newly formed National Library from 1960 until his death.³⁹ He was awarded the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) posthumously in 1965 for his public service as chairman of the National Library and of Malaysian Airways, among others.⁴⁰

After his death, his mother purchased and donated the Gibson-Hill Collection to the National Library in June 1965, in accordance with Loke’s wishes.⁴¹ Mrs Loke and her two daughters also donated $100,000, Loke’s reference books, photographs and tape recordings of birds towards the establishment of the Loke Wan Tho Memorial Library at Jurong Bird Park, which was launched on 4 February 1972.⁴²

Family⁴³
Father: Loke Yew
Mother: Lim Cheng Kim
Stepbrothers: Wan Piu, Wan Chok, Wan Chiew, Hon Chow, Wan Yat, Wan Wye (Alan)
Stepsisters: Yuen Hing and Yuen Ying
Sisters: Yuen Theng (Mrs Choo Kok Leong), Yuen Peng (Lady Percy McNeice)
Wife: Loke was married thrice.⁴⁴ His second wife was Christina Lee (m. 1950–1962⁴⁵) and his third, Mavis Chew (m. 1963–d. 1964⁴⁶).



Authors
Michael Mukunthan & Joanna HS Tan



References
1. John Victor Morais, The Who’s Who in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur: Solai Press, 1963), [n.p.]. (Call no. RCLOS 920.0595 WWM)
2. Lim, Kay Tong, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema (Singapore: Landmark Books, 1991), 1–29. (Call no. RSING 791.43095957 LIM)
3. “Loke Is Library Chairman,” Straits Times, 17 December 1960, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
4. “Mainly People,” Singapore Free Press, 17 September 1959, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
5. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 3.
6. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 12.
7. Victor Sim, ed., Biographies of Prominent Chinese in Singapore (Singapore: Nan Kok Pub, 1950), 11. (Call no. RCLOS 920.05957 SIM)
8. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 12; Singapore Chronicles: A Special Commemorative History of Singapore (Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine, 1995), 127. (Call no. RSING 959.57 SIN-[HIS])
9. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 12; Singapore Chronicles: A Special Commemorative History of Singapore, 127.
10. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 12; Singapore Chronicles: A Special Commemorative History of Singapore, 127.
11. Sim, Biographies of Prominent Chinese in Singapore, 11; Ian Mok-Ai, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour,” Singapore Free Press, 25 November, 1960, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
12. Sim, Biographies of Prominent Chinese in Singapore, 11.
13. Malcolm Macdonald, Angkor and the Khmers (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1987). (From PublicationSG)
14. Malcolm Macdonald, Angkor (London: Cape, 1958). (Call no. RCLOS 959.6 MAC)
15. Sim, Biographies of Prominent Chinese in Singapore, 11; Loke Wan Tho, A Company of Birds (London: M. Joseph, 1958). (Call no. RCLOS 598.295 LOK-[GBH])
16. Ian, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour.”
17. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 16; Ian, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour”; Singapore Chronicles: A Special Commemorative History of Singapore, 128.
18. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 16; Ian, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour.”
19. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 16.
20. Ian, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour.”
21. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 12–22.
22. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 14.
23. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 14.
24. “Rubber Producers Are Badly Hit by Deaths in Comet Crash,” Straits Times, 6 May 1953, 4; Ian, “Behind the Veil of Vast Wealth Lies an Artistic, Lonely Man With Sense of Humour.”
25. “Film Shows Again,” Straits Times, 24 September 1945, 2. (From NewspaperSG)
26. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 21.
27. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 22.
28. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 22.
29. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 27.
30. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 22; “Cathay’s Dream Comes True,” Business Times, 21 April 1999, 16. (From NewspaperSG)
31. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 27.
32. “Error by Pilot Is Blamed for Loke Crash,” Straits Times, 4 November 1964, 18. (From NewspaperSG)
33. “Film Stars for Taipeh,” Straits Times, 13 June 1964, 24; “Dato Loke to Be Buried in Family Plot in Capital,” Straits Times, 23 June 1964, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
34. “King Cables 'Sincere Condolences',” Straits Times, 22 June 1964, 1; “Leaders Shocked at Death of Loke,” Straits Times, 22 June 1964, 9. (From NewspaperSG)
35. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 6.
36. “A Display by Local Artists,” Straits Times, 30 July 1962, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
37. “Loke Joins Board of Malayan Banking Ltd,” Straits Times, 25 August 1962, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
38. “Mainly People.” 
39. “Loke Is Library Chairman”; “Gift of Rare Books to Library,”
40. “A Posthumous Award,” Straits Times, 15 November 1965, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
41. “Gibson-Hill Collection,” National Library Board, accessed 1 August 2016.  
42. “Tribute to Bird Lover Loke,” Straits Times, 5 February 1972, 19; “Loke Wan Tho library To Open on Feb 4,” Straits Times, 22 January 1972, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
43. “Lu you boshi” 陆佑博士 [Dr Loke Yew], in Ma lai ya gu gang zhou liu yi zong hui tekan马来亚古冈州六邑总会特刊 [Special issue of the Liuyi Association of Malaya Gugang State] (槟城, 马来西亚: 马来亚古冈州六邑总会, 1964), 52 (Call no. Chinese RCLOS q369.2595 MLY)
44. Lim, Cathay: 55 Years of Cinema, 3
45. “Yesterday’s S’pore Wedding,” Straits Times, 17 March 1950, 7; “Loke Divorce Case,” Straits Times, 5 April 1961, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
46. “Dato Loke Weds Quietly in London,” Straits Times, 30 September 1963, 5; “London wedding for Dato Loke,” Straits Times, 6 September 1963, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

Further resources
“$3,000 (A Month) for Mrs. Loke,” Straits Times, 24 May 1961, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“Artist's Pictures of the Interior,” Straits Times, 9 April 1939, 32. (From NewspaperSG)

“Celebrating 60 Years of Entertainment History,” Straits Times, 17 July 1994, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“Dato Loke Greets Bride at Airport With Kisses,” Straits Times, 18 Octoebr 1963, 11. (From NewspaperSG)

“Dato Loke Weds Quietly in London,” Straits Times, 30 September 1963, 5. (From NewspaperSG)

“From Dato Loke to Christina a Cheque for $800,000,” 23 May 1962, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“Inside Singapore's Newest Cinema Opens On Tuesday,” Straits Times, 1 October 1939, 20. (From NewspaperSG)

Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice, oral history interview by Patricia Lee, 16 November 2008, transcript and MP3 audio 35:59, Reel/Disc 1 of 3, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 003259)

“Leaders of Business in Malaya,” Straits Times, 2 December 1952, 14. (From NewspaperSG)

“Loke Application: Judge Reserves His Order,” Straits Times, 20 May 1961, 9. (From NewspaperSG)

“Loke Leaves His Millions To His Two Sisters,” Straits Times, 12 July 1964, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“'No Such Bequest To Lady McNeice',” Straits Times, 30 April 1965, 6. (From NewspaperSG)

“Rank Buys a Share in Local Cinemas,” Straits Times, 20 July 1947, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“Rank-Loke New Deal,” Straits Times, 30 November 1947, 7. (From NewspaperSG)

“Two Decrees Nisi Granted by Chief Justice in Loke Divorce Case,” Straits Times, 15 February 1962, 1. (From NewspaperSG)

“Singapore’s First Skyscraper,” Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 8 December 1939, 2. (From NewspaperSG)



The information in this article is valid as at 2016 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.