Rediscover Singapore’s Icons in Leisure and Media with NLB Pop-Ups

Experience the stories of Rediffusion and the Cable Car with new NLB Nodes  

As part of the National Library Board’s (NLB) Nodes initiative, two much-loved icons from Singapore’s leisure and media scene will be recreated as pop-ups for patrons to rediscover. In the first pop-up at Chinatown Point, patrons can travel back to the golden era of Singapore’s first cable-transmitted commercial radio station, with the recreation of a radio studio. The next pop-up at VivoCity lets patrons step into a decommissioned cable car to learn more about the evolution of Singapore’s first and only cable car attraction. 

The launch of these two new Nodes is part of NLB’s LAB25 (Libraries & Archives Blueprint 2025) efforts to bring more Singapore Stories to life, and to bring more of its resources to the community beyond its libraries and archives to grow the Learning Marketplace. 

Rediscover Rediffusion

From 5 August 2024, patrons can immerse themselves in a retro-themed pop-up, modelled after a radio studio. Located at Chinatown Point’s Indoor Atrium, Level 1, Rediscover Rediffusion takes visitors down memory lane, to learn more about Singapore’s first commercial and cable-transmitted radio station which started broadcasting 75 years ago in Singapore in 1949. A specially curated selection of Mandarin and Chinese dialect Rediffusion programmes and photographs from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) collection will also be featured.

From the ‘50s to ’70s, the station's Chinese dialect programmes enjoyed a strong following, and many coffee shops and households were fitted with Rediffusion sets. Visitors at the main booth will be treated to renowned Cantonese storyteller, Lee Dai Soh’s telling of the popular Chinese classic, Journey to the West, which will be fondly recalled today by many seniors.

The Node will also feature StoryGen, an AI Generative prototype jointly produced by NLB and Amazon Web Services. Visitors can put their own spin to well-loved stories like Journey to the West and Hua Mulan, by using a diverse range of inputs such as genre, setting, main characters and ending. There will also be a display of eReads related to Chinese fairytales and folklores for users to browse and borrow as well as panels featuring snippets of the history and key milestones of Rediffusion.

The Node will be located at Chinatown Point’s Indoor Atrium, Level 1 from 5 to 18 August 2024. Part of the showcase will be relocated to library@chinatown from 19 August 2024, where it will remain on display till early 2025.

Cable Cars: A Ride Through Time 

Launched in 1974 by former Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee, and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Singapore’s cable car system was one of the earliest development projects of Sentosa to be completed and has since become an icon in Singapore’s leisure history. “Cable Cars: A Ride Through Time” will feature audiovisual recordings and photographs from the NAS collection and take visitors on a journey to discover the evolution of cable cars since 1974. 

The showcase, to be launched at VivoCity on 12 August 2024, will feature a second-generation decommissioned cable car donated by the Mount Faber Leisure Group. The cabin will be refurbished and transformed into an Instagram-worthy seating area for visitors, who will have the opportunity to “ride" the original journey from Mount Faber to Sentosa through NAS’s collection of archival footages.
  
There will also be a cable car-themed photo booth where visitors can snap their photo against the backdrop of past and present images of Mount Faber and Sentosa, along with exhibition panels, in the style of 3D pixel blocks, which show the evolution of the cable car across its five generations. Visitors will also be able to take home with them related eReads to learn more about the Cable Car story.   

The showcase will be open to the public from 12 to 25 August 2024, 10am to 10pm at VivoCity West Boulevard 1, Level 1. The showcase will be relocated to other venues after 25 August and more details will be shared when ready.

NLB’s Chief Executive Offer Ng Cher Pong said: “The Cable Car and Rediffusion are icons of leisure and media that many of us grew up with. We are happy to be able to work with partners to bring them closer to many, and to discover the Singapore Stories that we all can all relive and learn more about.”

Learn more about past Node showcases at https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/visit-us/public-libraries-singapore/Nodes. 

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About National Library Board

The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region.

NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).

For more information, please visit the NLB website, and NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels. 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Quah Jia Ling
Weber Shandwick, Singapore
Contact: +65 9699 0830
jquah@webershandwick.com

Quotes from NLB’s partners
Mount Faber Leisure Group’s Managing Director, Mr Buhdy Bok, said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to support the National Library Board's mission of promoting Singapore’s history and heritage with the 'Cable Cars: A Ride Through Time' exhibition. This showcase highlights the Singapore Cable Car's historical, cultural, and sentimental significance. As we celebrate its 50th anniversary, we invite everyone to visit the exhibition, share their cable car experiences, and explore the rich history and enduring legacy of this iconic attraction.”

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Rediffusion’s Chairperson, Ms Eeva Chang Mei Hsiang, said: “In the age of AI, what does it mean to be “retro”? How do we bridge the past and the future? These are the key questions guiding Rediffusion's involvement in Rediscover Rediffusion. 

Recently, I asked a friend where in Singapore one could find something truly worth revisiting from the past. Their response was "Chinatown." Indeed, if you want to relive past experiences or rediscover old Singapore, Chinatown is a genuine, present-day choice. So, is “retro” about bringing the past into the present? For Singaporeans, Rediffusion is no longer a present reality; it belongs to the past. Therefore, to make Rediffusion truly retro, it must be revitalised in the current context. True retro is not merely about nostalgia.

The advent of the AI era has given history a "present-day" value. We are beginning to realise that the essence of rapid technological advancement lies in connecting with history. Without a profound historical foundation and long-standing cultural development, technological achievements may seem insubstantial. Only by engaging with historical narratives can humanity learn to coexist with new digital entities.

Rediffusion does not need to be repackaged as old wine in a new bottle or new wine in an old bottle. After years of reflection, I believe the focus of retro is not about mere replication or restoration, but about letting the voices of the past engage with the new generation and paving the way for AI with historical context.

We welcome like-minded individuals to connect with us.”

Annex A: eReads available at Rediffusion

Annex B: Audio clips available for listening at Rediffusion

Main listening booth

Standalone Listening Booth