Collector Unearths Nostalgic Artifacts from Singapore’s Past

Winston Chong, a 50-year-old resident of Clementi, has uncovered a treasure trove of Singaporean history through his collection of vintage items, including movie tickets, newspapers, and fare cards. Recently featured in the documentary series CNA’s On The Red Dot, Chong’s artifacts reflect a bygone era, showcasing the cultural landscape of Singapore during the late 20th century.

Chong’s collection includes 70 untorn movie tickets, with the oldest dating back to a 1992 screening of the film Fight Back To School 2 at the now-defunct Clementi Theatre. His dedication to preserving these tickets stems from a childhood passion for cinema, nurtured by family outings that ignited his love for the big screen.

Memories Captured in Ticket Stubs

Younger generations may not fully appreciate the significance of Chong’s collection, but it serves as a testament to his resourcefulness. He developed a strategy to keep his tickets intact, often slipping into cinemas unnoticed. “My family are big movie fans. From a young age, my parents would bring me and my elder sister to the cinema,” he recalled. His approach involved waiting for crowded weekends and blending into the flow of patrons entering the theatre.

Despite an estimated 20 percent success rate, Chong’s thrill came not just from the act of collecting, but from the memories tied to those experiences. He fondly remembers, “They are my time-stamped keepsakes from the 1990s, where I am reminded of the hours spent with my family glued to our cinema seats.”

Chong’s reflections on the evolution of cinema highlight a stark contrast to today’s moviegoing experience. With the rise of streaming services, he laments the loss of communal viewing. “Watching a movie in 2025 can often feel transactional,” he noted, contrasting it with the shared joy of cinema visits in his youth.

Preserving a Piece of History

In addition to movie tickets, Chong also cherishes print media, holding onto the first and last issues of five now-defunct newspapers, including Streats and Today. His journalism career began with Streats, where he was part of the pioneering team that launched the publication. “To me, these printed works are the physical achievements from everyone behind the title,” he said.

His collection extends to vintage payphone cards and TransitLink fare cards, which he recalls as once cutting-edge technology. “I know that technological advancement will affect our daily lives. But never did I expect that the very concept of phone cards, MRT cards, physical newspapers and cinema tickets would disappear one day,” he expressed.

Chong’s passion for these items goes beyond nostalgia. While many collectors might see monetary value in such artifacts, he views them as essential pieces of personal and cultural history. “These were momentous occasions that happened in my lifetime that were worth remembering,” he stated.

As urbanization and technology continue to reshape Singapore, Chong’s memorabilia serve as poignant reminders of a time when physical interactions and tangible experiences were the norm. His story not only reflects personal memories but also encapsulates a broader narrative of societal change.

Chong’s collection is part of a pop-up exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore, which runs until December 14. The exhibition showcases everyday items that many Singaporeans have kept, bridging the gap between past and present. As Chong delves into his storeroom, he invites others to reflect on their own histories and the pieces that define their identities.