“Hoosain," Pioneer of Guyana’s Formative Cinema Era, Passes Away

Richmond Hill, NY | October 19, 2025

One of the men who helped shape Guyana’s early movie culture has passed away. Kassim “Hoosain” Hoosain, former owner of the Twilite Cinema in Belmont, Guyana, died recently in Richmond Hill, Queens, where he had lived for decades.

Many Guyanese at home and abroad remember Hoosain known affectionately as “Hoosain” as a friendly and respected figure from the golden years of cinema, a time when movie theaters were the center of community life.

Alongside his wife, Jamilla “Rose” Hoosain, he operated not only the Twilite Cinema but also a small snack bar and beer garden. Locals recall evenings filled with laughter, jukebox music, and the aroma of Rose’s famous fish and bread sandwich. The Twilite quickly became more than a theatre it was a social hub.

In 1978, the Hoosains emigrated to the United States with their six children. Kassim later worked in security and lived in Richmond Hill, a neighborhood with a strong Caribbean-Guyanese presence.

Family members confirmed that his death was announced on social media on June 10, 2025, and his funeral was held on June 13.

Remembering the Cinema Era

From the 1950s through the 1970s, Guyana’s cinemas were the heart of local entertainment. Families dressed up for movie nights, lined up for tickets, and filled theaters such as the Astor, Globe, Strand de Luxe, and the Twilite.

Back then, a trip to the cinema was an event a place to meet friends, go on dates, and see films from India, America, and Britain. But by the late 1980s, the arrival of television and home video slowly brought that golden age to an end. Many of the beloved movie houses closed their doors, their walls fading into memory.

The Twilite Cinema remained open for a few years after the Hoosains left Guyana, then eventually closed, marking the end of an era for Belmont and its surrounding communities.

Today, Kassim “Hoosain” Hoosain is remembered not only as a businessman but as a part of Guyana’s cultural history a man whose work connected people through film, laughter, and community spirit.

He is survived by his wife, Rose, six children, and thirteen grandchildren.