• Singapore once had three amusement parks: New World, Happy World (later Gay World) and Great World. These amusement parks offered entertainment, dining and shopping. In 1942, in order to attract visitors, New World became the first amusement park to launch performances in the form of getai. It hired singers to perform on stage, accompanied by a live band. There were also comedy shows in between the songs. These performances were well-received by the public and the other amusement parks soon followed suit. Tables and chairs were usually provided, so that audiences could enjoy refreshments while watching the shows.
• Subsequently, to attract young people, groups organising activities for the Hungry Ghost Festival introduced getai shows to the festival, hence the name “七月歌台” (seventh-month getai). In the early days, opera troupes were usually hired to perform during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore. These performances were known as “酬神戏” (“shows to entertain the gods”). However, from the 1980s, operas were slowly replaced by getai shows as the main programme during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Getai has become a box office success. Holding getai shows during the Lunar New Year symbolises a smooth year ahead. The popularity of New Year getai shows has now surpassed that of Mid-Autumn Festival getai shows, and is second only to that of the seventh-month getai shows. (Lianhe Wanbao, 10/2/2019)