As Mumbai’s iconic BEST bus service approaches its centenary next month, a rare timetable from the 1960s has uncovered a forgotten chapter in the city’s transport history, dedicated “Cinema Special” buses that connected railway stations with some of Mumbai’s most famous movie theatres.

At a time when single-screen cinemas ruled the city’s entertainment landscape, BEST operated specially timed services that picked up moviegoers from major railway stations, dropped them directly at cinema halls and waited to ferry them back home after the show. The discovery offers a glimpse into a period when city’s public transport network and film culture worked hand in hand.