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The finished production ran for about 20 minutes (2 reels) and had a week's season at the "Royal". As this was
well into the "sound era" 'THE ADVENTURES OF DOT" could almost be regarded as a step back in time. It
had no dialogue, no music - just predictable captions of the "Came the Dawn" variety - and our embryonic stars
in glorious black and white. But as the theatre was virtually packed every night, I guess the local manager thought
he had got value for his money. He paid for the production.

As the days following the euphoric "premiere" stretched into weeks, and the weeks into months. Maude was still
teaching at Castlemaine North, Fred was serving in the grocer's shop, and George had resumed work as a motor
mechanic. I can only assume that the Hollywood Talent Scout had somehow by-passed Castlemaine completely.

And what about the Producer. Well, after his resound triumph at "the Maine" no doubt he moved onto Ballarat,
or Echuca, or Maryborough, or Stawell, or Sale, or Bairnsdale, or any other country town which was eager to
assume the mantle of Australia's new film capital in the thirties.

It is difficult to sift fact from fiction concerning 'THE ADVENTURES OF DOT".
It seems that a film under that title was produced by Cameo Productions in 1927, with Mr. T.J Dorgan as producer/
director. Cyril Sharpe directed a version in Grenfell, NSW also in 1927 and the National Film and Sound Archives
have a copy ofthis. They also have copies of a version made in Temora NSW and directed by Cyril Sharpe, and
one made in Young NSW produced by Cameo Productions in 1928. I am indebted to the National Film and sound
Archives for this information.

'THE ADVENTURES OF DOT' surfaced again in 1932, in Colac Victoria. The director this time was J.M.St.
Ledger, who was also a cameraman. It is feasible that the Castlemaine version produced somewhere between
1932 and 1936 was also directed by Mr St. Ledger.

A final note on THEATRE ROYAL. In the TV series "SNOWY" the familiar facade of the ROYAL popped up
masquerading as a cinema somewhere in Cooma at the time of the construction of the Snowy Mountains
Scheme. She's a versatile old lady!

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