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than 27,000 feet of steel conduit. .... 55 miles of cable, together with 4,000 lamps ..... (1 ,000 of which were)
concealed in the coves and cornices surrounding the stage ..... (with) dissolving and dimming apparatus (with
which) the proscenium may be illuminated to a blazing mass of blending colours or within a second may fade
to the softest and most pleasant of tones." 31

The publicity manager, W.H. McKechnie, ensured that "The Victory had always had the distinction of being the
only theatre in the Metropolis to issue a 14 page house organ gratis." 32 This was intended to continue on a
weekly basis, as the new Victory had now dispensed with its former bi-weekly program changes. 33 A.W. Ross,
who had been manager there since 1926, continued in that capacity and the twenty-piece orchestra was under
the baton of M. Barille. Due to works on the St. Kilda main drain at the rear of the theatre, the motor-park was
temporarily closed at this period, but the program promised that "arrangements have been made to have a
number of attendants for cars left in Barkly Street." 34
The Age commented that, although the auditorium had been enlarged, the seating capacity had now de-
creased from about 2,600 to 2,500. 35 It had earlier written about the new heating system at the theatre. As
well as providing ventilation, the air could now be warmed during the winter months. 36 As a finishing-
touch, the program advised: "All employees of the Victory are paid servants-patrons are asked not to offer
gratuities." 37

The program for the re-opening contained, in addition to the main film "The Magic Flame" (with Ronald Colman
and Vilma Banky) and the supporting feature "Ladies Must Dress", a live "Grand Prologue" entitled "The Spirit
Of The Movies" which starred Zillah Bateman. There were also two performances by the orchestra ("Semiramide"
overture and "Fifty Million Frenchmen") and a newsreel of the airman Bert Hinkler's arrival at Flemington. 38

Within a short time the Victory became a part of the Hoyts chain of suburban picture-theatres. A visit to the
theatre on June 2, 1993 elicited the following information from the current management- who had obtained this
from the Public Records Office in Laverton- with regard to further alterations to the Victory. On June 8, 1929
the Health Department had been notified in regard to the installation of a Western Electric system for talking
pictures. When approved, the system was duly installed on June 26 of that year. On October 6, 1937 , 21 inch
chairs replaced 22 inch chairs, resulting in an increase of sixteen chairs. The theatre now had 2,551 seats with
1 ,650 in the stalls, 354 in the lounge and 537 in the dress-circle. A new store room was built on the south-west
corner on February 29, 1944 and on March 29 of the same year a new balustrade for the orchestra was
constructed in front of the stage apron. A new men's toilet on the left-hand side inside the front door was
opened on December 31 , 1946. 39

Throughout all of this period and up until 1971 the Victory continued as a Hoyts suburban picture-theatre. In
that year it was purchased by the National Theatre Company. 4o This organisation had been founded in 1935 by
Gertrude John, with the aim of providing work opportunities for Australian performers at home. For financial
and artistic reasons Australian artists had been driven by necessity to the more lucrative European and Ameri-
can theatres. It was hoped that, by both putting on productions and also by organising schools of ballet, drama
and opera, that Australian talent could be developed, presented and renumerated enough to remain in the
country. 41 Although starting with only eight pounds as capital, 42 the organisation prospered, particularly in the
war years when access to the German and Italian theatres was by necessity limited.

The first National Theatre school was located in an old church hall at St. Peters at Eastern Hill. 43 During the
years prior to 1971 there were many attempt to establish both a permanent National Theatre location and also
a place for the associated schools of ballet, opera and drama. John Gargher, the first general manager of the
St. Kilda venue, has detailed the vicissitudes of the National Theatre Movement in his book "Bravo! -Two
Hundred Years Of Opera In Australia". 44 Reference is made to a building appeal in 1956 which, although
bringing in $119,000, 45 was not sufficient, due to the rising costs of land and buildings. Some unfortunate
fires, one of which destroyed the Toorak Village Cinema while under conversion by the National Theatre in
1961 , 46 also delayed the acquisition of a permanent venue. It was not until1974 that the National Theatre
opened at its present location, one year after the death of Gertrude Johnston. 47

The initial cost of the former Victory, plus alterations, was $600,000, with another $250,000 being later spent to
rebuild and re-equip the stage. 48 Externally, the old "Victory" sign on the ridge of the roof was removed, a large
flytower was raised above the stage area and what used to be the shops facing Barkly and Carlisle Streets were
converted to office and rehearsal usage. 49
Within. the seating was reduced to 800 by the elimination of the stalls area. The stage was enlarged and the
dress-circle and lounge, by the addition of flooring over the former stalls area, was extended towards it, thus
transforming the former upstairs area into the new auditorium. What used to be the front and back stalls now