Page 11 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

There are three floors beneath the stage, the lower floor servicing the Plaza Ballroom area. This area has had
the most remarkable transformation. The only parts of the Plaza that remained after the City Square was built
'
were the ceiling, the ornate section over the orchestra pit, and an ornate bay window ov.er the former entrance.

Plaza: Ornate Window Over The Former Entrance

From photographs, a sculptor and four assistants has sculptured, made moulds from the sculptures, and cast
the plaster forms to completely recreate the former Plaza Theatre interior. The result is absolutely stunning,
and one could be forgiven for thinking that none of it had ever been destroyed. Watching these craftsmen at
work over the last 18 months has been absolutely fascinating. The skills have not died out, and with so many
young people working there, these crafts will have been passed on.

Many times I heard young people say how thrilled they were to be working on such a wonderful project. The
interest all the workers have shown in the organ installation has also been rewarding for me, as I have been
able to show them what a very large theatre organ is all about. I am looking forward to seeing their faces when
the organ is played in all its glory, once the tuning has taken place. There are probably 2-3 generations who
have never heard a ~arge theatre organ in a large theatre, and there is nothing they have ever heard that can
possibly prepare them for what they will hear and feel.

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Enquiries: There is nothing like those throbbing Metropolitan
tremulants and the pulsating pipes of Single $21
Membership that king of instru- menrs, the theatre Family $25
Secretary organ. The theatre organ is an integral
part of the history of the cinema and it Country
David Penney continues to thrill audiences through Single $17
Phone: (B.H.) the love and dedi- cation of the mem- Family $19
9868-2390 bers of the Theatre Organ Society.
Wouldn't you like to be part of this Junior $11
great tradition of music? There are regular concerts with interna- (U 16)
tional and Australian artists as well as the fellowship of society
club nights and other events and activities.