Page 10 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

I was also fortunate to see Launceston's Princess Theatre and as Denzil's article said it is a beauty. Used as a
Hoyts cinema for many years, it was sold to the City Council to become their principal live theatre, with im-
proved stage facilities.

The bland fifties-style foyers give no indication that the richly restored Edwardian auditorium, complete with the
domed ceiling. It is not opened continuously, but I was lucky on my second visit and it was well worth seeing.

Hobart Re-Visited by lan Williams

On a recent visit to Hobart, I was able to check on those cinemas that I had known from various visits.

There was Hoyts Prince Of Wales, an older cinema that reminded me of some our lesser Hoyts suburban
theatres in Melbourne. Of the four main cinemas, this is the only one that has been demolished, replaced by an
office building.

In Liverpool St. Greater Union had two theatres almost opposite each other. One, His Majesty's, screened their
'B' grade product. This became a clothing store for Glasser and Parker some years ago with the facade
covered by horizontal strips. Their main, and more modern theatre, the Odeon, is now used by the ABC as the
main facility for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

However, on my last visit I was pleased to find my favourite cinema practically intact, probably waiting for a
white knight to come along and wave his magic wand and get the projectors rolling again. The Avalon is in
Melville St., and houses an electrical store, but walking through the stalls amongst refrigerators, air conditioners,
stoves etc., I could look up at the ceiling with the original light fittings and the paint still in perfect condition. Only
the screen and main curtain have gone.

Hobart now only has a Village complex of five screens, as souless as any I have seen. More the pity that the
younger generation don't have at least one cinema to give them that feel of what it is like to go to a REAL
theatre/cinema!

Of course, Hobart is the home of Australia's oldest operating live theatre, the Theatre Royal. A dolls house in
many respects, it only holds about 700 seats. They almost lost it a few years ago in a backstage fire which also
caused minor damage to the historic auditorium. Now the stage and fly tower has been rebuilt, and from the
outside, almost dwarfs the auditorium section. So there, don't say you have been to Hobart if you come back
and havn't seen these two theatres!

Who Said Single Screens Are Finished?

Single screen cinemas are thriving in Victoria, in CATHS members cinemas at least. There has been a healthy
growth in home cinemas around Victoria. Last November the "Crest" opened in Frankston North and in January
the "Barkly" opened in Rye. Over two nights both these cinemas had champagne openings with full houses.
Soon to open is the "Regent" at Pascoe Vale.

These two new Melbourne Suburban Theatres join the well known establishments such as the "Roxy" at Ashwood,
the "Tatty" at Seymour and the "Majestic" at Moe. The latter two are in rural Victoria.

In some of the following editions of Cinema Record we hope to bring you the story of these cinemas, why they
were built, and how they were equipped.

Errata

In issue 14, the "Letter to the Editor" from Gordon Evans, we made a mistake in the last paragraph.
The wording was "It was actually built" should have been "Was it actually built?" Sorry Gordon.