Page 12 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

By late 1996 the Ararat Entertainment Centre was generally only screening one session on Saturday nights
with the owner's families providing some of the staffing.

From January 1997 Darrell and Trish Maddex took over as Managers of the Entertainment Centre; they had
worked at the cinema for some years. Due to their efforts the screening frequency has now increased to a
minimum of three nights per week (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays) on a multi session basis.

The still beautiful theatre, with its attractive art deco design was auctioned in January1997 but at this stage it
remains unsold. Other late 1930's cinemas of the art deco moderne style were located at Mildura (Ozone),
Horsham (20th Century), Geelong (Corio) and Yallourn (Yallourn); they have all been demolished.

Editors Note: Otto Spehr was of German descent and he created some controversy in Ararat during
the war years when he refused to play the National Anthem at the commencement of
the program. As a result of considerable local pressure he relented and played the
Anthem at the conclusion of the program. He died in Geelong in 1960 and left $175,000
to the Natimuk community. This was used to improve the Lake Natimuk Reserve as
a memorial to the pioneering members of his family in the Natimuk district.

Bio-Box and Circle. Note Exit To Upstairs Foyer- 1996

Acknowlegements: Ararat and District Historical Society
Public Record Office of Victoria - Health Department Building Files

(1) The Film Weekly Motion Picture Directory- Various issues
(2) A History of the Theatres of Ararat - Kevin Adams (Pub: Kino 11 , March 1985)

Ararat Advertiser - 25 October, 1938
Ararat Advertiser- 4 January, 1997

Interviews: Ron Jensen, Trish & Daryl Maddex

Photographs: Courtesy of the Ararat Historical Society & Gerry Kennedy collection

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