Page 7 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

supported the front of the balcony. The roof was supported with steel girders and the ceiling was barrel vaulted.
A typhoon ventilation system was installed which used ducts to grills above the stage and vents on the side
walls at floor level; this was a most modern system. Septic toilets were constructed at the rear of the building
which were accessed via doors at stage left and right (2).

The hall was licenced as a picture theatre on 6 July 1920(2). In 1920 the application for Registration of a
Building recorded Norman John Vernon as the theatre manager and the hall was now being called the Box Hill
Theatre. Seating was recorded as 1200 (900 in the stalls and 300 in the circle). Screenings were held on
Wednesdays and Saturday (including a matinee).

Box Hill Theatre Circa 1930

In 1925 Mr. J B Byrne was recorded as the manager and he sought to operate the theatre for a variety of
activities apart from films. In April1926 the Health Department approved the use of the building for concerts and
meetings etc. but not for theatrical performances which used moveable scenery. The stage was not sufficiently
fire proofed for theatrical performances.

In 1926(2) the bio box was altered to accommodate two projectors to allow for continuous screening. In 1930
the theatre owners were recorded as Eastern Theatres, a Mr. B. R Talbot was the managing director. Eastern
Theatres were also the owners of the Rialto Theatre on the south side of Whitehorse Rd.; the head office of the
Company was located at the Rialto. The Box Hill Theatre was now being called the Lyric.

The new owners lowered part of the stalls floor and reconfigured the stalls seating. Later in 1930 Eastern
Theatres advised the health department that the Lyric was no longer being used as a cinema and that the plant
and machinery had been removed. The onset of the depression was likely cause for this action. Various minor
alterations were undertaken to convert the building into the Lyric Dance Palais. It was also used for community
singing, roller skating and flower shows.(3)

In June 1933(2) Mr. I G Anderson (architect) submitted plans to the Health Department to remodel the balcony
into a supper I meeting room. Also a second shop was to be installed at the front of the building(2).

Strangely, a new bio box was installed on the rear wall of the new balcony supper room. This required and
opening of 9' x 4'6" to be left in the wall built at the front of the balcony. However, it was not until1935 that Talbot
applied to recommence screenings on Saturday nights with a seat capacity of 650. The first films were adver-
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