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CINEMARECO RD

!Newsree~

Denzil Howson Receives Performing Arts Award For some people, the concept of a whole weekend filled
with 'filmic' activities was hard to grasp. However, for the
The Green Room Awards Association for the Performing 69 people who attended the weekend, it was non-stop film
Arts Museum, recently presented an Award to Denzil How- collectors' and enthusiasts' activities all the way. We were
son in acknowledgement of his lifetime commitment to the please to have the company of 13 New Zealanders and 4
performing arts and preservation of its traditions and his- other enthusiasts from interstate,
tory.
Commencing at 9am on Saturday morning, at the Victorian
Denzil Howson is a worthy recipient, he has been a radio Movie Makers Theatrette, the weekend got off to a flying
broadcaster, broadcast engineer, director, producer, writer start with all of the buy and sell tables occupied, with many
and actor. His love of the performing arts is shown by his goodies on offer.
work with the Cinema And Theatre Historical Society, the
Theatre Organ Society ofAustralia, the National Film and Following morning coffee, a tour of the Salvation Army
Sound Archive, and he is a dedicated volunteer at the Heritage centre in central Melbourne took place. At the
Performing Arts Museum, helping to identifY hundreds of completion of lunch, an auction of film and related items
performers who appear in the Museum's Laurie Richards was held with approximately 50 lots being auctioned. Dur-
photographic collection. ing the afternoon, the group were transported to, and enter-
tained at two home cinemas in the eastern suburbs.
Denzil started in country radio in the late 1940s, and worked
with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Crawford By the time the buses retumed from the home cinema visits,
Productions, and was a pioneer of Australian television. He the VMM had been transformed into the 'CA1HS Newsreel
joined GTV Channel 9 in 1956 as Assistant Program Man- Theatre Restaurant'. The Saturday night dinner was a buffet
ager and was part of the team which produced the first style meal, followed by a selection of shorts similar to those
transmission of television in Australia. shown in the Newsreel Cinemas of the 1950s.
The award ceremony was held on Theatres Day, Tuesday
16th February 1999. Congratulations Denzil, from all of us For many, the highlight of the weekend was the Sunday
atCATHS! morning tour of the Village Jam Factory cinema complex in
South Yarra. Conducted by Village's National Technical
Reading Australia Cinemas Manager, David K.ildeny, we were shown all aspects of the
complex, ranging from the more usual cinemas to the Cin-
Reading Australia have recently announced plans to build ema Europa and the latest Gold Class deluxe cinema.
an 8 screen multiplex at Waum Ponds, near Geelong. and
are to build a 12 or 14 screen multiplex at Whitehorse Plaza, Next, to the Rialto for a hjgh rise view of Melbourne,
Box Hill subject to finalisation of permit issues, together with a look behind the scenes of the Rialto Vision
cinema and a viewing of the 20-mioute film of Victoria's
Also, Reading has a share in the Elstemwick Classic Cin- tourist attractions.
ema. The Classic has recently had a second screen added
and construction is underway next door for a further three Following lunch nearby, we were treated to an afternoon of
screens. Planning permits have been granted for construc- vintage shorts at the recently restored Sun Cinema in
tion of a 12 screen cinema complex at Frankston (some site Y arraville.
clearing work has commenced) and a 12 screen complex at
Moonee Ponds. Hoyts bave been appealing against the The Weekend concluded at about Spm, with many friend-
Moonee Ponds project and are taking their appeal to the ships having been made and assurances by everyone that
Supreme Court. they will be back for the second Melbourne Film Buffis
Weekend next year!
Reading are planning to open 50 screens in Australia in By Mike Trickett, Convener CA1HS Film Buffs Group and
1999, and a further 50 in 2000. Vice President ofCA1HS.
From information provided by Reading Australia, 8th
March 1999. Web editor's note: Watch out for the 2nd Annual Film Buffs
Weekend for early 2000. Thanks to Mike and Barb Trickett
Melbourne Film Buffs Weekend and team for a job well done!
Why not join CATHS today and share your interest in cin-
Held over the weekend of 13th and 14th February by the ema and theatre with a fun group of fellow enthusiasts!
Cinema And Theatre Historical Society Victoria (CATIIS), Throughout the year we have lots of theatre tours, interest-
the Melbourne Film Buffs Weekend is believed to be the ing meetings including guest speakers, movies, home cin-
first of its type held in Australia. The weekend's program ema visits, and produce CinemaRecord- the CATHS quar-
followed closely the very successful format by the New terly journal.
Zealand Film Buffis Assoc. for their six monthly meetings. Martin.

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