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CINEMARECORD

THE LYCEUM THEATRE, BOURKE STREET MELBOURNE

By Trevor Walters

Originally opened as the Paramount Theatre in 1915 and owned Cassidy or Gene Autry films at the Lyceum, in later years it was
by Electric Theatres Limited. the theatre's name was changed to "Earth Vs The Flying Saucers''. ''Fury At Gunsi,qlu Pt1ss''.
the Lyceum by Hoyrs Theatres in the mid 30's. Hoyts had taken "Goliath And The Dragon". '·Armoured Command" and "Ring Of
control of the Paramount some years earlier. Fire'' that kept the theatre running.
In 1936 the New South Wales company Snider and Dean Pty Ltd The Lyceum was struggling. Television was still having a major
tool. the theatre over and ran it for many years before rerummg effect on cinema attendances and the theatre was in urgent need
again to Hoyts control. of a face lift. The films being progr.unmed into the Lyceum were
not amacting patronage. On Tuesday 5th November 1963 the
The Lyceum had a chequered life. mainly screening move over
Lyceum Theatre wa~
closed. Its fina l
programme a revival of
"Island in The Sun·· ;mel
"Garden oj'E1•i/".
The theatre '~ould live
on though under
different name'>. Re-
opened as the Cleopatra.
for the release of the film
of the same name on
February 28th 196~. the
theatre had been
refurbished and equipped
for 70mm presentations.
At the conclusion of
Cleopatra. the theatre
was renamed the Paris
Theatre for the release of
"The Sound of Mu">ic ..
It remained in operation
unril the end of January
1970 when the theatre
was closed.

programmes from other theatres or
revivals. There were times the
Lyceum showed first release films ECTRIFViNGI
but not many . ln 1939 "Tiley Made
TH • . STO.rY 01' A CO~ WHO USI!D HIS Wll'a
Me A Criminal" screened on first AS BAIT f'ON A l'lK.La.r I
..,... .. -·· -_..., .... , ......... ...
release as did another John Garfield ........... ~ ....... ..._ ............. ..
film many years later "He Rem All
The Way".
This was the standard fair at the
Lyceum. the action films on double
features screening for one week.
In the late SO's and early 60's the
Lyceum would screen many
....... w-· ,_, ... ._, I
M.G.M. releases. the one weekers
that Metro had no room for in their l'lw: ·--·· - . .. - I
own theatres. _
. •ALONG .. CAME lONES"
In the 30's you would see Hopalong 10.40, 1.40, 4.40, 1.45
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