Page 10 - untitled

89. GLEN PICTURES - RUTHERGLEN Barry T. Deas

Glen Pictures opened in the Rutherglen Town Hall on July 29, 1920. Robert Young also had a cordial factory in Murray
Street. which generated the power to run the equipment. Worth noting. the films shown on the opening night were ·'The
Money Coral" and .. The Resound Angel'". The old Town Hall is now the stage area of the Memorial HaU.

Soldiers Memorial Hall c. 1996 (photo: Geny Kennedy)

During the building of the present Memorial Hall in July 1926 Robert moved the Glen Pictw·es to temporary premises in
Burrows Grain Store in Audley Street, now Francis' Transport Depot. He then moved back to the Rutherglen Soldiers
Memorial Hall in 1927.

The foundation Stone was laid by Dr. J. R. Harris. J.P., M.L.C., on the 30th September, 1926. The Memorial Hall was
opened on the 12th July, 1927 by Lord Somers. K.C.M.G., D.S.O., Governor of Victoria. He also unveiled the Honour
Roll of those men who enlisted from the District. In January, 1952 Bernaldo & Baring placed an iron girder, 45 foot long.
weighing 1.4 tons to extend the balcony. This increased the seating by 70. The present Library & Supper Room were
built in 1955. The former Supper Room became the R.S.L. Rooms.

Robert Young arranged for a film to be taken of the opening ceremony of the hall. A representative of the '"Melbourne
Leader'", during Wine Week at Rutherglen, took a moving pictures of the town & district, and its various activities. The
film was forwarded to Mr. J.C. Stanton, Secretary of the Rutherglen Wine Growers Association. Arrangements were
made with Glen Pictures to screen the film on Wednesday, November 21, 1928.
Robert Young sold Glen Pictures to Charles Gordon in April. 1929. In June of 1929 Charles Gordon installed a new plant
showing the first TALKIES. A new screen was erected in 1956, the frame work 27 x 15 feet. The screen, about 24 x 13
feet.
After 35 years Charles Gordon sold the business to Allan & Graham Baker in April, 1964. The last film screened by
Charles Gordon was "Pocketful of Miracles··. The first films screened by Allan & Graham Baker on the 11th April, 1964
were "H.M.S. Defiant" and "Its Trad Dad". Baker Bros. carried on until January 14th, 1967. Their last films were "The
Satan Bug" and ''The Clown & The Kid". With the lease to expire in 1969, the Baker brothers sold all the existing
equipment to the Rutherglen Shire Council for $1600.

In April L967 the Rutherglen Shire Council called tenders for the sole right to exhibit motion pictures in the Memorial
Hall. With projection and sound equipment, seating capacity of 625, with confectionery etc. at foyer kiosk for a tenn of

- 10 -