Page 13 - CR31R.pdf

installed at the other locations on the circuit which by 1959 being screened usually at weekends.
included U1e Victoria theatre Richmond, Village Theatre
Toorak, Plaza Theatre Reservoir, Surrey Theatre Surrey About 1988, the Greek film policy had all but ceased, due
Hills, and the Broadway Theatre Elwood. in part to the introduction ofS.B.S. Television, where both
Greek movies and televison shows appeared regularly. The
Kinema reverted to an "Art House" cinema under the di-
rection ofDavid Wayside, one time proprietor of the May-
fair Theatre (nee Metro) in Collins Street. Melboume. Re-
grettably, another new electronic menace the VCR, was
soon to take hold and lhis resulted in the final closure of
the then 63 year old cinema which was closed down com-
pletely after the final screening on October 30, 1983.( 18)
The building was eventually gutted for offices, but still
retains some evidence of its cinema days, notably a faded
painted sign which reads "Hoyts Kinema".

Change also caught up with the fonner petrol station which
occupied the Park site for so many years. lt also was de-
molished by the local council who erected a Victorian style
library, in keeping with the character of the local surround-
ings.
Futuristic Ticket Box of the Park Theatre
References
Television provided alternative entertainment which made I. Victorian Public Health Files. (Johnson & Gibson letterhead)
2. Australian Sifem Films. Eric Read, pagc4
inroads into the box office, and as Victorian theatres were
3. BeUs lntem(l/ional Photoplay 6/7/ 1912. p<~ge 4
subject to entertainment taxes, the operation of picture 4. Histm:v oft he Cinemas ofMosman (Sydney) Kevin Cork, i>age 9.
theatres was made more costly. ln order to rescue some 5. Film Weekly. 27/ 1/ 1938. page 58
locations, Hoyts introduced cuts to session times. By 1959, 6. Seating Lists, 1938. (Author's files)
7. Cinemas of Australia Via USA- Ross Thome. Sydney Uni. p. 259
this policy came into force at the Park where screenings 8. The Argus (Melbourne) 24112/ 1938.
were down to Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights only 9. F'ilm r'Jleekly 6/4/1939. page10.
plus one matinee on Saturday. According to the motion I 011 1/ 12113. Ibid.
14. Film IVeekfy 6141\939. page 30.
picture trade journal ''The Exhibitor", full screenings were
15. Victoria Theatres Employee list. 1939.
restored to the Park and several other shows on the cir-
16. Film Weekly Motion Picture Directory 1959/60, page 83.
cuit The year was 1961 and it was also announced that 17. Authors Files. From advert. The Argus and The Herald. 31/3/ 1962.
further closures would take place. In late 1961 contracts 18. Kino No 6., December 1983, page 18.
were exchanged between Hoyts and an oil company, in
Photographs: Courtesy oiHoyts Cinemas Ltd. and Jan Hanson.
respect of redevelopment of the Park theatre site for the
purposes of a petrol station. Some months were to pass
before the theatre finally closed. Further cuts were made
to the screening policy and by Clu·istmas 1961 the Park
was only opened on Saturdays, with sessions only at 1.15pm Picture Prop.
and 7.45pm. D Co. [J Ltd. X

The Park was closed down after the final screening of"The ~~~c-. Admissi11o to tbe Graod Opco·A; ;~
Big Gamble" and "Loves of Salammbo" on Saturday,
~..$> Theatre, VICTORIA AVENUE,
March 31st, 1962 ( L 7), bringing to an end one of Mel- (I~ 3d., Reserve 6d ; Saturday
bourne's most modern suburban theatres. The Kinema
0 0 1. ~~~ Nlgbu 6d., Cblldreo
theatre at this time was still screening, with the irony that 1'4 ~; I 3d
the Park, which was built to replace it, was about to be The OJ.- ~ ·
5
Most Refloe-<1 ' 'i, , •
demolished.
1111d Cp-to-date... ·, -'~c$-J
Plct:Jre Eotertaloers. -'!~7> · ~lq,;~
Consolidated Theatres (also known as Victoria Theatres Ia Sooth M~lboorne....... I:> -I .r,. . ~
Ltd.) also began to feel the effects of poorly attended screen- ' 'I§$ '" ,...,( , Q,y
ings and a decision was taken to sell the Kinema property v.
in February, I 966. Unlike the fate that eventually saw the
operate the property as a cinema. Cosmopolitan Theatres 0 Full [J Orchestra X
Park razed, the new owners of the Kinema continued to
was a chain of cinemas established in I 959 to cater for the
Greek community of Melbourne. The Kinema did, how-
ever continue to screen both Greek and English dialogue
films for some years. By the 1970's only Greek films were Soutlt Melbourne Record- July 19, 1913

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