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Bombala NSW:

Kennedy’s Hall

Deluxe Olympia

Olympia Theatre

By Gerry Kennedy

Nestled amongst the undulating hills of Southern NSW, the small town of
Bombala is an isolated rural community of 1438 residents who rely on the
timber, wood products and grazing industries for their livelihood.
Many generations have looked to one special and unique venue for their
recreation and entertainment — Bombala's Olympia Theatre.

he Olympia Theatre, in Forbes Street (Monaro arrangement afforded little weather protection in this high
Highway) was built c1915 by Mr and Mrs Don country environment!
TKennedy who operated a motor garage nearby. The From the beginning the Olympia could cater for dances,
building was originally known as Kennedy’s Hall. It quickly games, theatre and films. It is little wonder opposition inter-
became Bombala’s centre of entertainment, much to the cha- ests were angered by the arrival of such advanced facilities. It
grin of some members of the population who believed that the is likely that occasional travelling shows were earlier screened
community should support the publicly owned School of Arts at the School of Arts Hall.
facilities. The theatre was licensed to seat 396 on 13 April 1917 and
The building is of one level construction and is built in the was later known as the Deluxe Olympia. Films were screened
basic country style of timber framing and metal cladding on Wednesday 23 May 1917 along with an accompanying
(inside and out). The frontage is covered in pressed metal fea- concert. On 18 June 1917 the Bombala Times promoted
turing an imitation stone pattern. Pressed metal, of varying Olympia Pictures as “the acme of perfection, where high class
patterns, was used extensively throughout the building. Unlike pictures and music reign supreme.” There were details con-
most country halls the Olympia was of a multi-purpose cerning the single projector that would have been used at the
design. It included a projection room (built above the entrance time.
vestibule) and a small fly tower over the stage. Direct access Talkies came to the Olympia on 24 December 1931.
from the projection room to the stage catwalks was possible Probably a new pair of projectors were installed at this time to
via a passageway built into the ceiling space above the centre provide program continuity for the sound films. Mrs L
of the auditorium. A kitchen and large supper room (come Kennedy was the recorded exhibitor. Magna Coustian sound
assembly area) are located behind the stage. Access to the equipment was installed along with a framed Brakelite linen
auditorium was almost directly from the street; the small screen. The Olympia had to have its own electricity plant
vestibule contained a ticket box window on the right hand because the town supply was based on AC current and not DC.
side, as well as two entrances into the auditorium. Such an A CinemaScope Brakelite screen was installed in 1956. Part of

24 Autumn 2001 CINEMARECORD