Page 22 - CR31R.pdf

Treasures in the

bric-a-brac

By Kevin Brandum

he shop sign said: “Antiques & dozen A8 films
Bric-A-Brac”. Well, antiques are in their original
Tall very well in their place, but boxes, all in
bric-a-brac, now there’s a word for you. seemingly good
To me it’s an invitation to a good condition. There
rummage! were Abbot and
Through the shop window a Costello, George
Peregrine falcon, moulting slightly, Hornby and
glared glassy-eyed at me, its hooked Tommy Trinder along with several The shield presented to the Plaza
beak thrust forward. Inside the others. Theatre Essendon, champion Hoyts
doorway, a heavy framed print of a I dusted the boxes off and paid the suburban theatre, 1935.
shapely Chloe beckoned. A “Do Not proprietor, an old chap who could have Photo: Glen Brandum.
Touch” sign was on Chloe and a “Not passed for an antique himself. An
For Sale” on the falcon. ornate brass National cash register of Back on the footpath, I turned and
I couldn’t resist entering. Brushing 1930s vintage was on the counter in mentally thanked my stuffed falcon
past Chloe, I found myself in a large, front of him. No need for a modern friend, gave the saucy Chloe a wink
bright room full of carved sideboards, computer here I thought, as I nosed and headed for the station.
leather chairs, fading photographs on along, clutching the A8 films. A figure The shield hangs in my study along
the walls, brass contrivances and other in first world war uniform, looking a with film posters and other movie
assorted items of yesteryear. And bit scruffy but ever vigilant, seemed to memorabilia. Seeing the shield was
clocks — there were dozens of them, agree. presented to Lou Somprou in 1935, it is
ticking and spinning away. I stood, Near the back wall, a copper and in surprising good condition. Sometimes
mesmerised, as a tall grandfather clock bronze divers helmet winked as its face when I re-read the inscription on the
chimed, the solid swing of its plate caught a shaft of light, its $1000 shield, a picture of the Hoyts Plaza
pendulum almost a comfort. A capsule price tag easily seen. Oblivious to Theatre with a “House Full” sign
of time and timelessness, you might say. everything was a ginger cat curled comes into mind. A business-like Lou
A splash of colour caught my eye. contently in a patch of sunlight coming Somprou, the manager, is in the foyer;
Hanging on a wall was a water in the back window. No, the cat wasn’t the theatre running like clockwork!
damaged poster of the 1942 musical for sale. Though the Plaza Theatre, Essendon
My Gal Sal, sadly too stained to buy. Running along the same wall was a is no longer a theatre, I believe the
Next to it was a large flyer from the broad shelf holding all sorts of trophies, building is still there in some guise or
Royal Theatre, dated 24 December most covered in a light layer of dust. other. The article on the opposite page
1875, advertising its Christmas One shield, in particular, caught my eye. by Ross King provides further insight
pantomime. Among the many On it I could just make out the word into the long, distinguished career of
entertaining acts was True or False? by Hoyts. I blew the dust off to reveal Lou Somprou. ★
J. K. Bainford and K. Ball with their Hoyts at the top of the shield and 1935
“miraculous and wonderful electric at the bottom. A further clean showed:
brushes” in a device called a
“Chromotrope”. (Perhaps an early type CHAMPION
of projector?) HOYTS SUBURBAN THEATRE
Further along, a mahogany roll-top PLAZA THEATRE, ESSENDON
desk sat squarely, the top rolled back LOU SOMPROU, MANAGER,
and not a pen in sight. Next to it was a SEPTEMBER 1935
pre-war clothes mangle with green
cracked rollers, its handle beside it on What a find, indeed! I approached
the worn carpet. Close by, on a hat the old chap behind the impressive cash
stand, a white bookmakers bag hung, register and held up the shield. “That
its race days over. Keeping it company will be $70, please”, he said in a North
was a bookmakers board with Cyclone, English accent. Unhurried, he accepted
15/8, Dulcify, 4/5 etc. still visible, its the money, pressed the appropriate Surviving largely intact as a community
imperial fractions making it somewhat keys on the register and PAID IN FULL, centre, the Essendon Plaza Theatre began
obsolete. And that’s where I had my $70, THANK YOU, shot up. Old time life as the local hall before conversion to
first lucky find. Beside the bookmakers machinery, old time manners, I mused “The Essendon Theatre” and finally
board, in an untidy heap, were half a as I headed for the front door. “The Plaza”. Photo: Kevin Adams.

22 Spring 2001 CINEMARECORD