Page 14 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

that two of the most popular films of ‘Mr. Harris demonstrated the
later years were A Man Called Peter equipment, in which Mr. Musgrove
and Three Coins in the Fountain. showed his interest. The Shire
In 1964 Mr. Bill Wearne died. President was anxious to ensure that
Changing Times. the equipment - or any parts of it -
was not removed, as this would have
Mr. Harris attempted to keep the
left the hall without any means of
cinema going in Donald, but older
showing films.
patrons were staying home to watch
television favourites particularly after ‘It seemed at the same time better
a commercial station was established to have it purchased by someone who
in Ballarat in 1968. The Drive-In at already had a licensed projectionist
Birchip became a successful than by some local organisation or the
innovation. Council, who would then have had to
secure the services of a licensed
Mr. Harris thought that the lack of
operator.
a Dress Circle was a disadvantage at
the Donald hall and compared it to ‘For these reasons, the Shire
The Charlton Theatre which did President encouraged the conference
have one. and was instrumental in negotiations
which led to an agreement with the
In the late 1960s screenings were
purchaser, Mr. Musgrove.
reduced to once a fortnight and some,
like They’re A Weird Mob and Dr. ‘Mr. Musgrove has been associated
Zhivago proved popular. There were with the motion picture industry for
no screenings in winter. over 50 years. He has been able to
secure some excellent films and
Then, in September 1968, The
intends to show weekly (when the hall
Times announced, ‘Pictures again! It
is available) from Anzac night.
will be welcome news to district
picture goers that the Memorial Hall ‘Mr. Musgrove intends to show
pictures will be starting again on a good films and expects generous co-
regular fortnightly basis as from operation from his patrons, especially
Donald Show Night, Saturday, the younger brigade, so that Donald
October 12”. will not fall behind in the sphere of
Donald in 1938. His wife acted as ‘Mr. Bert Harris, writing from entertainment’.
usherette, and they strictly controlled Mildura, intimates that arrangements True to his word, Mr. Musgrove
any tendencies to ‘hooliganism’ in the have been made for the supply of managed to give weekly shows during
audience. MGM films, and these should provide 1970, and attractions such as Oliver
At first they tried pictures excellent entertainment for young and found an audience. But the pull of
Wednesday evenings in St. Mary's old alike. The opening program will other entertainment was strong, and
Hall and Saturday night in the include Elvis Presley in Double interest faltered. In 1972 there were no
Memorial Hall, but the population was Trouble plus MGM’s modern and pictures advertised until Show Night,
not big enough. The St. Mary’s merry Western, The Fastest Gun 14 October when Planet of the Apes
contract was paid off. Alive.’ was screened. There were only two
films in November and one in
Some of the shows during 1936 However picture nights remained
December.
were the Tarzan films with Johnny erratic. Sometimes a special attraction,
Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, such as an Elvis Presley film or Helga This led to an approach to the
Astaire and Rogers in Roberta, Shirley (a daring sex education film that must Shire Council reported in The Times
Temple in Bright Eyes , and Norma have caused much discussion in (and summarized here). ‘Poor
Shearer in The Barretts of Wimpole town!) would revive interest. attendances and the death of the owner
Street. And, of course, the ever On April 21, 1970, the Times gave of the projection equipment, Mr. L.
popular Charlie Chaplin, in Modern notice of another change: ‘Movies Musgrove, have brought to a close an
Times. Return to Donald! After a period of activity which has been one of the
main sources of entertainment in this
(Film exhibition in the town seems once-a-fortnight pictures at the Donald
district for more than half-a-century.
to have run smoothly for the next 20 Memorial Theatre, followed by
years.) occasional programmes featuring ‘Mr. Musgrove’s plant and
A CinemaScope screen was special films, Donald will once again installations for the picture theatre
installed at the Memorial Hall in 1957, have regular programmes.’ were for sale at $400, and that Council
had first option on these items.
and the first film screened on it was The paper explained that Mr Harris
Council had the option, the offer, but
Robert Taylor in Many Rivers to had been able to interest a veteran
no operator.
Cross. exhibitor Mr. Len Musgrove to visit
Mr. Harris, speaking to The Donald with him and confer with the ‘Most of those attending lately had
Donald History and Natural History council about reviving films in the
Group, said that in the early days town.
business was excellent. He recalled

14 2002 CINEMARECORD