Page 15 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

been children, and there had ‘After an absence of several years received just the reverse of our earlier
apparently been some lack of the motion picture theatre is back in thoughts.
discipline. It seemed quite obvious Donald. It will stay and grow in “When children outnumber adults
that people generally did not want strength IF it receives the right kind of by six to one, although our usherettes
pictures in Donald. support from district people. It’s up to are doing a 'mighty' job, it becomes
‘Times had changed, and at them.’ virtually impossible to control them.”
Birchip there was now a modern The principals of Aura Productions Mr. Pittard concluded, “This is YOUR
drive-in theatre with all amenities. A Ross Pittard and Ken Hill worked town and YOUR theatre, and the only
motion that the administrator be from the back of the Times office, way it will be a success is by
advised that Council was not which at that time was using only part involving yourselves in its progress”.
interested in purchasing the plant was of its new premises. Aura Productions continued until
carried’. In Oct. 1974 the the end of 1976.
now Donald Birchip Times The hall was used
carried the headline, spasmodically for films.
‘Movies Move Back into The Apex Club presented
Donald’. The article shows once a month for
continued: limited periods, and there
‘Negotiations between were occasional travelling
Aura Productions, of exhibitors with shows such
Melbourne, and the Donald as Northern Safari or World
Shire Council have enabled Safari.
opening night to be set for In the first half of the
Saturday, November 2 - the twentieth century, the
first day of the Donald “movies” played an
District Jockey Club’s important part in the social
racing carnival. life of small country towns
‘Principals of Aura like Donald, bringing to the
Productions, which also young people glimpses of
operates the Athenaeum exotic worlds, and
Theatre, Lilydale,have widening their horizons and
made several visits to imagination. Older
Donald in recent weeks, and residents recall a time when
have described The fashions and life-styles of
Memorial Theatre as the day were reflected in
eminently suitable for the the fantasies of the screen
showing of top class films. and in the photographs of
They will bring with them film stars, which were
their own up-to-date attached to many a
projection equipment. bedroom wall.
‘Initially programmes Although there is still
will be screened in Donald an interest in films, most
every fortnight. Provided people prefer to see them
patronage warrants it, on video in the comfort of
however, this will be their own homes and at a
increased to weekly time to suit themselves. The
showings, and if necessary curtain has come down on
the company will be the cinema in Donald. ★
prepared to add Friday night Opening night went well. ‘A huge
screenings and Saturday afternoon audience packed the Memorial © Donald History and Natural History
matinees for children.” Theatre for the re-opening at which Society. Text and photos reproduced by
the main feature was the The Poseidon permission. This is an edited version with
‘November 2 will be Donald’s
Adventure. some additional comment by Mike Trickett.
biggest movie-going night since pre-
television times. In reality the era of the motion
picture in country towns was over. In The work of R. Le-Poer Terry for Donald’s
‘Visitors will attend from
The Times of 11 March 1975, Ross Memorial Hall and other cinemas will be
Melbourne and other centres and it is
Pittard had a hard-hitting letter the subject of a future article.
hoped that the Victorian manager of
headed, “To parents and children”,
20th Century Fox, Mr Frank Hurley,
deploring the behaviour of children at
will be present.
the cinema. He said, “When we first
‘For the first night the entire
visited Donald we received the
theatre staff will be brought from
impression from the Council and
Melbourne, but from then on local
residents that they wanted the films to
usherettes will be engaged.
return. In the past two weeks we have
CINEMARECORD 2002 15