Page 18 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

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A chance introduction to projecting saw Gippsland boy Jim Lawrence rise to positions of
responsibility in city theatres and on the way give his brothers a taste for the same life. A close knit
and practical family the younger Lawrence brothers went on to develop the largest touring circuit in
eastern Victoria while also building or buying ‘hardtops’. In the first of a two part series
Jim Lawrence recalls the hurly burly of the early sound days.

The Lawrence Brothers:

Pictures Were Our Business

Part One – Jim’s story the show on the Saturday night, packed made me very, very comfortable and I
About 1916 there was a picture all the film and equipment up and then lived there until the family came to
show running in the Mechanics Hall went home. The family were living at Melbourne to live in 1921.
Korumburra. When Sam Makeham Catheston, a farm a few miles out of I worked for Sam Makeham for
and Syd Whitton came back from town. three years doing bill posting around
Gallipoli they took it over. I was I had a little Singer motor bike. I town and shifting the projectors after
working at the power station at the time. rode it as far as I could, just over the every show. I got that way I could
Sam ran the projector, but he came railway line. I couldn't get any further, almost throw them. However it was all
down to the power station one day and it was too muddy, so I left it there and good experience. I was earning about
asked me if I would like to go and sit in walked the rest of the way. The family £3 per week, it wasn't bad pay.
on the show on Saturday nights in case were all in bed, but I woke everyone I first met Harry Bryer when he
something went wrong with the up and said I was going to Melbourne. came to put on a show in Port
electrical equipment. I thought this was On the Monday morning I had to Melbourne where I was working for
all right, but I didn't tell him that I didn't get up dashed early, pick up my motor Sam. Harry was the projectionist for
know much about electricity. So I did bike from where I had left it and ride it 'Hurley's Show'. Captain Frank Hurley
that for two or three months. into Korumburra to the station. No used to travel to the Pacific Islands,
Then Sam said, "How would you one in Melbourne knew I was coming. India and such places making films
like to learn to run this machine? I went to see Sam and found out the and slides and give a commentary
There might be times when I don't feel show was on Thursday nights. from the stage. The operator would
like coming to Korumburra on Then I went to Moonee Ponds to see have to start and stop the projector and
Saturday night and you could run the my Aunts and Grandma. I said, "I've switch from film to slides and back
show for me." So that's how it started. come down to Melbourne to work. I again to make the pictures fit in with
One Saturday when Sam wasn't suppose you can put me up?” I had great the talk. This time it was a South Pole
coming I was at the station to get the film faith that I would be able to stay there. Expedition they were showing.
and there was a note with it. Sam asked Oh boy, the things you do when you're I liked Harry and we talked at the
me to come to Melbourne, he wanted me young. But they put me up all right.” end of the show. About twelve months
to run the show he'd just started up in There was a room out the back, it later I met him in town.
Port Melbourne Town Hall. was a shed really, with no door. We Harry was running the Liberty,in
This was September 1918 and it tacked up some old carpet over the Brunswick Street Fitzroy, a building
was raining, miserable and cold. I did doorway and put in an extra bed. They that had previously been a roller skating

18 2002 CINEMARECORD