Page 9 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Middle Park Theatre. The opening Brilliant Opening of
of the Kinema in Albert Park in 1920, Repertory Theatre… An
a purpose built cinema to show off the Amazing Transformation
new confidence in films, would have The enthusiasm of the house
started to take much of the audience. and the superb production of
Alfred King Smith sold the business the “School for Scandal” at the
in 1923. Nancy Sibley of Mooroopna opening night of the Repertory
believes that her grandfather had a Theatre augurs success for this
pressing reason to do so - his children cultural enterprise in Middle
had either married or were about to be Park. The old picture theatre
and were no longer available as a has been transformed beyond
‘captive’ labour force to help run the recognition. The stage has been
‘pitchers’ at, one would suspect, extended and widened. It is well
family rates of pay. equipped with mechanical and
The new owner Mr P. Jones, when electrical apparatus. The hall is
chided in 1924 by the Health equipped throughout with
Department wrote as explanation ‘I upholstered tip-up seats and
have only been in this business a couple will accommodate 200. “School
of months and the matter of keeping for Scandal” was produced by
this exit clear did not occur to me.’ well known Melbourne actress Plan of building in 1921 (not to scale).
Surprisingly, later lessees Messrs. Lorna Forbes. The best seats were on an offset
Basil and Jack Flae of Kew had the By April 1953 The Repertory platform raised 30 cm. In the 1930
confidence to install sound and Theatre had become The Arrow revamp the platform was extended
renovate the interior so that it now Theatre where Frank Thring Jnr and across the room to seat 48. On the
seated 340 people. Over the next Frederick Farley regularly staged plays. flat floor there were two aisles. The
decade lessees came and went about In 1958 the Shell Company of seats extended to the walls.
every three years. By 1943 screenings Australia applied to lease the theatre
had diminished to Saturday nights for 16mm films three nights a week for
only. In April 1943 film delivered to 18 months. They proposed to transfer By the sixties the theatre had
the theatre one evening and left on a their equipment from their theatrette in become a studio for Cambridge Film
seat in the auditorium was deliberately William St. to the hall. Whether this and TV Productions and the upstairs
set alight. The fire destroyed 4000 ft did eventuate is not known. room was a dance school.
of film and damaged seats. The real The hall also had a run term as
destruction seems to have been to the The Amazu theatre. Whatever The Lemnian Brothers Club took
confidence of the lessee. prompted this name was a temporary over the building in 1981. The stage
and bio-box have been demolished and
In 1944 a Sydney B. Turnbull state of affairs. On 19 March 1960 a section of the floor polished and
applied to alter the building to become The South Melbourne Record reported designed for Ballroom Dancing. The
the Melbourne Repertory Theatre. The old AMAZU Theatre in interior is undergoing renovations to
The stage was brought forward and a Armstrong St. Middle Park is re- continue as a meeting centre and
proscenium erected. Seating was flowering as “THE NEW ARROW” reception rooms
reconfigured and reduced to 210. The with the first production on Monday,
reporter for The South Melbourne 28 March 28th by Delphic To look at this modest building is
Record of 16 June 1945 was pleased Productions of Catherine Duncan’s to be realize that small can be the basis
by the changes and new life for the play “Sons of the Morning.” for longevity in a loyal community.
building: The building has seen a century of
change and seems well placed to
survive more. ★
* “Tap, tap on my window…” The
Picture Show Man (1977)
REFERENCES
South Melbourne Record 16 Jun. 1945
South Melbourne Record 19 Mar. 1960
Public Records Office: Middle
Park/Arrow Theatre 7882P1/84/339
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Kay Rowan, Local History Librarian,
City Of Port Phillip kindly supplied
research information on the history of
the building.
Nancy Sibley of Mooroopna provided
photos and insights into the Smith
The simple exterior of the hall viewed from the lane off Armstrong St. family history. ★

CINEMARECORD 2002 9