Page 12 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Clockwise from top left: The monogram above the proscenium; view to stage space from the new mezzanine; the simple plaster
work on the barrel ceiling.
The theatre showed its last film the extra word painted in to join the over the building. A mezzanine floor
about the end of 1939. After a spell it original rendered letters set high on the has replaced the original balcony from
re-opened as a vaudeville show one façade. When vaudeville ceased the back wall to stage. Memories flooded
night a week with a chap called Les doors to entertainment closed forever. back, revived by the traces of the
White as Master of Ceremonies. He The next occupant was a firm original interior – the plaster patterns
also doubled as a comedian. Other called Joy Toys. They were followed of the ceiling, some original light
performers I remember were the by a knit wear and clothing firm. Later fittings and the monogram APT high
Clarence Sisters and the Leonard a ski school became the tenant. The on what is left of the proscenium. A
Brothers who later appeared in variety artificial ski slope finished near the huge skylight has replaced the open
shows on television. old stalls entrance. roof section. Art and imagination have
It was at this time that the theatre Recently the manager of Sothebys returned to the old address.
became The New Armadale Theatre, Australia Pty. Ltd. allowed me to look

The Start of Something Big

Within the plain walls of the correspondence of this time there is a The Armadale was possibly the
Armadale a young Mendel Snider tension between inspectors and only purpose-built, balcony cinema in
honed his skills in theatre management. managers over the realities of day-to- Victoria that retained the bio box at the
Snider looked to the possibilities day life. An example occurred at the back of the stalls. In 1935 Hoyts
offered by the construction of the New Armadale Picture Theatre in 1915 informed the Health Department of
Malvern, one rail station away and when a Health inspector came across a plans to remodel the theatre. Instead,
supervised its opening in 1921. The two poster painting workshop which was they terminated their lease.
theatres were now in the Associated set up behind the screen. Snider was The Department summarized the
Theatres Pty. Ltd. chain and were soon notified that the practice of combining last years of independent showmen at
sharing programs. a factory with a theatre had to cease. the Armadale in this way: ‘The first
The Managing Director of Associated Snider replied that he had ‘the best went broke in a few weeks and left
Theatres Francis W. Thring was the poster artist in Australia working without paying the rent. The present
visionary, but Snider, as their Director for backstage in the day time, with a wife operator is unable to pay more than a
Planning and Construction, played a and two children to support. portion of the rent, owing to bad
hands on role in the development of the Unfortunately he is a victim to drink pictures and consequent poor
Regent South Yarra and the Regent and it is necessary for me to have him attendances.’
Gardiner. Snider later formed the under my observation, not Dreams of running a picture theatre
partnership Snider and Dean that withstanding he is the best poster artist die hard. In 1946 the owners of the
acquired theatres in Bourke Street and in Australia, he could not obtain work building wrote to Health to ask about
became a presence in New South Wales. elsewhere on account of his failing. I re-registering the building for films.
In the teen years of the last century would be grateful if you could see The answer was terminal: since the
governments in Victoria were proud of your way clear to modify the theatre had been closed for four years,
the regulations and enforcement that restrictions you place on him being it would be categorized as a new
made theatres structurally safe and if there, as it would create great hardship building and subject to the new
not fire proof, at least fire sensible. In if I were to dismiss him.’ regulations. ★

12 2002 CINEMARECORD