Page 5 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

A Long Reach Village Toorak Neon
During a visit to Wyndam in the The vertical neon on the Village
Kimberley region of Western Australia Toorak must have ranked with the star
I visited the local museum. Among the of the Astor East St. Kilda as the
memorabilia on display I was intrigued inventive neons of suburban cinemas.
to see a complete C&W projector from The bell at the top swung to the
the town’s meat works cinema. movement of the bell ringer’s arms.
On this projector was an empty (Memory is not perfect, but I think his
Filmways can titled Mr. Magoo Fire arms moved.) The bell and the man
Chief copy A, W/S. A label on the tin were in colour and the letters were
indicated the destination of the film to white.
be Were St. Montmorency, a theatre Don Kennedy, Port Melbourne
that I had the pleasure of opening on Mornington Cinema
behalf of the local Rotary and Apex
In CinemaRecord 39 the article on
clubs at a time when I recall the Magoo
the Lawrence Brothers mentions the
cartoons were released by Columbia.
cinema at Mornington twice - each time
Also find enclosed the
referring to it as the Plaza.
projectionist’s running sheet, newsreel
My recollection is that the theatre was
content sheets, film pick-up and return
named Matthew Flinders. Am I in
instructions for the last nights at Hoyts
error, or could it be that the brothers
Cinema Richmond which may be of
Lawrence purchased it as the Plaza,
interest to members.
and then changed its name?
Malcolm Page, Hurstbridge Vic.
Incidentally, the Peter Wallace
[Thank you Malcolm. The running mentioned as the manager/projectionist
sheets are now in the Cinema put in charge at Mornington by the
Richmond file at the CATHS-V Archive. Lawrence Brothers is actually Peter
– Editor] Wallis.
Peter and I received our training
CATHS-V At The Rex Charlton
together at the Argosy Murrumbeena.
After a busy fortnight that included
It was probably unusual for there to be
a sound upgrade and culminated in a
two trainee permits concurrently in
Charity Night screening of High
force for one suburban theatre. We sat
Society on the Friday, it was great to
for our licence exams at the same time,
‘unwind’ with even more friendly
and received our licences together. Very
CATHS-V members (some for the first
soon Peter was snapped up by Alf
time) over supper on Saturday.
Lawrence, to take charge of their Verne
I would like to take the opportunity -
Theatre at East Malvern, set up not
which I seemed to miss on the night –
long after the end of World War II. I
on behalf of Dennis and myself, to thank
helped Peter with some changes to the
CATHS-V for the generous support and
equipment there.
encouragement in helping us to maintain
Ken Newell, East Bentleigh
the Rex in the tradition that began with
Joan and Geoffrey Edwards. [You are correct Ken. The Lawrence Magic Lantern
It is always a pleasure to entertain Bros did rename the theatre the
What a great photo of the Regent
people who appreciate and understand a Mathew Flinders. Also, a story on the Collins Street biobox (CinemaRecord 39
real picture theatre. We sincerely trust Verne will run in the next issue. – p32) and especially the German designed
you all enjoyed your country weekend Editor.]
Bren-Kurt duo-slide projector. The
away and look forward to your next
Barkly Footscray had a similar model
visit.
which I operated when I was an assistant
Steve Walsh, Charlton
projectionist there in the late forties.
CORRECTION.
[The feeling is mutual Steve. You did us The top and bottom projectors were
Echuca’s Paramount Theatres by
proud. The cinema has a great feel and linked with a dissolve. The top unit
Fred Page in CinemaRecord 36 p22
we look forward to coming back. - could be moved back and forward by
referred to a Mr. William Richards
Editor] turning the rack handle so that the
and his open-air Tivoli pictures. A
* Re-visit the Rex in Newsreel grandson has informed the author image appeared to move forward or
recede to a small square (albeit with a
that the correct name of the
loss of focus). This meant that the
entrepreneur was William Walter
operator could jazz up the presentation
Rickards.
of the Val Morgan advertising slides.
Those were the days when presentation
was king. Thanks for the memory.
Jim White, Arawata (Vic.)
CINEMARECORD 2002 5