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IVANHOE THEATRE

By Gary Ross

The Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe, for Hoyts Pictures at the corner of large awning extended across the
ten kilometres north of the GPO and Heidelberg Road and Ivanhoe Parade, Heidelberg Road frontage and around
bordered by the historic suburbs of at an estimated cost of £20,000. There the corner into Ivanhoe Parade. The
Heidelberg and Eaglemont, is notable will be seating accommodation for auditorium section of the building was
for the Heidelberg School artists 1,700 people. The outstanding feature a conventional brick and iron structure
colony and homes designed by the of the house will be substitution of a with a sloping roof-line that, at its
Capitol Theatre architect Walter ramp for the usual dress circle. This highest point, dwarfed the theatre
Burley Griffin. Ivanhoe's tree lined Hoyts maintains, will ensure a greater façade.
streets and mix of Federation and degree of comfort, both in the seating The theatre must have been an
Inter-War period homes give it an air which will be on the lounge principle, imposing structure on the Heidelberg
of comfortable middle-class and in view. The ceiling will be Road hill when it opened on 25
respectability. latticed to give additional ventilation. October 1924. The architecturally
Moving pictures were regularly There will be a billiard and other splendid Heidelberg Town Hall was
screened at the Recreation Hall in rooms on the second floor. The still some thirteen years away from
Ivanhoe Parade under the Ivanhoe building will have a frontage of 100 construction, enabling the theatre to
Pictures banner. The advent of a feet to Heidelberg Road, and a depth dominate the local landscape. The
purpose-built cinema just around the of 200 feet.’ (3) assessment of the building was
corner in Upper Heidelberg Road in complimentary: ‘The front two-story
1924 spelled the finish for the elevation is of a very attractive design,
Recreation Hall pictures. Its last show and there are eight shops with
was one week before the opening of beautifully designed lead-lights and
the Ivanhoe Theatre. mirrors. The front entrance, with
The developers of the new theatre beautiful lead-light dome and marble
were John Denton and George and tiled hall and vestibule, contains
Dickson. An inaugural director of most expensive fittings in polished
(1)
Hoyts Pty Ltd (1914), John Denton J.P. Tasmanian Blackwood and metal. The
had made his money in real estate as entrance hall, soda fountains, lounge
an auctioneer and agent in Fitzroy and and foyer are all floored with English
Collingwood before becoming mosaic tiling and with wainscot in tiles.
involved in the development of the The theatre is capable of seating 2,000
cinema empire started by the patrons in perfect comfort, and as all
Melbourne dentist Arthur Russell. the seats are in a gradually sloping
Denton built one of the most floor, every person has a perfect view
prominent residences in the inner of the stage and orchestra. The seats
suburbs still standing today, the are of the latest tip-up pattern, and are
Italianate mansion Dentonville in all finished in blue and gold. In the
The first week of regular programs ran
McKean Street, North Fitzroy. (2) In circle are the most luxurious club
the feature simultaneously with Hoyts
order to oversee his new investment, chairs. The theatre is of perfectly
Deluxe Bourke Street, but made no fuss
he built another home in Ivanhoe, also fireproof construction in brick and
about it. The Argus 25 October 1924.
named Dentonville. concrete, and other features include the
George Dickson of Caulfield was a most modern system of ventilation (fan
builder and a partner in the company Lewis Kaberry and C.M. Chard and ceiling ventilation) through walls
Dickson and Yorsten (Builders) Pty. were specialist theatre architects and the ceiling, which is of the most
Ltd, the firm that was to build the new during the boom in construction of attractive design in fretted and
theatre at the northern end of the purpose-built picture theatres. The modelled plaster. The theatre is
Ivanhoe shopping centre. The New Malvern (1921) and Ivanhoe appointed with most up-to-date
architects were the Sydney firm of were possibly the only examples of furnishings in every respect, and also
Kaberry and Chard. Ivanhoe was the their work in Victoria. Their designs contains an up-to-date tea-room. The
first stadium-style cinema built in were notable for a functional rather proscenium, orchestra space and stage
Melbourne, pre-dating Hoyts than aesthetic appeal. The exterior was fittings are of beautiful design and
Glenhuntly by two years. The phrase unique for a Melbourne theatre. Above construction. There is a telephone
was not in use at the time and a two-storey rendered façade with a communication between all parts of the
Everyones explained the design as – corniced parapet wall, elevated in the theatre. Boxes with luxurious chairs are
‘Embodying a principle in seating middle section, stepped gables like constructed along each side wall.
arrangements entirely new to Australia, Norman watch-towers dominated the Special attention has been given to the
a picture theatre is to be constructed end and mid sections of the parapet. A electric lighting and power system.

14 2003 CINEMARECORD