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CATHS VISITS

AT VICTORIA GARDENS
Brian Miller
On Sunday 13 July, 34 CATHS
members and friends visited
Melbourne’s newest cinema complex
at the corner of Victoria and Burnley
Streets Richmond on the former
Vickers Ruwolt site. Our ninety minute
tour was expertly hosted by Leora
Neverzie, the assistant manager.
Well designed without architectural
compromises, Victoria Gardens
Cinemas are approached by escalator
from the food court to the first floor.
A long foyer offers combined
refreshment facilities, box office sales
and administration enquiries in a
continuous line. Storage of
confectionery and other items is placed
behind the selling area.
There are eight auditoriums plus a
separate theatrette fitted with 18
luxurious reclining lounge chairs for
corporate groups and previews. The
theatrette has separate projection room
facilities.
The eight cinemas open off one long
inner foyer, making crowd control a
simple exercise. There are no
stage/screen curtains and all furnishings
and fittings are top quality throughout.
Cinemas One and Two are
identical, seating 498 each, in stadium-
style stalls and a balcony. General
admission is in the balcony (164 seats)
and the front and intermediate stalls.
The back stalls area, divided off from
the front, is the Director’s Lounge with
33 luxury seats. In the corner is a
separate sound-proof Crying Room
with seven seats. Crying rooms were
popular in new cinemas in the Thirties
and make a welcome return.
Furnishings in red and black tones,
wall to wall screens and DTS Sound
are features of these two auditoriums,
which set new standards. A common
foyer for Director’s Lounge patrons
links Cinemas One and Two and
patrons enter through separate doors
direct to their seating.
The foyer is beautifully decorated in
Top: Tour organiser Brian Miller introduces Anderson Cinemas assistant manager Leora
cocktail-lounge style and features a
Neverzie. Image: Robert Knight.
fully licensed bar, catering facilities and
Centre: The cinemas are above the Food Court. Image: Kevin Adams
a gleaming black Yamaha grand piano.
Bottom: The approach to the ticket and candy bar area. Image: Kevin Adams.
6 2003 CINEMARECORD