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Reluctantly, we had to leave and caught a tram to our next stop, the now a rock venue. As we entered the stalls area, we were surprised
National Theatre National Theatre
National T Vic-Vic- to find that none of the seats have been removed and, under them,
National Theatre heatre in St Kilda, which opened in April 1921 as the Vic-Vic-
tory
torytory
tory Cinema with approx 2,500 seats. Operated by Hoyts from 1928 they still have foot warmers with the identification PP (Palais Pic-
until closure in 1971, it became the home of the National Theatre tures) on them. In the balcony we were introduced to Wendy
Movement in 1974 with a 783 seat theatre in the former circle area, Selover, the daughter of the Musical Director of the Palais’ orchestra
which was extended towards the stage. Beneath the theatre, the up to the 1950s, who recounted stories of living in the “Dear Old”
space became the National Theatre Ballet and Drama Schools. A Palais Theatre. Before leaving, we flicked through a couple of scrap-
wonderful view of St Kilda was gained when we climbed onto the flat books donated by Wendy to Carolyn Harper, the building’s owner,
roof on our way to the bio box. Lunch was next so some headed for which contained newspaper programme listings, adverts and re-
the local cake shops for delicious rum babas. views of film presentations from 1931/2.
Next door to Melbourne’s Luna Park amusement park was our next In the afternoon heat, we headed back to Melbourne by tram to visit
visit, the Palais TheatrePalais Theatre, which opened in 1927 with 2,968 seats. Its the Salvation Army City Temple, one of the early film studios in Aus-
Palais TheatrePalais Theatre
tall façade has twin towers topped by domes with an Islamic flavour. tralia and where Soldiers of the Cross, a mix of short film segments,
The large, cool foyer was dominated by a candelabra with 142 lantern-slides, music and narration, had a preview before being pre-
lights. Films ceased to be shown here regularly in 1968 and it is mièred at the Town Hall on 13 September 1900.

Palais TheatrePalais Theatre
Palais Th
Palais Theatreeatre St Kilda
Palais Th Palais Theatreeatre auditorium
Palais TheatrePalais Theatre
TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY: BALLARAT DAYTUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY: BALLARAT DAY were unable to wander around the auditorium, which does have a
TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY: BALLARAT DAYSDAY 21 FEBRUARY: BALLARAT DAY
TUE
Today we took a train for 1½ hours west to Ballarat, a grand old gold balcony but we did get a glimpse of it from an open side door as well
mining city with majestic architecture and wide streets, where our as from the empty bio-box at the back of the circle.
Regent Village 6 Regent Village 6
first stop is the Regent Village 6 Regent Village 6 Cinemas which opened in 1928 as After lunch – and the unconfirmed sighting of a kangaroo – we vis-
part of the Hoyts Theatre chain with 1,953 seats. The façade is in a ited Her Majesty’s TheatreHer Majesty’s Theatre. The building opened in 1875 and is the
Her Majesty’s TheatreHer Majesty’s Theatre
classical style with a canopy over the entrance doors and a vertical oldest, intact, purpose-built theatre in Australia, having been in con-
advertising fin on the frontage. In 1986, the theatre was tripled with tinuous use as a venue for live performance throughout its history.
the main screen in the former circle area (660 seats) with a large Moving pictures first came to the theatre in the 1890s as part of
screen, a red curtain and plenty of space in front of the first row of variety shows and the theatre was primarily known as a movie house
seats. Two screens in the former stalls area, as well as an extra from 1916 to 1965, although there was always an annual panto-
three screens built recently in an extension to the building have mime. The façade is in a ‘boom’ style of highly ornate architecture,
been given different coloured drapes on the side walls. As we left the stuccoed and enriched with mass-produced Renaissance-style ele-
fire alarm started sounding, so we made a quick exit while the fire ments in cast cement and a balustraded roof. The small, wide foyer
engines rushed past us and stopped outside the cinema. was originally three shops but these were removed in the 1930s. As
SturtSturt
Down the road we arrive at the SturtSturt Cinema, located in the Ballarat we entered the auditorium we were immediately struck by the beau-
Mechanics’ Institute and Library. A cinema opened here in 1920 and tiful painted act drop on stage depicting a Victorian era scene. The
cinema has run here, apart from a short break in the 1980s, until it rectangular proscenium has a shell decorative motif, the walls are
closed in 2004 when the lease ran out. As the roof was unsafe, we light golden in colour and the ceiling has a shallow dome in it, the

Her Majesty’s T
Her Majesty’s T
Her Majesty’s Theatreheatre Ballarat Her Majesty’s Theatreheatre proscenium
Her Majesty’s TheatreHer Majesty’s Theatre
Her Majesty’s TheatreHer Majesty’s Theatre
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