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The Skyline name disappeared in
the mid 1960s and Burwood, along
with the other Skyline drive-ins in
Victoria, became simply Hoyts Drive-
ins. The famous Skyline Sam stick
figure was removed from beside the
ticket boxes.
In time for its 21st birthday the
toilets were expanded. Up until that
time, and as with many drive-ins, the
length of interval was determined by
the length of the queue at the ladies!
In 1975 a new brick ticket box
replaced the original. Pinball machines
in the snack bar replaced the juke-box.
By the late 1970s, and a after a quarter
century of service, the Super Standard
projectors were retired.
Hoyts chose the Philips/Kinoton
FP20 projector for their drive-in fleet.
This was a modern projector when
compared to the Super Standard, but
the Ashcraft carbon arc lamphouses
remained, despite the upgrade to xenon
arcs at other drive-ins.
The blockbusters of the late 1970s
revitalised Burwood for a time. Star
Wars and Close Encounter of the Third
Kind were amongst the most popular
offerings.
Throughout its life Burwood
maintained its position as at least the
sentimental flagship of the Hoyts’
drive-in circuit. It was always a good
place to see a movie and the grounds
were kept in presentable condition.
The staff was enthusiastic and many
long standing Hoyts’ employees spent
time at Burwood: the list includes Alec
Russell, Norm Hughes, Bob Register,
Lindsay Bell and Phil O’Kane in the
projection room, along with countless
others.
After 29 years, and with around 100
cars in to see We Of The Never Never
plus Local Hero, the gates closed for
the last time on Wednesday 22 June
1983. In the preceding weeks the film
line-up included The Last American
Virgin, One Thousand And One Exotic
Nights, The Erotic Sex Lives Of Romeo
and Juliet and Lady Chatterly’s Lover,
all a far cry from a Danny Kaye
comedy.
Hoyts’ Southern Division Manager
at the time, Graeme Hodges,
commented that he regretted the theatre
had to close, but believed that patrons
From the top: An inviting scene for any kid. The motorised merry-go-round was
would be more than adequately
removed in the 1970s, but the rocket ship remained.
provided for by Hoyts’ drive-ins at
The theme for the Western BBQ area was richly detailed.
Doncaster, Wantirna and Oakleigh.
The steak-house on the man-made lake, late 1960s. It is now a worker’s lunch-room.

CINEMARECORD 2007 19