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and Dolby SR are installed. Krix, an
Adelaide Company, made the speakers,
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which are THX approved.
In 1998, Cinema Enterprises
purchased the drive-in from Roy
Denison who had renamed it Murray
Bridge Drive-In. Extensive upgrading
took place over the years including
changing the projectors from Kalee 21
to a Philips EL4000 and platter. The
Philips projectors were originally at the
Fair Lady cinema in Adelaide.
On one particularly windy day, a
large part of the screen was destroyed.
The locals took great delight in
declaring that it had “gone with the
wind” - including the local newspaper,
which had the perfect headline!
Although a popular venue for
family entertainment, the Murray
Bridge Drive-In closed in February
2005 due to declining patronage. On
the ‘bumper’ final night some nostalgic
films were added to the scheduled
program. Cars came from every-where,
including a contingent from an
Adelaide car club as well as the local
car club. ABC radio covered the event.
There wasn't an un-marked bumper in
the place by the time all the cars were
squeezed in.
Recently the land was sold for
property development and houses are
now starting to appear in a paddock
(8,11)
originally on the outskirts of town.
Top: ‘Gone with the wind’, June 2003 (Colin Kennett)
The recent Kenny was the catalyst
Above: Digital projection equipment at the Cameo.
to install a digital video projector at the
Cameo. This Australian film proved so Acknowledgements: 4. Mount Barker Courier and The River
popular that 35mm prints became My sincere thanks to Colin Kennett Murray Advocate, 14/07/1922
scarce - especially for the small (a CATHS member), who supplied microfilm .
independent exhibitor. The spur to go historical material and introduced me to 5. Mount Barker Courier and The River
digital at the Cameo was the fact that many significant senior residents of Murray Advocate, 1929/32 microfilm.
Kenny was available in a digital format Murray Bridge. 6. Across the Mighty Murray - Murray
on commercial hard-disc drives. A I am also grateful to: Dorothy Bridge. Murray Bridge Historical
Panasonic PT-DW5000E Digital Light Smyth (Sister of Jack Brooks), Barbara Society ISBN 0 9589840 4
Projector together with PanaMedia (cashier at the Star, and usher at the 7. A screen epic through time. Colin
processor/control equipment was Ozone), Bob Channon (ex local paper), Kennett, Murray Valley Standard 100
quickly installed. Kenny was then Ken Wells and Harold McLaren years, 2000.
proudly ‘splashed on the big screen at (Murray Bridge Historical Society),
8. Cameo Cinema: 2,825 movies, 26
Murray Bridge’! The new system is who helped with this article.
years and a drive-in theatre. Murray
fully integrated with the theatre's
Valley Standard Jan. 2003.
automated control. It has since been Photos not credited were by the
9. Thanks for the Memory, John Thiele
used for screening a number of films author.
and Ross Lange ISBN 0 646 05633 6
including Prairie Home Companion.
The cost of going digital was only References: 10. Newspaper clippings, courtesy
about $20,000 and the image on the 1. Murray Bridge Typed Town Records Harold McLaren.
screen is as brilliant and clear as one Vol. 2 and 8. 11. Taped interview with Colin Kennett
from the film projectors! Comments 2. Mount Barker Courier and Southern at the Cameo on 31/1/2007.
from patrons have been favourable and Advertiser, 24/09/1897 microfilm. 12. Taped interview with Mrs. Dorothy
Colin as usual, is enthusiastic about the 3. Mount Barker Courier and Southern Smyth (sister of the late Jack Brooks)
new format. In many ways though, he Advertiser, 1909/1910 microfilm. on 10/2/2007.
still prefers the time-honoured 35mm 13. Interview with Barbara and Bob
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film equipment. ★ Channon 2/02/2007.
CINEMARECORD 2007 15