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The SFC moved into their new
offices in 1969. It was some months
before the theatre became operational.
A stunning red carpet was laid. After
heavy rain one night, water seeped into
the theatre as a consequence of
incomplete sealing of the Macarthur
Street terrace. In the morning the front
of stage area was under a foot of water.
The carpet was ruined. All of it had to
be replaced.
The decor of the theatre was stylish
1970s. Fine cut and faced granite blocks
formed the curved interior walls, with
vertical timber panels across the bio-
box. A ceiling of white vermiculite with
acoustic ridging supported flush fitting
down lights. Public address ceiling
loudspeakers were fitted throughout the
auditorium and the L-shaped foyer. The
black leather seats, letterbox red carpet
and a white, coarse weave fabric for the
screen tabs looked stunning.
The well-equipped projection room
contained the Bauer B14, 35mm
projector and two 16 mm projectors - a
Bauer Selecton 110 and a Kalart /Victor
Marc 300.
There was a Silcron turntable for
discs, a Byer/Rola quarter inch reel-to-
reel tape deck, AWA valve P.A
amplifier with standby and locally
made ‘Australian Sound’, solid state
monaural amplifiers. An ‘Australian
Sound’ microphone and speaker mixing
panel was incorporated with the public
address system, which was often
problematic in operation.
The projector pre-amplifiers were
Top: Three Bauer
designed and made by Pyrox engineer,
projectors. The closest is
Roy King (no relation). I assisted Roy
the 16mm Selecton 110.
with the installation of the plant.
Centre: From the other
Two, three-phase Xenon lamp
side of the room, the pair
rectifiers supplied power for the three
of 35mm Bauer B14s.
projectors. This was achieved by
The pedestal leg of the
switching the 16mm projector between
16mm Kalart Victor Marc
the two rectifiers. A specially designed,
300 is far left.
heavy-duty switch was ordered from
England for this purpose. After many Right: Program for the
delays and excuses I made up an old- 1970 Australian Film
fashioned knife switch from scrap Awards.
parts. This ‘temporary’ switch remained
in use for years.
A major fault in the bio room layout
was the position of the lighting dimmer
and curtain masking controls. Set on
the rear wall, the projectionist had to be
a contortionist to operate them
effectively. The light dimmer was a
motor driven variac, installed at the
main electrical switchboard and
operated remotely from the bio-room.

CINEMARECORD 2007 9