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Halls Gap Cinema                   Conclusion
                                                                                  In one way the digital age is
                                                                               bringing projection full circle.
                                                                                  The earliest projection - a
                                                                               combination of volatile nitrate film,
                                                                               ether for limelight, the biograph set up
                                                                               in the balcony or at the back of a hall,
                                                                               reels of film totally exposed, and before
                                                                               the advent of take-up mechanisms, film
                                                                               often collected in a laundry basket -
                                                                               was one dangerous practice after
                                                                               another.
                                                                                  As
                                                                               public safety
                                                                               became an
                                                                               issue, strict
                                                                               regulations
                                                                               in building
            James (Jim) Ness was a personal                                    design,
          friend and mentor of the writer. Jim                                 projector
          started his projection career as assistant                           design and
                                               The hall has been equipped with a
          operator at the Renown Elsternwick in                                operation of
                                            complete plant of Kalee 11 projectors
          1931. He also worked for Milne’s                                     the
                                            operating with carbon arcs (above).
          Films, Elsternwick, a small independent                              equipment
                                            The equipment is well maintained, and
          distributor. Jim was variously a                                     were
                                            is a somewhat unexpected outfit to find
          projectionist, technician and exhibitor,                             introduced
                                            in this location.
          running shows at Kinglake, Bayswater                                 to minimize
                                               Operated by volunteers for the
          and other ‘hills’ locations.                                         fire hazard.
                                            popular annual Halls Gap Film Festival,
            During his ‘retirement’ he operated
                                            the dedication and interest of this group  Operator’s fire instructions at the
          for Reg Boulter at Hamilton and
                                            is most creditable.                               defunct Regent Colac.
          continued to do so up until a few weeks
          before his passing in 1999. To mark  Stawell - Town Hall Cinema.        The introduction of 35mm safety
          James’ lifelong involvement in cinema,  I was impressed by the neatness of  film in the early 1950s was a major
          Reg. named the Hamilton venue     the Century projector installation,  step. By the late 1970s, tough mylar-
          accordingly.                      complete with Cinemaccanica Xenon  based film stock and the phase-out of
                                            lamps (below). The bio-box was     carbon arc lamps have seen film
                                            spacious and ship-shape.           projected from open platters or large
                                                                               reels. These innovations allowed an
                                                                               easing of safety rules.
                                                                                  By visiting both old and new
                                                                               cinemas it's interesting to see just how
                                                                               much things have changed yet in some
                                                                               ways, they haven’t.  ★





                                            Ararat Astor
                                               This commodious cinema is now a
                                            triple with single Cinemaccanica
                                            Victoria 8 machines and platters. Still
                                            in the corner of the main bio-room is a
                                            Raycophone Victory projector.
                                               Italian Cinemaccanica 70/35
          The late James Ness
                                            machines supplanted Kalee after
                                            Gaumont-Kalee closed in the early
                                            1970s.


                                                                                Anticipating a fun night. CATHS’ tourists
                                                                                assemble at the former Odeon Star,
                                                                                Mt Gambier



                                                                                       CINEMARECORD 2008 15
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