Page 5 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Sydney, the Highpoint 17 in Melbourne
and the Carousel 16 in Perth. These
openings are scheduled to coincide with
the Australian launch of Harry Potter
and the Half Blood Prince in December
2008.
The fourth theatre will be installed
in Melbourne in 2009.
For the operators of the Darling
Harbour IMAX cinema, this is all bad
news. They see the move as an example
of predatory action by their United
States licensor IMAX Corp.
Sydney’s IMAX screen is 35 metres
wide and the biggest Hoyts screen will
be 21 metres. “It’s called IMAX but its
IMAX sub-optimal, (and) what annoys
us is that they’re using the same name”,
said Peter Ivany co owner of the
Darling harbour theatre.
IMAX Corp has defended the
Sydney expansion saying that the latest
IMAX experience is not just about the
size of the screen.
- Various Sources.
QUEENSLAND
CATHS (Qld.) Visits Toowoomba
An inspection of the Empire
Theatre and cinema venues on 20 July,
was the inaugural excursion for the
Queensland branch.
Among the 13 attendees was Keith
Hoffman, a former projectionist there,
who had detailed knowledge of the
building as a cinema. Keith’s book Life
in the Operating Box was reviewed in
CR 58.
The group was also privileged to
meet and talk with the daughter of
pioneer film-maker Charles Chauvel
and his grandson Rick, who runs a
members-only venue at the Icon
Cinema.
The success of the day can be
judged from the fact that the tour began
at 9.15am and didn't finish until almost
4pm.

Right, top and centre:
Inside the restored Empire.
Opposite: At the Icon, from left:
Steve Maggs, Kevin Walters, Rick Carlson
and Susanne Carlson Chauvel.
Images Bert Clements.

CINEMARECORD 2008 5