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The Metro Twin Clayton. The holding yard is behind the left screen. Monash University is top, right. Photo: David Kilderry Collection.
Was it one feature film for each show? How important was the weather? and cold running water, emergency
We opened in May 1957 and the Winter must have been fairly lights if the power failed, even though it
first session was at 7.30, the second miserable. was outdoors and no danger to anyone.
session in Field Two was the same film Well, the week we opened there I would start the two diesel generators,
at 8 and then Field One ran another were consistent fogs for nearly a week. get them running in sync. then throw
session starting at 9.30. We had our We had a football down near the office, the main switch to get the power to the
own prints, because as I said, Metro kicking backwards and forwards - the projectors.
theatres always had a spare on hand in managers against the projectionists, and I went there expecting to stay three
case something went wrong. the carhops used to kick end-for end years and stayed for 17. I said to Pat
The best Saturday night ever was and say “It’s on the way” and here it my wife, “Look, with the late finishing
five sessions of The Shiralee. It was comes out of the fog and lands on you. and lot’s to do, the overtime is great.
winter; the first session kicked off at Occasionally the late show was a It’ll put us on our feet”.
about 5.30, then one at 6.30, 7.30, 8.30 non-event. You’d start the show at 9.30 Near the end of those years MGM
and 9.30. Three thousand and fifty cars because you always started on time, but in America hit rough times. They were
came in that night. Traffic was in if there were no cars I’d say to Ken selling off assets around the world to
gridlock up and down Blackburn Road, over at the other side, “Turn your arc feed the big, hungry, money-eating
up and down Wellington Road, and we off” (to save a bit of power and giant that is film-making. The time
couldn’t get the cars out through the carbon). So the film and sound were when banks would virtually open their
exits because of the cars queued running, but no picture on the screen, vaults and invite MGM to walk in and
waiting to get in. Finally, the police and then if I saw one lone car turn up at help themselves to what they needed,
opened the exit gates and shunted cars the ticket box and drive across towards was over.
straight in without paying. the screen I’d say, “OK Ken, light your Towards the end of the Metro era
light.” One car and we had a show. we were opening only one field for the
In summer Metro were on a winner eight o’clock show and the 9.30. ★
as far as drive-ins go. They did
Transcription by Ms. Jo Maxion
everything according to the book. Hot
To Be Continued

CINEMARECORD 2008 17