Page 3 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

From the Editor....

Dolly Parton has been quoted as saying, “I don't understand the expression
‘Less is more’; to me more is more”. If Dolly had seen Hoyts Albury, our featured
cinema in the last issue, where the architects were not frightened to leave
unadorned wall space, perhaps she would have understood. On the other hand,
maybe she would have been happier inside our theatre featured in this issue, the
Circle Preston, in which almost no space was left unpatterned. It says a lot about
the eclectic nature of Art Deco that both cinemas are examples from the same
movement, although in the case of the Circle it is representative of the tail-end of
the movement.
This grouping of two dissimilar buildings within the same architectural
The official journal of the Cinema And
movement is not so surprising when we consider that Art Deco has been defined
Theatre Historical Society Inc.
as a decorative fusion of Art Nouveau, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism and
Australia
Futurism. Add in Expressionism and Egyptian, have the building conform to a few
ISSN 1443-3664 • Published quarterly
★ basic rules, set it in the period 1925 to 1940 just to be sure, and it's tempting to
sum up with another oldie, ‘Anything Goes’.
Editor: Ian Smith
★ From New Zealand Tony Froude has a good news story about the Penthouse,
a specialty cinema in a suburb of Wellington, at which the management do their
CinemaRecord Artwork:
best to anticipate patrons' needs. The story indirectly raises an interesting
Bill Kerr, Optimum Design 9419 4144 comparison between the tastes of Aussie and Kiwi audiences. It’s well known that
★ Australian audiences, with a few exceptions, rarely take to German films, yet one
The main aim of CATHS and this German DVD release has played for months around New Zealand. In the 1920s
publication is to accurately document and New Zealand held a world record for cinema admissions per head of population.
create an archive of the history of Perhaps it’s a carry-over in the genes.
cinemas and theatres. Brian Quigley’s life as a projectionist concludes in this issue. I’m sure that you
Input in the form of articles, will agree that Brian has given us a wonderful insider’s account of 50 years of
constructive criticism, and substantiated changes in exhibition, and done it with grace and charm, even to an upbeat
dispute of printed matter is welcome, and ending. - Ian Smith
necessary to enable us to reach our
objective.
Opinions expressed are those of the NOW SHOWING!
Editor or contributors, and unless
expressly stated so, are not necessarily
those of the Cinema And Theatre
Historical Society Inc. 4 Letters and Newsreel
Articles printed in CinemaRecord 7 Bendigo's Lyric: History in Stone
should not be reproduced without the An unusual monument to a long-gone cinema
permission of the author or the editor.
8 The Lyric Remembered - Phil Beer
All photos are from the collection of
Two stories about a favourite Saturday haunt
the person or organisation stated. Every
effort has been made to trace the 10 A Tribute to H. V. Taylor - Ross Thorne
ownership of copyright. In the event of Personal anecdotes from work together
any questions arising as to the use of any 12 Hoyts Circle Preston - Rod Cook and Ian Smith
material, the author and publisher will be Quality in a small package
happy to make the necessary corrections
18 Preston Boys Go DIY - Fred Page
in future printings.
An ambitious mini-commercial cinema venture
Contributions and suggestions for
CinemaRecord are most welcome. Please 22 From a Regent To the Regent - Brian Quigley
contact the Editor if you are planning The conclusion to a distinguished working life.
to write an article for the magazine. 28 Why Cut An Aperture? - Ross King
We may be able to assist you with
A once-common projectionist's task explained
information, contacts, etc and it will help
us with forward planning. 29 Penthouse, Wellington New Zealand - Tony Froude
Where patrons’ needs are foremost
★
Contact: Ian Smith
Telephone: 5443 0692 (1-9pm) Images in this publication are from CATHS Archive unless credited to another source.
Email: iansmith8@bigpond.com
Postal Address: PO Box 476, Cover: The Circle Preston, Hoyts most northern suburban hard-top in
Bentleigh, Victoria, 3204 Melbourne. Advertising for The Robe shows that the picture was taken in the
week commencing Thursday 16 December 1954.
CINEMARECORD 2009 3