Page 6 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

GU Gold Class Complex Cinema For Sale Melbourne Convention Centre
Greater Union opened Australia’s Opens
first free-standing Gold Class Cinemas Attached to ‘Jeff's Shed’ on the
at Castle Hill on Saturday 20 June: southern side of the Yarra, and linked to
waiter service in 5 intimate auditoria. Docklands by an impressive foot-
The complex occupies the site of the bridge, the Melbourne Convention
former six-screen building in the Castle Centre officially opened on Sunday 2
Towers shopping centre, which opened June. The Plenary auditorium can seat
in 1993. A second complex of 10 5,000, or divide into three separate
screens opened at the other end of the theatres sealed by sliding walls. Seating
shopping centre in 2000. Some screens is arranged in three sections. The front
have been up-graded to digital sections (front stalls?) can be lowered
projection as part of a general upgrade into and concealed under the floor
of both cinema buildings. The Olympia (1915) at Bombala, should a greater floor space be
five hours south of Sydney (above) required. The rear seating and balcony
Edge Cinema Complex, Katoomba needs a new owner. Lovingly restored
Opened six months ago, the new by a community-led rescue effort in seating is fixed.
cinema with six screens is a located 1999, the projection room has working The seats are upholstered in varying
next to the original Edge which opened carbon arc projectors, but apparently shades of green, said to represent the
in 1995. Katoomba residents are not the patronage to make it viable, colours of the grass on the MCG.
spoiled for choice; four cinemas with even as a community cinema. A real Natural timber veneer panelling on the
user-friendly session times. estate advertisement lists it as a ‘cool side-walls adds a touch of class. The
auditoria, whether as one two or three
Former Odeon Petersham Sold. home with a world champion home theatres, are equipped with large screen
This former GU house ceased cinema.’Asking price: $95,000. digital projection and audio equipment.
trading as the Odeon in 1967, was sold Thanks to state of the art equipment
as a going concern and ran as the VICTORIA - Ross King and good sightlines the visual result is
Oreon, showing Italian and Greek Rivoli Sells for $20.2m. excellent. See plan next page.
movies until the late 1970s. It then Arguably Melbourne’s most famous
reverted to Hollywood movies for a suburban cinema, the sale of the Rivoli Palais Lights Wrangle
short period. It became a roller skating East Hawthorn was announced on 2 The one-tonne chandelier from the
rink in 1980. Plans for the site have not June. Zig Inge Group, a South Yarra Palais St Kilda, in storage at Laverton,
been revealed. investment company, bought the is now listed on the Victorian Heritage
Register. The Heritage Council has
freehold from the James Packer-backed
Hugh Jackman At Hoyts ruled that the chandelier and 56 other
Homebush Challenger Group for a reported light fittings, whether in the theatre or
$20.2m.Village Roadshow has a lease
Hoyts former Vogue at Homebush in boxes, are of such state significance
on the Rivoli until 2020 and is reported
became a temporary film studio for the that they warrant their own heritage
to be paying a rental of $2.07m a year.
shooting of several scenes for X -Men protection.
A spokesman for the new owners said
Wolverines starring Hugh Jackman. The
that they would be happy to extend the The lights are owned by the former
last time this building was involved
lease after 2020. manager of the Palais, Carolyn Harper
with movies in 1959 when it closed as and her company Tymbook, which
In 2004 the cinema was named as
a cinema. Film crews occupied the removed 32 fittings during a dispute
one of the world’s top ten picture
building for a month. with the State Government over
houses by US magazine Screen
Derelict Sydney Cinemas International. Now an eight-screen development of the Triangle site at
The list is getting smaller. Buildings complex, it retains the original 1940 St Kilda.
either unoccupied or only partly décor in the entrance and balcony The Council decision does not
converted to other uses include: Hoyts foyers and in Cinema One. change the ownership of the lights, nor
Vogue Homebush; Hoyts Crest South Jam Factory For Sale. does it mean they will be reinstalled in
Granville; Odeon Petersham; Marina the Palais, but Ms Harper now must
Challenger group has also put its
Roseberry; and the Hub Newtown. apply for a permit to move or alter
Jam Factory building in Chapel Street
In Pitt Street Sydney the former Pitt them.
on the market. The site houses another
Centre, a three- screen complex, has A VCAT hearing last year found the
major Village outlet.
shops occupying the outer foyer. lights were chattels, not fixtures and
In the 1980s most of us remember therefore belonged to Tymbook. The
the long years of neglect of the Regent theatre is also included on the heritage
Theatre and the Capitol in the city. The register.
latter was restored in 1995 whilst the - The Age Wednesday 1 July.
Regent was demolished in 1989.

6 2009 CINEMARECORD