Page 5 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

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SHOWBUSINESS NEWS •
Clifton Hill Redevelopment
Whilst the auditorium and stage-
house of the old Clifton Hill Theatre
was demolished nearly 10 years ago,
the remaining front section which
included the building’s façade; cinema
entrances and foyers, shops and
upstairs meeting hall were retained.
These areas have now been gutted back
to the front and side walls in readiness
for a major redevelopment which is
now underway utilising
government funding.
Clifton Hill. View from former auditorium area through gutted foyer. Photo: Kevin Adams
Beechworth Regent
Currently used as an Antique store,
the town's former cinema at 15 Loch Moonee Ponds cinema plan Sign of the Times
returns
Street is up for sale. The building has Coburg’s triple screen Village
After 13 years of inaction, US- Drive-In Theatre has been given a
had a number of incarnations over the
based cinema giant Reading is major relaunch campaign to promote
years, firstly as the MUIOOF hall
preparing to redevelop the former the theatre for the summer trade. An
(1871); Federal hall (1915) and the
Moonee Ponds Market. eye-catching revitalised sign at the
Paramount Picture Theatre (1922/52).
In its most recent report, Reading entrance gate as well as a lick of new
A projection room was built onto
said it is finalising plans to redevelop (red) paint throughout and uniforms to
the front façade of the building c1915
the 3.3 hectare site, which was home to match, make the site look quite smart.
and by the 1950’s it was being operated
the popular market until about the mid
as the 400 seat Regent Theatre by
1990’s.
A.Munari & Sons.
A permit was granted in 1987 for a
The Vendor is willing to meet the
12 cinema complex at the site, but it
market and the property is for sale at
has since lapsed.
$449,000.
Sources speculate Reading is now
proposing a much bigger $30 million,
four-level entertainment and retail
shopping centre, with more than 7500
square metres of retail space, restaurants
and two levels of underground parking.
Essendon Demolition on the cards
A redevelopment application has
been received by the Moonee Valley
Heritage grant for Athenaeum Council for the demolition of the
former 1925 New Essendon/Circle
Melbourne’s historic 3-level
Theatre. Hoyts closed the theatre in
Athenaeum Theatre is to get a much
December 1966 after which the
needed refurbishment thanks to a
building was converted to Reception
$877,000 grant from federal heritage,
Rooms and has operated as such since
Australia’s second-oldest theatre will
that time. Palais refurbishment
get an expanded orchestra pit for 50
musicians, new seats, carpet and toilets. In response to the application, The grand $400 million St.Kilda
Council commissioned Heritage (Vic) triangle project is dead leaving
Theatre site redeveloped- again Port Phillip ratepayers at least
Consultants who have recommended a
The former Tasma Theatre site in $5million out of pocket and the careers
heritage overlay be applied to the
Bell Street, Pascoe Vale South, is of some local councillors ruined! The
building on the basis it has been a
currently undergoing a re-development. development was going to pay for the
significant landmark in the North
The theatre and adjacent tennis Essendon shopping centre. refurbishment of the Palais Theatre
courts, like so many of our theatres, which was estimated to cost up to $40
An amendment to the Planning
were demolished in the late 1950’s to million. What now?
Scheme to apply a heritage overlay to
make way for a service station.
the theatre building has been advertised.
CINEMARECORD 2010 5