Page 2 -

CATHS EVENT

Mike Trickett reports on the first
CATHS external activity for 2010.
Promoted as a
“Saturday Matinee at the Drive-In”
this title raised a few questions!

Located in the south-eastern
Melbourne suburb of Dandenong
(about 30km from the city) the Lunar
Drive-In Theatre comprises three
screens and is one of only three
remaining drive-in theatres in the
Melbourne area.
On Saturday March 20th, CATHS
member and Lunar owner, David
Kilderry welcomed members to the
theatre with an introductory talk which
included a comprehensive history of
the drive-in theatre (both in general
terms as well as specifically the
Lunar).
This was followed by an up-close
inspection of the massive screens.
Members were then invited to inspect
the projection equipment. The bio-box
utilizes one Century and two Philips
DP70 (35/70mm) projectors (one for
each screen), each with 5000-watt
xenon lamp illumination. The three
35mm double feature programs are
each held on a single plate of the
platter systems.
The theatre had originally opened
as the single screen “Panoramic” in
1956 and from 1963 was operated
as/by Village until closure in April
1984. The current management re-
opened the theatre as a “twin” in 2002
and added the third screen a year later.
Following the inspections, members
enjoyed a leisurely meal from the
Lunar Café before the arrival of the
paying patrons. At show time, those
wishing to do so were invited to stay
on and sample the on-screen
entertainment.

In May, CATHS will be
touring New Zealand.
More Inspections, Tours
& Special Events to come!

Report and Photographs by Mike Trickett.