Page 23 - CR

One of the most popular films
screened in the district was the
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Every theatre sought to screen it and
consequently, it was heavily booked.
Mt. Gambier’s last night was a
Monday, the Rivoli was to start with it
on Tuesday. Tim Rowe recalls
concocting a scheme whereby an extra
screening could be achieved for the
Rivoli if a switch could be made.
Sounds simple enough except the two
theatres were over 100km apart!
The manager, Alex Harrison didn’t
like the proposal, but with the aid of
another local, Graham Shipman, two
vehicles were prepared for “the race
against time”.
Mt. Gambier was prepared to screen Above & Right: Dusty remains of the
the Coronation film in the first half Rivoli auditorium above the false
their programme and a shop owner at shop ceiling. CATHS Tour in 2007.
Penola, about half way between the Current photos by Peter Wolfenden.
theatres agreed to telephone ahead to
Naracoorte when one of the vehicles The only commercial picture show
passed by – no mobile phones then. in Naracoorte today takes place on an
Amazingly it all worked. The first irregular basis, mainly school holidays,
vehicle, a brand new Ford Ute., arrived at the Town Hall which was further
with plenty of spare time but the restored and renovated between 1989
second arrived with only three minutes and 1993. The Oat Mill Cinema of Mt.
to spare. There were a few chewed Gambier screens there as the
finger-nails at the Rivoli that night! Landmark Cinema.
According to Tim Rowe, the Times have changed considerably
projectors remained in the Rivoli until since the early days of moving pictures
about 1970 when they were sold during at the Institute Hall when electricity
the rebuilding of the stalls area into an was supplied by the town’s power
arcade of shops. station. Rod Anderson, Dugald Acknowledgements:
Caldwell’s nephew, worked at the show Grateful thanks to the present owners of the
In 2003, the theatre building was Rivoli, P.D. & L.K. Sinclair and W.J. &
and recalled the night a message was
sold to its present owners, P.D. & L.K. J.M. Vine for access, information & photos.
sent from the power station to the
Sinclair and W.J. & J.M. Vine who Tim Rowe, ex Rivoli Manager &
projectionist, telling him not to strike
wish to bring some life back into the Projectionist.
the projector’s arc light as they were
old Austral Theatre Building. Kath Rowe, daughter of James Thomson,
nearly out of wood for the generator’s Editor Naracoorte Herald.
boiler. Gerry Kennedy, Ross King & Ian Smith.
The projectionist was asked to References:
watch the street, and when a truck 1. Naracoorte Jubilee 150 Souvenir
loaded with wood passed the hall, it Programme
would be alright to commence the 2. Naracoorte Historical Walk brochure,
National Trust.
show! A stand-by Rugby engine and
3. Narracoorte Herald, 9th July 1897.
generator were later installed in a lane-
(10) 4. Narracoorte Herald, 12th October 1906.
way near the Town Hall!
Remains of The Cloudland 5. Narracoorte Herald, 26th October 1906.
6. Narracoorte Herald, 2nd November 1906.
Naracoorte also had a Drive-in, 7. Narracoorte Herald, 13th December 1935.
known as Cloudland. This was built in 8. Narracoorte Herald, 20th December 1935.
1958 by Les Murphy on the Penola 9. Film Weekly, 1969/70
Road, at the edge of the town. Film 10. Notes from Jeanette Vine, ex Naracoorte
Weekly listed Cloudland as having 384 Herald articles.
11. Film Weekly, 1944/45 issue to 1957/58.
car spaces It was operated for 10 years
12. Adelaide Silent Nights. ISBN 0 642 25338 6
by Les Murphy before Ron Wisbey
13. News From the Archive, Number one
leased it for a further 12 years. The
(1,9) 2001, ScreenSound Australia.
Drive-in closed in 1983.
14. Everyones, 14th October 1931, Flinders
University Microfilm 791.405.F59
15. Narracoorte Herald, 24th November 1931.
CINEMARECORD 2010 23