Page 11 - CR

By September 1941, Purves had
departed the post and Potts assumed
control as Director of the company.
Within nine years Edwin had died
to be succeeded by wife Monica who
remarried not long after, becoming Mrs
Frank O’Brien, and she successfully
renewed the licence for a seating
increase to 674 in December 1953.
Two years previously Frank West had
also died but his estate retained 1941 Modernisation.
ownership of the premises and
maintained the lease with Arpee Theatres.
Alteration to the proscenium
opening in early 1956 permitted
installation of a wide screen for
CinemaScope presentations, but the
effects of television brought closure of
the theatre in early December 1964,
and sale on January 1st, 1965.
The theatre was never used again,
and stood empty until demolition in
August 1977.
Ironically at the same time, work
was starting on construction of a Drive-
In Theatre south of the town.
Frank West’s Crown Theatre had
stood, with various transformations, for
not quite sixty years, and was replaced
by a multi-storey commercial complex.
West had two other claims to fame.
1941 Modernisation.
He most likely exhibited silent films
once a week in the School of Arts in
Berry Street from the mid 1920s until
late 1930. He was a film extra in
Franklyn Barrett’s Know Thy Child,
some scenes of which were filmed
locally in 1921.

Nowra cinema-goers still enjoy movies at
the 1935 Roxy –albeit now converted into a
five-screen cinema complex.

Photographs from the collection of
R.Parkinson.
Sources:
Shoalhaven Historical Society.
Australasian Exhibitor Magazine.
The South-Coast Register Newspaper.
and the author’s own book: “Silver Screen
1941 Modernisation.
in the Shoalhaven” by Robert .J. Parkinson.

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