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Lyceum-Elite-George-Dendy-Tribal

                                                              The many lives of a Cinema Centenarian


                                                                                 By Kevin Adams.






                         ot long after the turn of the last century - in a time when   Located at number 346 in Brisbane’s
                    Nbudding showmen were renting any available hall to run their   busy George Street, the “luxuriously
                    primitive “picture-shows”, early cinema operator Mr. C. E. King and   fitted” two-level  Lyceum Theatre
                    his entrepreneurial partners, including Mr E. McGregor, decided that   boasted many new features that rented
                    the sunny Queensland capital city of Brisbane was ready for its first   Town Halls did not – most importantly
                    purpose-built Picture-Theatre.                              in balmy Brisbane: good ventilation and
                                                                                even its own electricity generator!  Mr
                    This foresight would provide a cinema, that although remodelled,   King as Managing Director and lessee
                    reconfigured and renamed a number of times - would survive the ups   of this fine new edifice was now ready
                    and downs of an often turbulent industry for well over a century.   to open the doors.
                    To this day it is still in use for its original purpose - it’s amazing
                    longevity making it a true cinema pioneer.                  Under the Distinguished patronage of
                                                                                the Lord Mayor Of Brisbane,  Kings
                                                                                Pictures new venture was declared
                                                                                open on Easter Saturday, April 10, 1909
                                                                                when a  specially selected program of
                                                                                (silent) pictures were screened. Whilst
                                                                                the films were silent, they were actually
                                                                                well accompanied by  Kings Lyceum
                                                                                Orchestra made up of local musicians
                                                                                under the experienced baton of Signor
                                                                                Benvenuti.  Also featured was vocalist,
                                                                                Miss Ailsa Sherbrook from Melbourne
                                                                                who was hired to accompany the
                                                                                illustrated glass-slide presentations in
                                                                                song.  By mid-year the dulcet voice
                                                                                of Mr. C. Howard accompanied this
                                                                                popular part of each program.

                                                                                The theatre was entered via a small
                                                                                foyer which featured plastered walls
                                                                                and a decorative pressed-metal
                                                                                ceiling. The auditorium itself seated
                                                                                around 1500 and featured a new
                                                                                innovation – a sloped floor at ground
                                                                                level to enable an uninterrupted view
                                                                                of the stage for all patrons.


                                                                                This main floor was constructed of
                                                                                concrete which it felt was a great step
                                                                                forward hygienically, as it would deter
                                                                                the harbouring of any vermin (rats and
                                                                                mice), but could also be hosed down
                                                                                daily!   This area was divided into
                                                                                Orchestra Stalls; Stalls and Pit - whilst
                                                                                upstairs the classier “dress-circle”
                                                                                featured comfortable upholstered chairs
                                                                                behind a balcony front decorated with
           Matinee Crowd: (Photo from Ron West)
                                                                                fancy pressed art-metal.

          14  2011  CINEMAREC ORD
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