Page 15 - CR

Original Interior. (Photo from Ron West)

Fresh air was provided via continuous Pathé gave theatre owners cameras to
clearstory ventilators down the length cover local news. In Brisbane one of the
of the side walls, an ornamental 15ft- first to seize this chance was Al Burne.
wide cupola of ornamental glass and Soon he was not only the projectionist
lattice in the roof as well as electric fans for Kings Pictures at the Lyceum but
that were powered by the theatre’s own rose to the role of Manager and was
power supply. soon also filming local events using a
Pathé camera.
Costing nearly 700-pounds, the electricity
plant could provide sufficient power to
operate all the theatre lighting as well as
the cinematograph plant located in the bio-
box at the back of the balcony. Jan 1
1910
The stage, measuring 30ft wide and 20ft
high was specifically designed for the
showing of motion-pictures, however telephone or on the day at the Lyceum
this space could also be used for small- Café- located in one of the lettable
scale live performances when required. shops either side of the theatre entrance.
Mr. Tom J. Henson was appointed
as theatre Manager from opening. The year of opening co-incided with the
Bookings could be made at Palings, by
arrival in Australia of cameramen from
the French company Pathe Freres.
This heralded the introduction of this
entirely new type of non-fiction film,
the regular weekly newsreel — defined
by the trade as a 10-minute one-reel
film issued on a regular basis and
carrying several news items presented
in a magazine or “gazette” format.
April 8
1909

CINEMAREC ORD 2011 15