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Balwyn Matinee’s The program was pretty much the same A few times we attended the Kew
each week: previews of coming attractions,
Rialto Theatre matinee instead and
serials such as Tarzan, King of the Apes, went on the No 48 tram. The program
By Roger Greenwood cartoons, and the obligatory Western as was similar but there seemed no
the main attraction. Sometimes a space fish and chip shop in the area which
adventure movie would be substituted was disappointing.
n late 1953 we moved from a small but these had less appeal than Westerns,
Icountry town south of Hobart to Maude possibly because they lacked the gun- On one occasion the Rialto manager
Street, North Balwyn in Melbourne battles associated with the slaughter of substituted an on-stage puppet show in
(Vic). I’d always been fascinated with Red Indians. Perhaps the management place of the cartoons. Possibly he hadn’t
mechanical and electrical things, but correctly assessed that Cinesound conducted the necessary audience
there was so much more in Melbourne Newsreel would have little interest for the research because the place erupted and
to interest a 10-year old boy with an target audience. the puppeteer was booed off!
enquiring mind.
I was always fascinated with the
By 1954 my elder brother and I began visual effects that were used in trailers
attending Saturday afternoon matinees and movie lead-ins. Rotating wipes,
at Hoyts Time Theatre in Balwyn. We spinning captions, and waving flag and
caught a small red and white bus in curtain effects were all achieved by
Maude St that took us to Whitehorse Rd optical trickery, unlike the sophisticated
and walked from there to the theatre. digital effects of more recent times.

I remember it had the standard Hoyts Although the audience was mainly
neon sign with the “travelling globes” on children, the theatre manager was
the outside edge but of course these didn’t always resplendent in a tuxedo and
operate during daytime. Until then my black tie. Prior to commencement of the
experience of picture-theatres was limited program he circulated around the box-
to those having a conventional balcony, office area announcing details of the
but the Balwyn Time had one continuous program. As patrons began filing into
“stadium” floor that sloped up from the the theatre he stood near the entrance
stalls to emulate a dress-circle. and extended a welcome to all.

He must have had a keen eye for the
trouble-makers because sometimes his
welcome was more of a warning against The manager then appeared on-stage
bad behaviour. On a few occasions the and berated the audience for their lack
movie stopped and the lights went on of appreciation. Fortunately the cartoons
while he ejected miscreants! were on hand, and calm was restored.

As enjoyable as the program was, After that episode we decided to stick
another treat awaited (mainly) boys at with the Balwyn Time whose manager
the conclusion. On the opposite side seemed to have a better grip on the
of the road a bit west of the Time was fundamentals of show business. +
a fish and chip shop whose proprietor
had the necessary business acumen to Photographs:
remain open on Saturday afternoons. Left: The sleek and modern Time Theatre.
Right: The down-and-dated Kew Rialto.
He was always inundated with post-
matinee customers, and tuppence would SHARE YOUR MEMORIES HERE!
buy half a dozen excellent potato cakes
that could be eaten on the way home in Send your contibutions to the editor:
cinemarecord@hotmail.com
the red and cream bus.

CINEMAREC ORD 2012 23