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PORT LINCOLN: Community operators After the war, and until television led to
NEWSREEL THEATRE NEWS of the Flinders Cinema have received a Tasmanian cinema closures around 1970, he
CINEMA AND
$30,779.31 donation towards obtaining was 'Assistant Operator' at the Star Invermay
a $90,000 digital projector. Further grant and Launceston’s Princess Theatre.
TWEED HEADS: Proposals are afoot funding is to be sought.
to operate an open-air cinema at the He died peacefully at Aldersgate nursing
picturesque Jack Evans Boat Harbour. home in Launceston on 24 December 2011,
a month short of his 91st birthday.
DARLING HARBOUR: Sydney Imax
was closed from February 6-12 to allow for His fellow Cinema Pioneer members
the installation of a replacement projection describe him as the last of Tasmania's pre-
screen. Costing $250,000 the new 29.5 war projectionists, his career spanning back
metres high by 35.7 metre wide, 800kg 3D to the days of nitrate film.
screen then required four coats of “high-
gain” silver paint.

KENSINGTON PARK: Wallis Cinemas
vacated the Chelsea Theatre on January 29
with owners Burnside Council granting a
new seven year lease (with option to extend)
to operators of the Trak Cinemas at Toorak
Gardens. The new lessee’s carried out
some minor refurbishments and re-opened NEW ZEALAND:
on February 23 with the theatre renamed
NEWTOWN: Dendy Cinemas propose to the Regal Cinema. They have also made a RANGIORA: The December 23 earthquake
add six additional screens. commitment with the Theatre Organ Society has finally forced closure of the 86-year-old
of Australia (SA Division) to install a fully Regent Theatre in the Town Hall building.
The cinema had recently been refurbished
CONDOBOLIN: The old Renown Theatre working Wurlitzer Theatre Organ - a project after previous damage, but is now to be
has burnt to the ground. -Report on page 8. that will take around two years to complete.
demolished and rebuilt in a different format.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: TASMANIA: CHRISTCHURCH: Hidden behind
fibreglass cladding in 1977, the art-deco
façade of the 1930s State Theatre was
GLENELG: Variation plans have QUEENSTOWN: The restored and revealed after a recent series of earthquakes.
been lodged by Wallis Cinemas with the Heritage-Listed, Art Deco Paragon Theatre A move is now underway to preserve and
Holdfast Bay Council for a two- storey remains closed and for sale – with offers over restore the façade to its former glory.
building comprising restaurant/cafés, office $190,000 being seriously considered. HORNBY: After twenty years, the high;y
and consulting room tenancies with canopies profitable Movieland Cinema Complex
over Jetty Road and Rose Street footpaths on closed on November 18, 2011 to allow the
the former Cinema Centre site.
owner to demolish and redevelop the entire
city block for retail use. Reading re-opened
GLENELG: An all new seven-screen The Palms which will fill the gap.
cinema complex is included in a $20 million
proposal to build above the Holdfast Bay TE AWAMUTU: Now operating as a
Council-owned Cowper Street car park. 5-screen complex, the Regent Theatre
Developer Andrew Taplin hopes to open for celebrated its 80 birthday in March. Last
th
business by November 2013.
year, operator for the last 38 years, Alan
Webb received a well deserved Lifetime
PORT AUGUSTA: After much speculation, Achievement Award from the New Zealand
Cinema Augusta will continue to operate at VALE: Motion Picture Exhibitors Association.
the Tafe College. Written confirmation has been Andy Lockett (Jan 1921 - Dec 2011).
received from the Minister confirming that a HASTINGS: The Reading 4 Cinemas
new lease will be granted providing the current Andy was born in Invermay, Launceston in closed on January 29 after not renewing the
operators are responsible for the ongoing upkeep 1921. As a boy, he was fascinated with a lease due to a lack of profitability.
and maintenance of the building. magic lantern his brother brought home, and
he found a job as 'lolly-boy' at the Majestic
Theatre in Brisbane Street Launceston and UPPER HUTT: Opened in 2007, the
4-screen Ascot Cinemas have been offered
later at the Fox Film Exchange. He served
informal apprenticeships in the bio-box at for sale. Little interest has been shown in the
the Launceston Plaza, and during the war, under-performing venue.
in the film unit at Brighton Army Barracks.
NEWSREEL CONTRIBUTORS:
In the 1950s and early 1960s, he exhibited Ian Williams; Kevin Adams; Steve Maggs;
with home-made projection gear at country Ross King; Paul Roobottom; David Lascelles;
halls including Gravelly Beach and Steve Malone; James Lockett; Mike Trickett;
Lilydale, with the 1953 Queens Coronation Colin Flint and many others.
the stand-out box office success.

CINEMAREC ORD 2012 7