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Mt. Druitt Movie Man

n 1925 the Sydney (NSW) suburb of The hall wasn’t owned by council in Dick Simpson in his 90s.
IMount Druitt was a small farming those days so he applied to the committee
community, quite different to the densely (Advancement Club) to turn it into a cinema. He says Mt Druitt was a very different place
populated suburban area it is today. As they were still paying it off, they were then. “It was mostly poultry farms. Lots of
extremely happy to lease it out! people used to work over at Minchinbury
Local film-goers now enjoy movies at Hoyts winery or work in the city and catch the
Mt.Druitt, a huge multi-screen complex Mt. Druitt Hall. steam train but it only came as far as Rooty
that put the smaller, independent Astro 4 Hill.” It was over a mile to get to the theatre
Cinemas out of business after a very short from St Marys and if it was wet or anything,
life. However the Astro was not the first Dick would often run everyone home!
independent on the scene, as many years
before, one man had the vision to bring “the “Everybody knew everybody then.”
movies” to the “Mount”. In the early 1950s a new foyer block was
added to the building and then wide-screen
This man was the driving force behind what Dick got a loan from the bank for 250-pounds CinemaScope was installed in 1955.
would become the Vogue Theatre. George to buy equipment and one of the committee
Henry (aka Dick) Simpson had enjoyed a members who was a builder helped to fix the
love affair with films since he was a boy. His place up. Seats were installed, a projection
passion began by handing out pamphlets for box built and 35mm projectors positioned.
(and cleaning) the Majestic Theatre (aka
Odeon) in Petersham. Told to avoid a weekend opening, Dick
decided to unveil Mt Druitt’s own silver
Born in Summer Hill (NSW) in 1915, he screen on Wednesday, June 5, 1946.
often visited family in Mt Druitt. In his early
20s, while Dick worked in a garage, then The opening night movie was National
enlisted in the naval reserve and went on to Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey
join the Royal Australian Air Force spending Rooney. There were around 40 people in the Vogue proscenium removed for wide screen.1955.
two years in New Guinea during World War audience - numbers were down because of
II. During this time his love of films was heavy rain and the threat of blackouts. By 1968 Dick had decided his time at the
sustained by operating movie projectors at Vogue was over. “Television was in, the
mobile cinemas for soldiers. Many who frequented the theatre were post- population was dropping and a chap wanted
war migrants from a former army camp nearby to buy it. I stayed on for a few years to help
In 1946, after the war, he settled in Mt Druitt at the Wallgrove Migrant Hostel. With business but I had done what I wanted.”
with relatives and when he first saw Mt going well, in 1950, Dick gained permission
Druitt Hall on Old Mt Druitt Road he fell from the Department of Labour and National Just over a decade later, the Vogue dimmed
in love with it and set about turning it into a Service to build a cinema at the hostel. its lights for good and has since reverted to
cinema. There were only about 500 people its original function - a community hall.
on the electoral roll at that time and they The Wallgrove Tasma, as he called it, could
either had to go to Rooty Hill or the Crown seat 800, and the movies were often shared A devoted movie fan, Dick was thankful
at St Marys to watch movies. between his two theatres. he could share his passion with the Mt
Druitt community for more than 20 years.
He stopped going to the cinema when the
admission price got too expensive – and
worse - you only got ONE movie!

“Back then, kids got in for sixpence or nine-
pence – and got a full double-feature program!”

Those were the days! H

From an interview with George Simpson
by Nikolaos Stavro.
Photos by George Simpson and Armen Deushian.

SHARE YOUR MEMORIES HERE!

Send your contibutions to the editor:
Dick Simpson, rewinding film at the Vogue. cinemarecord@hotmail.com

CINEM AREC ORD 2012 17