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ADELAIDE: The Mercury Cinema foyer GLENELG: Work on the former Cinema
NEWSREEL THEATRE NEWS has been refurbished with a interior design by Centre-Ozone Theatre site has commenced
CINEMA AND
Lena Fenwick who has created a French art- where a 2-level shopping and office is to be
house cinema look including a dramatic light erected. Plans for a new $20-million, seven
QUEENSLAND: feature from Milan which resembles melting cinema, office and parking complex at nearby
mercury. Cinematheque has experienced a council-owned site are still in the pipeline.
CAIRNS: Cairns Regional Council intends to 315 per cent increase in box office takings
fine the Sydney developer of the heritage-listed over the past four years. KENSINGTON: The former Princess/
Rex Theatre for carrying out demolition without Ozone/Chelsea Theatre reopened under
permission, contravening a development permit HILTON: The City of West Torrens have new management as the Regal Theatre with a A Family
and failing to comply with an enforcement notified in the press the proposals to revoke Gala film premiere on Wednesday 18 April.
th
notice Demolition began six months ago and the classification of Community Land for the Building owners, Burnside Council set aside Affair:
now only the 1939 façade remains, which is Star Theatre complex and Hilton RSL to $85,000 in its 2011/12 budget to upgrade the
also under threat. facilitate the eventual sale of the land. The heritage-listed cinema’s frontage, including
current lease expires at the end of this year. painting, cleaning and gutter repairs. The
old verticle Chelsea sign was replaced and
PORT AUGUSTA: Possible building the facade upgraded in June.
upgrade and maintenance costs in excess Photograph by Colint Flint
of $350,000 are threatening the ability
of the operators of Cinema Augusta to
renew their lease due to viability concerns.

WILLUNGA: Movies have finally returned
to the Willunga Show Hall with Inaugural
screening on June 9 of the Australian comedy
BRISBANE: New management took over the classic “The Castle”. Once the town’s fulltime
operation of the Tribal Theatre at the start cinema, regular screenings will now be
of June, movies, shows, music gigs, festivals conducted under the name Cinemallunga.
and parties have been booked in for the next
12 months. The possibility of a change of
venue name has also been mooted. NORTH ADELAIDE: Plans have been lodged
for a $150 million apartment, retail and cinema
BROADBEACH: Digital projection complex for Brougham Plaza at the southern
equipment has been set up at Jupiters end of O’Connell Street. Wallis’s Piccadilly
Casino to allow for the screening of feature Cinemas are at the Northern end.
films in the main auditorium.
ADELAIDE: The new owner of former
GOONDAWINDI: The council-owned Wests Theatre, is battling a city council NEW ZEALAND:
Goondawindi Cinema is seeking proposal to heritage list the building on the
government support to enter the digital age. grounds there is little original left and what HAMILTON: The Victoria Theatre finally
The heritage-listed Civic Theatre received remains is deemed insignificant. An Art closed for good on May 27 with the film Dark
a $600,000 facelift and re-opened with 120 Deco and Modernism Society member spoke
seats in October 2009 but must make the in favour of the listing to protect the 1938 Shadows. Originally closed in December
conversion to survive. foyer and façade. The State Heritage Branch 2011, it was re-opened on a trial basis but
is considering the application. was found not to be financially viable.

ANGLE PARK: The Parks Community ROTORUA: The Reading Cinema
Centre two theatres which were threatened Complex was closed for a day when an
with closure and demolition last year, will early morning fire broke out in the popcorn
now be retained and refurbished. machine. Staff quickly put the fire out, but
not before sprinklers soaked carpets, the
REGIONAL: The State Budget has made entire foyer and damaged candy-bar stock.
provision for country theatres at Whyalla,
Port Pirie, Renmark and Mt.Gambier to be OAMARU: Movie World 3 Cinemas
upgraded to digital projection at a total cost containing a bar and café is up for sale.
of $800,000. This will ensure digital services Now owned by two accountants, the 318-
are provided in the theatres following the seat complex was originally opened by the
HAMILTON: For a second year, a purpose- international adoption of the digital film Williams family in June 2003 seating 342.
built inflatable 16x18-metre movie screen format in 2013. Port Pirie will attract an They sold it in December 2005.
was erected in MacArthur Avenue as a additional $330,000 for fire safety upgrades.
Drive-In Theatre venue for the 2012
Brisbane International Film Festival. The VALE:
venue operated between April 12-14. Allan Woodard. Adelaide. (See CR#70).
Ann Lyons. Melbourne.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

BARMERA: The historic Bonney Theatre NEWSREEL CONTRIBUTORS:
(former Ozone) is closed for $550,000 of Allan Webb; Ross King: Peter Keogh; Kevin Adams;
Colin Flint; Steve Maggs; Richard Grogan; Brian
major works that include a heritage grant to Pearson; David Lascelles; Kevin Adams, Jeffrey
upgrade the foyer, main entrance, amenities, Wheare; William Gray; Barry Wraith, Jon Fabian,
roof and ventilation. Roderick Smith and many others.

8 2012 CINEM AREC ORD