Page 9 - CinemaRecord #76C

State/Forum - Melbourne. Out the back and tumbled down - Casterton Theatre.

Victory Theatre Malvern: A large but
basic auditorium with a cramped foyer, the
Victory had ‘no room to move’ on the issue
of better lavatories. Hoyts ran this theatre
as a last-chance/second-run house. Hoyts
were never likely to buy adjoining shops
to make space for the changes demanded,
so knowing the new regulations would be
the finish of this house, they did not install
Cinemascope there either.

The Malvern Victory closed in 1955, its
neon sign moved to the Plaza Essendon.
The building still stands as a retail
premises, the word ‘Victory’ in cement Regent - Thornbury.
render still visible on the parapet.

Broadway Theatre, Camberwell: Here
Hoyts used a mid-stalls exit as the access
point and covered the pathway with a Altona Strand - 1947.
galvanised iron roof. Shortening the walk
and roofing it was enough to pass muster.

Plaza Theatre, Chelsea: Of 1920s basic
construction, the owner’s reaction to the
Health edict was to close and auction
the building. Bought by an off-shoot of
the Yeoman’s group (Westgarth, Sun
Yarraville etc.) the new owners built
Victory - Malvern. facilities on the first floor. They then re-
opened the theatre on 26th December 1954
with Elephant Walk.
Regent Gardiner: An odd case. The original 1925
design provided access to the male lavatories
under the stage through double doors left of the Few of our older theatres would have passed
stage. For some reason these doors were marked the new requirements – many upgraded, but
No Exit. For years male stall patrons had to exit no doubt some did slip through the net!
the theatre via the main foyer, walk down the side
of the building and enter the lavatory through a Readers are invited to forward their memories
side door under the stage. Sometimes the usher of changes at their local cinema caused by
at the Saturday matinee forgot to open this door toilet movements…
and the kids just faced the wall. To comply
with Health’s demands the internal doors were (Of the “construction” kind please!) H
unlocked, which should have been the situation
from the start! Photos from then Kevin Adams Collection.

Regent - Gardiner.

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