Page 3 - CinemaRecord #79

W elcome to CinemaRecord issue#79. How lucky we are to have

such a wealth of generous contributors who continue to bring us such
a varied and fascinating glimpse into our cinema and theatre industry.
Coast to coast, all parts of Australia are well represented once again in
this edition with a range of articles that shows the amazing longevity
of some of our entertainment venues.

In South Australia, Adelaide’s heritage playhouse, Her Majesty’s
Theatre is the sole remaining survivor of the national Tivoli circuit and is now set for a major
refurb in this its centenary year. Up in Far North Queensland, Ayr’s 103- year old Delta Theatre
has already been reborn as a modern cinema complex, whilst the old Lakeway Drive-In in
Claremont (WA) has succumbed to redevelopment.
In-between these far locations, the NSW rural city of Orange awaits the next chapter in the long
life of its old Australia Theatre, whilst in Geelong (Vic) the memories of the many theatres that
once served that city are remembered by a projectionist who worked in many of them.

The nostalgia also continues with Music Maestro Please, a wonderful look back at the live
entertainment that Melbourne’s leading theatres once provided as an integral part of “a night at the
pictures”. This particular article was co-written by long-time CATHS member, Brian Miller who
sadly succumbed to a long illness only a few weeks before this edition went to print.
I deeply regret that Brian never got to see this work in print, and as a gesture of admiration and
thanks to a regular contributor and a true gentleman who was liked by all, l would like to dedicate
this issue of CinemaRecord to him. Hoping you will enjoy the fruits of so many people’s labour.
Warmest Regards - Kev.

ope you are keeping well. I have recently Later that day during a walk in another part of
Hbeen on a holiday to Perth. the city, I came to the Greater Union Complex,
but found it boarded up with no sign of posters,
One morning I was going on a walk to see and more graffiti than anything else.
the Perth Mint, and on the way passed His I think I’ve seen an article about it and some
Majesty’s Theatre where there was a board WA CATHS members in a past issue of
standing out front of the big double doors which CinemaRecord, so I hope to catch up and talk
said “Theatre Tour – Now Open”! more about Perth with them at a future meeting
at the Sun Theatre.
I went inside and was warmly greeted by two I enjoyed the CinemaRecord (78) that was in the
older ladies seated at a table. Thinking I would waiting bundle of mail when I returned home!
have to make a booking for a tour, they said that Yours Faithfully,
I could be taken on one now, and was guided Terry Wise.
through the rows of stalls seats to be shown the Warragul. Vic.
stage.

My tour guide told me that there would be a
ballet here later this month but was concerned
that for music they were going to use taped
material and not live musicians. In September
Swan Lake will be staged and an orchestra will
definitely be performing then.

Standing in the middle of the theatre, we looked
up and she asked me what I thought of the
magnificent ceiling dome?
I wanted to tell her that at home, I have a big
book called Australian Places which contains
a colour photo of this very theatre, it mentions
this colourful 1904 dome which had been given
a modern restoration. I was so interested in
seeing all this, as the Readers Digest book was His Majesty’s Perth.
bought over 20 years ago!
Front and Back: Photographs of some of the theatres of Geelong (Vic). From
the collections of: David Lovell, Mirek Spacil, Lex de Vries and Kevin Adams.

CINEM AREC ORD 2013 3