Page 4 - CinemaRecord #79

inemaRecord #78 was a great issue and
Cagain so fully illustrated! Seeing the
projectionist picture on the cover reminds me of
the first years I worked at a Sydney drive-in –
we even had the same equipment!
Charlestown Renown.
John Merrin the original projectionist at I loved the article on the Imax theatres – it’s the
the Skyline Dundas was good friends with
Ken Ball who was a technician with Hoyts. first I have seen of the interior of the projection
Together they tried to improve the light source rooms, and the story of the Orana Theatres
was brilliant and the photographs are amazing!
by modifying those arc lamps. I believe it did
not work as hoped and the lamp-houses were I found the article on the Elwick Drive-In in
slightly altered in the process.
Tasmania quite amazing. I wonder how they
kept the race track in that position where cars
I once did three weeks as relief projectionist at entering would have to drive across it!?
the Caringbah Drive-In, and the manager there The Theatres of Gladstone was another fine
was a very “curious” person and would phone article – and those photographs!
the booth at the slightest thing.
The permanent projectionist there had metal
chains which he attached to the bottom take-up I see the Tower Cinemas in Newcastle quite
often. They seem to survive even though the city
spool door to keep it open (the rake was uphill itself is quite run down. Like many other cities,
a little). These chains were causing a buzzing in the main retail stores have moved out of the city
the sound system.
To satisfy this persistent manager, I went out into the larger suburban shopping centres - with
on the field and listened through a speaker – Newcastle that is principally Charlestown and
Kotara.
sure enough, when l removed the chains, the Part of the original theatre at Charlestown, the
buzz disappeared! I never did understand why Renown still remains. It became a garage and
the regular projectionist didn’t have the same
experience. motor repair centre, then was the offices of the
NRMA, but is now a tyre centre.
Greater Union have closed the Blacktown Thank you again for all your good work.
Drive-In for renovations. With the usual lights Best Wishes,
and noise of a drive-in, I don’t know how this
will fit in with the adjacent new hotel-motel. William Gray.
North Parramatta. NSW

NORWOOD: Alcohol can now be consumed
in the Hoyts Cinemas but only after 5.45pm in
ADELAIDE: Centenary celebrations for Her Cinemas 4, 5, 6 & 7.
Majestys Theatre were dampened with the
postponement to 2014 of two gala fundraising PORT ADELAIDE: The old Waterside
concerts scheduled for September 6 and 7. It has Workers Hall has been undergoing building
been decided not to start raising funds for a $50 works worth $250,000 over the last few months.
million upgrade of the building until detailed Once a regular venue for union meetings,
plans were ready for public viewing. cinema and concerts, the hall now serves as a
creative theatre and arts space and the home of
GLENELG: Holdfast Bay Council approved the Vitalstatistix Theatre Group.
developer Andrew Taplin’s $17 million
eight screen cinema complex at a council
meeting on the 27 August. The plan must
th
now be considered by the State Government’s
Development Assessment Commission. Once
approved the cinema is expected to open by
early 2015.

ADELAIDE: The former Lido Cinema in
Hindley Street remains empty, forgotten and
prone to neglect since closure as a Club X
venue. With its long narrow auditorium and
sloping floor, there is little interest in it for retail
use and it remains for sale or lease.
4 2013 CINEM AREC ORD