Page 8 - CinemaRecord #79

he “Tropical” Theatre Delta in the Far- Thirty-nine years later, on Friday 15 December
th
TNorth Queensland town of Ayr was built in 2000, the doors of the old theatre re-opened as
1910 and opened its doors on Friday, September the modern Burdekin Delta Cinemas.
23 1910 with live entertainment, concerts, balls,
rd
dancing, meetings and skating - followed a year This came about after Ayr born, World Woman’s
later with regular screenings of silent movies. Champion Golfer, Karrie Webb bought the
former theatre building at auction in 1999.
In 2013 the venue survives as the Burdekin
Delta Cinemas and the public of the Burdekin It was then completely refurbished by her parents,
Shire are still being entertained there with the Robert and Evelyn Webb of Webco Builders,
magic of motion pictures. who carried out the extensive renovations with
Brisbane based architects ASA Suters working
It is not often that a country town with a in conjunction with Alasdair MacEachern of
population of under twenty thousand, with a Progress Consultants, Ayr.
building built for showing movies is still carrying Evelyn and Robert Webb now manage the
on the tradition over a hundred year later. There cinemas.
has been a lot of history and memories made in
that time... In the intervening thirty-nine years, the old theatre
was occupied by Woolworth’s, a BCC food chain
On Saturday 29 July 1961, the Theatre Delta store; a Chinese Restaurant and Burdekin Office
th
ceased to show films. The last two movies were Solutions to name a few.
That Kind of Woman starring Sophia Loren and The theatre was used to store furniture and the
Tab Hunter, together with Accused of Murder odd disco or two was held in the rear section of
with David Brian and Vera Ralston as the leading the building.
actors.

Above and Far Right: Early open-air picture shows soon gave way to grander venues.

8 2013 CINEM AREC ORD