Page 6 - CinemaRecord #85

hanks to Eddie and Lindy Tamir, the Moving pictures came to Glenferrie in 1908 The histories of the two theatres will inter-
Towners of the Classic Elsternwick and when entrepreneur Edward J. (Teddy) Riggs twine, separate, and later settle into a genteel
Cameo Belgrave in suburban Melbourne, set up a weekly open-air show in the Glenfer- rivalry. While the history of the Palace is
cinema will be returning to Glenferrie’s first rie Sports Ground, soon to become the home uneventful, that of the Glenferrie is cheq-
picture theatre. This conversion to eight of the Hawthorn Football Club. Riggs was uered, before re-emerging to respectability as
screens will be a story in itself, so it is time to elbowed out of film exhibition by the opening the Glen.
review the history of the building. of the Glenferrie Theatre in 1912, virtually
on his patch – its back wall faced into the The directors of the Metropolitan Picture
When the rail line from Flinders Street football ground – so he turned to the promo- Theatre Company engaged Henry Trigg, one
crossed the Yarra River and reached Haw- tion of dances and concerts. of Perth’s foremost architects, to design the
thorn station in 1860, rapid eastward develop- Glenferrie. Trigg had moved east to rebuild
ment followed. Glenferrie was one station east Melbourne’s first electric tram service ran on his practice after his brother, either through
of Hawthorn and by 1900 the suburb and its Glenferrie Road in May 1913, an event credit- bad investments or embezzlement, bankrupted
shopping precinct was basically completed. ed with hastening the development of retail the firm. The Glenferrie is believed to be his
The largest buildings were set between the opportunities. As in so many cases, when a only cinema commission in Victoria.
railway crossing (then at road level) and the shopping-strip materialised, a picture theatre
intersection of Glenferrie Road with Burwood became the next accessory. Local investors The theatre opened on Saturday 6 April 1912
Road, a corner dominated by the Church of reasoned that if one theatre could prosper, in the presence of Sir Robert Best MP, and a
the Immaculate Conception. The Hawthorn surely two could do the same. So the Palace, large group of invited guests, including the
Town Hall was close by. The theatre was less than 100 metres north on the same side of Mayor of Hawthorn and councillors from
constructed near the heart of this administra- the road, opened six years later. Hawthorn, Kew and Camberwell. Monday’s
tive, commercial and religious setting. Argus reviewed opening night, praised the
Below: The Glen interior 1939. A pleasing integration of curved and linear elements. Image: CATHS archive

6 CINEMARECORD # 85