Page 10 - CinemaRecord #87

YALLOURN THEATRE

by GERRY KENNEDY

he discovery of brown coal in Victoria's Movies were also screened in St Theresa's Hall bio box and both foyers were largely built in
TLatrobe Valley led to the construction of (Catholic). front of the main auditorium. The theatre did
the town of Yallourn, 130 km east of not have a marquee. The exterior roof line,
Melbourne in the Gippsland region. Yallourn The SEC decided that the community required above the main auditorium, was of a flattened
was a "company owned" town, built from the a modern entertainment centre, and a pyramid style. A large fly tower was
1920s by the State Electricity Commission theatre/cinema was designed and built in the constructed above the stage area.
(SEC) to house workers employed in the open late 1930s on a prominent island position in
cut coalfields, the power houses and the the town square. The nearby towns of The size of the building was deceptive and
ancillary service industries. This attractive Traralgon and Morwell had purpose built town suggested a far larger seating capacity than its
town was provided with all the amenities found hall cinemas, the Yallourn Theatre was the 725 seats. The auditorium was on two levels,
in larger communities, including primary and first dedicated theatre / cinema to be built in with the upstairs lounge balcony seating 260,
secondary schools, a hospital and a modern the Latrobe Valley. and the stalls 465.
theatre/cinema. The town’s residents were
always aware that it would be demolished to The theatre itself was an imposing feature in On entering the front doors, the booking office
acquire the coal beneath it: this occurred from the town, and was designed to complement was located on the left and the candy counter
the late 1970s and the town was completely other commercial and civic buildings in the on the right. A circular ticket box was situated
gone by the early 1980s. Yallourn had a peak garden square setting. It was located on a in the middle of the foyer. These facilities were
population of about 4,000. triangle of land surrounded by three streets. faced in alternating sheets of brass and copper.
Its exterior design, apart from the large stage Terrazzo floors were used throughout the
Films had been screened in a variety of house, was similar to other major moderne foyer, but were later covered with carpet to
locations since the early days of Yallourn, styled theatres in the metropolitan area built in deaden noise. Continuous enclosed lighting
including tents and halls. Travelling film the late 1930s. All exterior walls were was used in the downstairs foyer; this was
circuits first serviced the town until more constructed in cream Yallourn clay bricks, and designed to minimise glare for the incoming
permanent arrangements were made, including the detailed brickwork was a feature of the
the use of St John's Church Hall (Anglican). building. Alternate rows of bricks were slightly patrons.
This was a multipurpose hall that was equipped projected at the wall corners and this provided
with a permanent bio box and screen. "Talkies" the building with a cheap but effective Access to the upstairs foyer was via a single
were introduced to St John's on 12 March, ornamentation. The building was wedge staircase from the left side of the downstairs
1931, and traded as St John's Pictures. shaped with a softly bowed frontage. The large foyer; glass bricks provided natural light to the

10 CINEMARECORD # 87