Page 12 - CinemaRecord #87

Metro Collins Street, Melbourne) and a
programme of shorts. A live performance was
to be given by Mr Eddie Muller, "Australia's
leading mello pianist". Radio 3UL (Warragul)
was to conduct a live broadcast of the event.
The newspaper recorded that within an hour
of the opening of reservations, the first two
nights were practically booked out.
The Yallourn Theatre ran different admission
prices for different days: -
Monday- Thursdays Stalls 1/7, Balcony 2/2,
lounge 2/6 (25 cents)
Friday and Saturday Stalls 2/-, Balcony 2/6,
Lounge 3/- (30 cents)
Matinees Children 7d, Adults 1/- (10 cents)

The Yallourn Live Wire, over the ensuing six
months, advertised both the Yallourn Theatre
and St John's Pictures, which were operating
three to four nights per week. Advertisements
for screenings at the Morwell Town Hall
ceased within weeks of the Yallourn opening.

Having to share the building with live
performances limited the screening policy.
This was a major problem for lessees,
especially during its heyday as the district’s
major cinema. Given that the building had the
best stage facilities in the district, it was in
heavy demand.
Because of the narrowness of the proscenium,
the installation of CinemaScope was less than
satisfactory. Patrons sitting to the sides of the
front stalls could not view the full screen. Over
the years cinemas were built around the
Latrobe Valley including The Valley in
Traralgon, The Maya and Karma theatres in
Morwell, The Civic in Moe and the Monash
in Yallourn North. Drive-In theatres were also
built in Morwell, Traralgon and Moe. These
proved to be serious competition for the
Yallourn.

The Yallourn Theatre was never managed by
the SEC, but was leased to a variety of
entrepreneurs throughout its life. The SEC kept
a tight control over the lessees as some found
out when they tried to sublet the theatre. The
lessees were Mr E Very (1939 – 1947), Mr Rex
Hamilton (1947 – 1960), Mr A Sandilands
(1960 – 1966), Mr W Fullarton (1966 – 1968),
and Dennis and Hilary Trewin (from 1968 to
1978). The Trewins had the theatre partially
refurbished, the first since its construction.
At the time the Trewins took over the lease,
hard tops were on the wane due to the
competition from television and drive-ins. The
Yallourn Theatre was now off the first release

Projection room c. 1950. C&W projectors in place

12 CINEMARECORD # 87