Page 12 - CR-90

parking had worked for decades, traffic
volumes on both major roads had increased
exponentially. Another problem was Hoyts
own concerns about the state of the building.
Fretting plaster along the western wall was a
tell-tale sign of deterioration. The splitting idea
quietly died.

In its last years, the New Malvern was
organised almost as a city theatre. A show ran
for as long as it could pull an audience.
Sometimes this was for weeks. During holiday
sessions Crocodile Dundee patrons were
shown to the dress circle for one session, then
to the stalls for the next. The empty section
was cleaned during the screening.
And Then There Was One

CATHS stalwart, the late Brian Miller liked to
visit the New Malvern and talk with the
manager Ms Roma Adams, who had
transferred to the New Malvern after Hoyts
Bentleigh closed. When the New Malvern’s
1987 closing date became public, she told The last stage change: all curtains and a screen to match
Brian that the theatre could have continued to
trade profitably, but Hoyts had lost interest in and Regal Hartwell (to name three different Credits:
single screens. Their focus was now on their styles) would have survived. An affluent Arthur Knox’s reminiscences brought colour
first multiplex at Chadstone. community is important too, but there has to to the story. Tony Tibballs supplied
be more than that, otherwise the background on architect Lewis Kaberry. David
Broadway Camberwell would Kilderry offered amusing recollections from
have lasted as long as the New his time at the theatre.
Malvern.
Photos:
When the Palais St Kilda went Tom Vitali
over to live shows and the John Budge Collection
Victory St Kilda closed, a prime CATHS Archive
cinema heartland became a References
cinema void. The Astor East St
Kilda did re-open as a Greek 1 Di Forster, Heritage Officer, City of Stonnington
cinema (and later achieve iconic 2 The Herald Friday 21 January 1921
status), but across Melbourne the 3 Ross King: personal communication
compact between audience and 4 Table Talk, June 9, 1921
exhibitor, in place for three 5 Juliet Peers: More than Just Gumtrees
generations, had splintered. Dawn Revival Press 1993
6 The Argus, 21 September 1921
In our opinion, location was the 7 Public and Private Memory:
New Malvern’s gold-plated A History of the City of Malvern;
advantage, with one precious Lyn Strahan, Hargreen 1989
overlay - the extensive Jewish 8 Public Records Office: Health Department
community from St Kilda to file, PB782 Units 358-9
Malvern. Amongst their other
achievements, Jewish influence Footnotes
on, and appreciation of literature, * Snider would later become Director of
music and film is second to none. Construction and Development for Hoyts.
The New Malvern became their
Stairway to the upper foyer beacon in a cinema wasteland. ** Born in Yorkshire, Lewis Kaberry served
Their numbers were insufficient to prop up an his Articles with the British Admiralty
What was the secret of this theatre’s longevity? oversize Palais Pictures and Victory St Kilda, before moving to the United States. He
We know that the aesthetic quality of a but the New Malvern could serve as ‘keeper moved to Australia in about 1913, soon
building was insufficient to guarantee its of the flame’ in the east, while the Elsternwick partnering with Clifford Chard. The firm
survival. If quality had been the criterion, then Classic did the same bay-side. Hoyts’ great Kaberry and Chard is credited with the
the Regent South Yarra, Padua Brunswick, distribution power ensured that overall, design of more than 150 theatres in most
programs matched all tastes. Between the New states, although Kaberry received solo
Malvern and the Dendy Malvern (the former publicity credit for the New Malvern. In
Metro), film choice for Malvern and surrounds 1924 Kaberry and Chard designed Hoyts
was as wide as ever. Ivanhoe.
Fact check
From its very beginning, the New Malvern’s
eventual fate was hidden in plain sight. The Hoyts’ Waverly Gardens and Greensborough
opening night feature was The Last of the Twin (1978-89) both outlasted the New
Mohicans. ê Malvern. However, their short histories
render them mere footnotes in the Hoyts
Left: The New Malvern site today - an office block suburban story.

12 CINEMARECORD # 90