Page 8 - CR-90

Ian Smith and Eric White

If the Barkly in Footscray was the stand-out Road (1920). Each was an advance on its to Kew tram passed the door, while another
cinema of Melbourne in 1910, the opening of predecessor, but each was also deficient in the service along Dandenong Road, was close by.
the New Malvern in 1921 was the next qualities which inspire lasting admiration. It was an ideal location.
advance, pointing the way towards ‘Regent-
style’. And what was it about this particular The Armadale had been shrewdly promoted One station east of Malvern, the Crystal
theatre that enabled it to outlast its Hoyts’ and managed by Mendel Snider* for Palace Caulfield also opened in 1921. Built by
cousins? Associated Theatres Pty Ltd, the company Crisp and Smith, a company which controlled
which was to lease the New Malvern. Snider, five theatres, (3) the Crystal almost always
hen William Alfred Turner applied in working closely with Turner and architect switched programs with Malvern.
Wwriting to the Public Health Department Lewis Kaberry,** was determined to make the
for permission to build a picture theatre, he new theatre a showpiece. In one puff-piece From a distance, and before the Hoyts neon
added ‘Gentleman’ after his signature. Owning from Associated, Kaberry was described ‘as was in place, the New Malvern could have
a theatre was to be the apex of his business the leading American specialist in Picture been mistaken for a department store. It
career. Turner’s Building, a row of shops in a Theatre Construction’. (2) dominated its site, but without finesse. Tight
prime position on Glenferrie against the street corner with a
Road, included his own pastry blank side wall to Dandenong Road
cook premises. (1) it lacked the assurance of the
sculptured face of the Victory,
Less than 5 km from the city- which also overlooked two major
centre, the growth of the roads.
suburbs of Armadale and
Malvern was fuelled by the The corner entrances to the New
expansion of the rail-line to Malvern - one facing Dandenong
link Gippsland to Melbourne. Soon Glenferrie Four suburban theatres opened within a 6 km Road, the other Malvern Road - were separated
Road, between High Street and Dandenong radius of the New Malvern in 1921. On a par by a blocky pillar; their narrow concertina
Road, became an important shopping strip. were the Victory St Kilda, even before its doors unworthy of a major theatre.
upgrade to ‘Regent-style’, and the New Surprisingly, it took until the 1950s to enlarge
Films were shown at the Victoria Hall near Malvern, with its auspicious address: number the entrances and fit standard doors.
High Street from 1909. After major 1 Glenferrie Road.
renovations, the building re-opened as the The weekly magazine Table Talk was effusive
Tivoli Theatre in 1911. On High Street, the Set apart from the shopping centre by the deep in its praise for the New Malvern. Mendel
purpose-built Armadale Theatre opened in cutting of the railway line, the theatre was only Snider personally escorted the writer around
1912, followed by the Victory in Wattletree a 50 metre walk from the station. The St Kilda the building spruiking its features: numerous

8 CINEMARECORD # 90