Page 8 - CinemaRecord #10R.pdf

38. SUN THEATRE - YARRAVILLE by Rod Cook

The opening headline in the Modern Theatres Section of the trade paper 'Film Weekly' of May 5th 1938 stated
"Yarraville's £25,000 Theatre Officially Opened".

The theatre referred to was the Sun Theatre, Yarraville which is one of the few remaining theatres of its era not
to be demolished or converted for other purposes in Melbourne's western suburbs.

This theatre was the fourth house controlled by E.C. (Son) Yeoman's and managed by Bill Yeomans. It was
designed by Gordon Murphy of Cowper, Murphy and Appleford, the prolific cinema designers, and built by
Hansen and Yuncken.

The theatre was the most modern in the district and an almost radical departure from the two level theatres of
the surrounding suburbs. The auditorium consisted of one level, a concept given the term 'stadium'. It was
hailed as the first Melbourne cinema constructed with a floor parabolic in shape where the elevated (stepped
seating at the back of the house) were approached from a separate upstairs foyer. The concept of separate
entrances between the stalls (which were on a sloping floor) and the higher priced lounge seats {which were
elevated and separated from the row in front by steps) was also used at the Preston Circle and other late 1930s
theatres. It was claimed that, in addition to lower construction and ventilation costs, the projected image had
less distortion and patrons had a better view from all seats in the house.

The front of the theatre is distinctive in that rising from next to the projection box windows is a concrete tower
capped by the top half of the sun motif incorporating the theatre's name which was lit by flashing red and gold
neon lights ..

The entrance to the theatre is to the right side of the front of the building with two shops taking up the remaining
frontage (the shop nearest the entrance being the candy bar). The plaster, chrome and glass ticket box is to
the right of the patron when entering the theatre and the stalls were entered after negotiating two steps.
Patrons for the lounge also negotiated these steps and then did a 'u-turn' up two short flights of stairs to a
separate foyer before entering the auditorium four rows from the back.

Before leaving the foyer, it must be mentioned that as a service to patrons, there was.a special room located
next to the advanced booking office, to look after patrons bicycles during the performance. The room was
located under the upper section of seating. The floor of the foyer consisted of ornamental terrazzo in tones of
buff, red and black, with the pattern being outlined in brass strips. The 'Sun Theatre (ST)' motif is incorporated
in the floor. The walls are textured and have recessed lighted panels for coming attraction displays.

The interior of the theatre was painted with plastic paint in which a number of shades combined to produce a
warm tone. The seating and carpets were a warm brown with the 1050 seats providing 'arm chair' comfort
upholstered by Dunlopillo. The brown shade in the carpet was relieved with a pattern in a dull green. The chairs