Page 9 - CinemaRecord #10R.pdf

themselves were oak backed and the woodwork, including doors. matched this. The walls contained large
abstract plaster mouldings and louvered panels brought the walls in on an angle towards the proscenium.

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The proscenium was relatively plain, with the curtain being a rich peach tone and made out of specially
imported crushed velour. The border footlights, which were of many hues and colours, gave a remarkable
effect on the velour currtain. A green and silver 'modern' material was provided for the back stage setting and
screen draw curtains. The floor of the stage was covered in mottled felt which eliminated reflections from the
lights back to the screen. The stage draperies were furnished by Messrs. French and McNeil.

The ceiling had a pattern border with a modernistic plaster centrepiece running through the central part of it.
Suspended lighting provided the main illumination.
On the 29th of April 1938, the theatre had its first official screening for local dignitaries and other invited guests.
The main feature was 'The Big Broadcast of 1938' from Paramount Pictures and Metro shorts, these being
projected on Bauer equipment.
The following day, Saturday the 30th of April, the theatre was open for business. At the opening night speeches
were given by the proprietor and local dignitaries and a host of telegrams from such stars as Norma Shearer,
Myrna Loy, Robert Taylor, Clark Gable and Jeannette Macdonald were read out. Flowers from The Vogue
Theatre Hawthorn, Grand Theatre Footscray, exhibitors associations and Greater Union were on display as a
measure of support for this new theatre in the west. The Mayor of Footscray, Councillor C. Free, officially
opened the theatre to the public and the audience , including the Yarraville Cricket Club who were holding their
gala night at the theatre, were entertained by the MGM feature 'Maytime' starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette
MacDonald.

The theatre continued to well after the introduction of television and advertised in the Independent columns of
the daily newspapers. It eventually succumbed in the 1960s to the pressure caused by dwindling attendances
and closed as a general release English language house. It was not the end of the theatres life as it then