Page 7 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

12. The Astor Theatre opened Tuesday, December 29, 1936, the design and architecture by Mr. V. Vibert and
built by Mr. Don McPherson of Shepparton, built in the Continental Modern style. The opening program
was "PICCADILLY JIM" starring Robert Montgomery, plus supporting feature "SPEED" with James Stewart,
both MGM productions.

13. The Star Theatre, Fryers Street, screened its last silent film Saturday, 13th February, 1932 with Douglas
Fairbanks in "THE IRON MASK" and March the following year anothgr projector, a reconditioned POWERS
6B fitted with Raycophone sound head was added to the existing machine. It is believed the Star ceased
screening sound films after 1937 where it reverted to a full time dance and general purpose hall.
Projection equipment in the Lyric at first was a single HAHN GOERZ with matching name A/C carbon Arc
which was handfed. After the installation of sound, projection heads were Simplex mounted on a Westrex
base, with a Western Electric sound head fitted. The Astor equipment was the Australian produced Cummings
and Wilson Model P5 with Raycophone soundheads. These were later installed in the STRAND THEATRE
Rochester approximately 1950. The replacement projectors were a WESTREX 20 combination of C & W
Model P8 heads on a pair of WestrexMod R3 Sound reproducers.

14. The Lyric put In a new screen and lenses (£5000) for the presentation of VISTAVISION, a Paramount
Pictures system, and commenced on Saturday, January 14, 1956, with Bing Crosby in "White Christmas''.

15. The first CINEMASCOPE presentation, was "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" on Sat. February18, 1956.

16. The Cinema circuit built up by Walter McMillan consisted of :
THE WOODEND, WOODEND • 426 seats LYRIC SHEPPARTON 1150
KYNETON TOWN HALL • 600 ASTOR SHEPPARTON 640
CASTLEMAINE ROYAL • 970 BENALLA OPEN AIR 800
ROCHESTER STRAND 750 BENALLA SHIRE HALL 650
KYABRAM THEATRE 900 (later 1956) BENALLA REGAL 940
• business interests with Mr. Vin Holland TONGALA REGENT 447

The entire film buying for the entire circuit was carried out by the late Mr Vin Holland from CastiP.maine.

Acknowledgments:
1. Shepp. Shire Reflections 1879-1979 by Sue Wallace 2. History of Shepparton 1838 -1938
3. Shepparton News Fri Jan 3 1958 4. Those Were The Days by Raymond West 1962
5. Midland Times 5 May 1976 6. Shepparton News Fri Jan 3 1958
7. Tatura Guardian Press Thurs Jan 9 1958 8. Shepparton News Thurs Feb 27 1930
9. Shepparton News Thurs July 9 1936 10. Shepparton News Mon July 13 1936
11. Shepparton News May 1930 12. Shepparton News Thurs Dec 24 1936
13. Shepparton News Thurs Feb 11 1932 14. Shepparton News Mon Jan 9 1956
15. Shepparton News Sat Feb 18 1956 16. Australian Film Weekly Directory 1951-52

1. Star Theatre
2. First Open Air Theatre
3. Lyric Open Air Theatre
4. Legion Hall
5. Paramount, later Astor
6. Lyric, later Capri

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