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C INEMARECORD

1998: Hoyts 90th Year
The story of Hoyts hegins with a Melbourne Dentist, Dr Arthur Russell who had a yearning for show business. He was a
fairly efficient magician and comet player.

Not long after !he turn of the century a small American circus arrived in town and Dr Russell bought a share in it. It was called
"Hoyts C(rcus" and Russell toured with it as a magician.

The tour was a financial disaster and Russell returned to his dentistry. In 1908 he leased the old StGeorge's Hall in Bourke
Street, Melbourne and started showing programs of short pictures. It was a real family show with Russell playing his comet,
his wife the piano and his son !he drums.

St George's Hall prospered and Dr Russell formed a Company which he called "Hoyts Pictures Pty. Ltd." and he rebuilt the
old hall and called it "Hoyts De Luxe". Later the Hoyts Esquire Theatre occupied this site (it is now the Target Centre).
Hoyts has since undergone many transformations and today is one of the major cinema exhibition companies in the world.

Visit the Hoyts website at www.hoyts.com.au for more information about Hoyts history and current/future developments.
Source: The Story of Hoyts, News Release, Hoyts Theatres Limited, 1969.

Sydney Opera House 25th Anniversary
In October the Sydney Opera House celebrated its 25th year. Recognised !he world over as an Australian icon, moves are now
underway to have the building listed on the World Heritage List. Designed by Danish architect Jom Utzon, the construction of
the Sydney Opera House broke a lot of new ground in resolving challenging design issues and in the logistics of building.
ABC television recently presented a documentary 'The Edge of the Possible', which examines how the Sydney Opera House
was built and the controversy surrounding the construction of the building. Annmaree Bellman, in her review in The Age
Green Guide [15th October 1998) wrote:
"Utzon won the worldwide competition to design !he Opera House and had an uncompromisingly European sensibility. He
came from a continent where the great, lasting structures of the past - the cathedrals - weren't lhrown together in time for the
next election. He wanted !he best for his Opera House and fought for it, but in 1965, amid wrangling between the state-
appointed engineers and Utzon over construction, the fight reached higher levels. The Labor Government that had
commissioned the building was ousted by the Liberals, who resolved to sort out the "Opera House mess".

Utzon was taken head-on by a minister who made the Opera House his own. Utzon packed his bags and never returned. The
Opera House - which he said could he finished in 18 months under his guidance - took seven more years to complete. Much
of the interior is not even Utzon's. Is he bitter? It's interesting to see what he says on the subject now- particularly regarding
the debate as to whether it should be heritage- listed."

Greater Union Entertainment Technology

For many years, Greater Union and Village's entertainment technology division has been trading under two different names -
Greater Union Village Technology (GUVT) in Australia and New Zealand, and International Theatre Technology (ITT) in Asia.

Since 1st July 1998, the division became 100% owned by Greater Union and will also he moving into Europe with offices
opening in Germany and Poland. In line with the change in ownership and global expansion, GUYT and ITT will he known
internationally as Greater Union Entertainment Technology. The company undertakes over 300 cinema and audio/visual
installations a year in Australia and !he Asia-Pacific region.
*Source: Media Release, Greater Union Village Technology, 30th June 1998.

'Night of the Drive-In'

Stephen Sculley is making a documentary on Drive-in Theatres and is keen to hear from past and present drive-in patrons and
staff. He is also interested in any drive-in memorabilia - tickets, leaflets, slides, posters, newspaper advertisements, diner
mementos etc. The working title of the film is 'Night of the Drive-In'. Please contact Stephen at sculley@vicnet.net.au or
phone 9480 0474.

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