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Another Opening - Another Show! by Ian Williams

Sunday November 7th, 1999. The Capitol Theatre's 75th birthday! This Melbourne icon has gone from what must have
been to Melbournites the eighth wonder of the world in 1924, to a space that people wanted ~ept for its architectural
significance but bad become uneconomical to operate. For less than a quarter of its life it operated with a dazzling stage
show on the first half preceding the 'wonder' of moving but silent movies on its screen.
This was five years before the miracle of 'talkies' anived on the scene; five years before the bigger but not better movie
palaces in the Regent and State Theatres came on the scene to compete for the movie patrons visit to the dream world that
Hollywood created. In 1940 the world was at war for the second time, and all live theatre presentations were drastically
curtailed. Hoyts took over the lease of the Capitol about this time and it then had to play second fiddle to the larger
Regent, Hoyts flagship.

The Capitol screened the bigger action shows and some dramas and musicals that were not quite up to the Regent
"standard'". The magnificent Wurlitzer, reputed by many as the finest one in the country, played on until it was eventu-
ally sold to TOSA (Victorian Division), and subsequently installed in the Dendy Theatre, Brighton.

With product deteriorating and the lease running out, Hoyts vacated the theatre in 1964, and we found television sets
being sold from the derelict lobby. The closing night was for me the saddest night of my life. I was, however, to go back
in triumph just over two years later to reopen the theatre in its present form. A single screen theatre like the Capitol was
not wanted by any of the major circuits who had built multi cinema complexes in both the city and suburbs, and the
Capitol eventuaiJy fell to screening double feature revivals changing up to three times a week, then fmally showing
Chinese movies at nights and weekends.

With RM£T University purchasing the theatre and unused circle foyer this year, they have promised to undertake a full
programme of refurbishment to bring the theatre back to its full glory and make it available to commercial hirings which
would fit in with their primary use as a lecture theatre by day. Already they have received $220,000 from a Government
restoration fund to open up and reinstate the original circle foyer. Texas Utilities, an American-based Power Utility that
has bought into the Victorian electricity area, is also sponsoring the lighting of the ceiling which has always been a major
cost in the running of the theatre.

On the night of November 7th, 1999, the guests entered the auditorium with their mini-torches, cleverly buiJt in to their
invitations. Firstly. the timpani section of the Melbourne Symphony displayed their talents in an unusual 'fanfare' after
which speeches were made by YIP's (including an architect who had researched Burley Griffin's career), the CEO of
Texas Utilities. the current U.S. Consul General and also Vice Chancellor of RMIT, Professor Beanland. After the
ceremony of joint hands pressing down on the plunger that brought on the lights to rapturous applause, we were treated
to a dazzling display by a performer who appeared from the ceiling on a wire rope twisting and turning in true circus style
above our heads. (Look Mum, NO NET!)

During the interval, prior to the presentation of a preview film "Happy Texas", guests enjoyed free drinks, ice creams and
popcorn. The night ended about I l .45pm, with everybody going home feeling happy that this architectural gem was in
good hands, and assured of a bright and secure future!

Since the above writings things have really started to happen. The southern end of the "Berlin Wall" (the Capitol Wall)
has already gone, and within a fortnight the rest of it will have, plus the false ceiling which effectively entombed the top
half of the circle foyer. Then one can again see the majesty of the vast space again.

The Cowboy Code by Gene Autry

He must not take unfair advantage of an enemy.
He must never go back on his word
He must always tell the truth
He must always be gentle with children, elderly people and animals
He must not possess racially or religious (sic) intolerant ideas
He must help people in distress
He must be a good worker
He must respect women, parents and his nation's laws
He must neither drink or smoke
He must be a patriot
Reprinted from "Sunday Life"- Sunday Age Magazine 31/10/99
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