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Grant, who assisted Nicholls to run the Melbourne office, can- the corresponding estimate for city cinemas was a staggering
not be discounted from the Westgarth equation at the present 50 per cent.
time. A lachrymose aspect of talkies was that their introduction
It may be worthwhile recalling at this point that no archi- roughly coincided with the onset of the Great Depression and
tect was employed in building the Westgarth Theatre in 1921. its concomitant misery. Many an orchestra player was con-
This, combined with the absence of building records concern- demned to the swelling ranks of unemployed during this debil-
ing the 1929 refurbishment, may lead one to surmise that no itating time. Sadly, this was to be the exact fate of the seven
architect was employed in the 1929 refurbishment. Research piece Westgarth Theatre Orchestra. Mr Jack Nicholls recalled
continues on this point. The absence of documentary evidence that the orchestra lost their jobs promptly upon the arrival of
is a fundamental impediment. talkies. Musical director, Professor Jonathon Morton, became
an usher as a consequence.
The Talkies The unemployment rate in Victoria increased from 11.1
Films with sound brought an entire new dimension to cinema. per cent in 1929 to 27.7 per cent in mid 1932. Nevertheless,
After the extensive 1929 orna- irrepressible promoters adopt-
mentation of the Westgarth ed a mirthful guise: “Forget
Picture Theatre, it is perhaps the Depression! The Talkies
unfortunate that Westgarth was will cheer you up!” was their
not the first of the High Street defiant catchcry. The reality
theatres to exhibit talkies. That behind this facade was any-
coveted prize was seized by the thing but cheerful. On 4 April
Thornbury Regent which hosted 1932, the Cinematographe
a grand, gala opening to show Exhibitors Association wrote
Hearts in Dixie and In Holland to the Public Health
In Holland on Monday 5 August Department seeking a twelve-
1929. month deferral of ventilation
The Northcote Theatre com- and temperature control relat-
menced exhibiting talkies on ed works at the Westgarth
Monday 2 September 1929, its Theatre. Reasons cited were
program featuring The small attendances and severe
Mysterious Donovan Affair star- financial strain. The Health
ring Jack Holy, supported by Department duly sanctioned
The Flying Fleet. this request.
One week later, on Monday
9 September 1929, Westgarth Recovery, Renovation
crossed the rubicon and showed and War
its first movie with sound: As the 1930s progressed, so
Through Different Eyes starring did a series of modifications
Warner Baxter. This feature was to the Westgarth Theatre. Re-
supported by the silent drama seating of the dress circle was
The Sin Sister and Fox approved on 24 November
Movietone News. The Westgarth 1934. Seating platforms in the
Theatre, ameliorated by its elab- front section of the circle were
orate decorations, now billed regraded and lounge seats
itself as “The Theatre were installed. As mentioned
Beautiful”. previously, it is possible that
The rivalry between cinemas the projectors were relocated
was intense. On the opposite to the rear of the dress circle at
side of Merri Creek, Hoyts this time. However, it is more
Merri Theatre, North Fitzroy, likely that this had occurred in
was also making its presence 1929.
felt as an exhibitor of talkies. Further evidence of a post-
Advertisement from Northcote Leader, Depression cinema renais-
The Great Depression Friday 1st August 1930. sance was the opening of the
The euphoria of the 1920s gave Plaza Theatre Northcote on
way to the congealing hardship of the Great Depression. The Saturday 29 December 1934. The opening feature was The
cinema and live theatre industries were in no way invulnera- Scarlet Empress starring Marlene Dietrich. This was support-
ble. A State Entertainment Tax levied on live theatres effective ed by Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland and Lanny Ross in
December 1929 on admission prices over 2/6 only made mat- Melody in Spring. The Plaza Theatre Northcote was in fact a
ters worse. In 1929, Her Majesty’s Theatre closed and the remodelling of the desuetude Northcote Market.
Athenaeum, Palace and Princess Theatres converted to film Other High Street cinemas to emerge after the Great
exhibition. Depression were the Circle, the Planet and the St James (for-
Everyones estimated, in December 1930, that box-office merly the Star), all in Preston. The Palais, later named the
receipts in suburban cinemas had fallen by 25 per cent while Plaza (then Cinema North), opened in High Street Reservoir

CINEMARECORD Autumn 2001 15