Page 7 - CR31R.pdf

North Eastern Tour

By Gerry Kennedy

The CATHS two-day North Eastern Tour commenced at
Healesville on Saturday 31st March and after several hundred
kilometres concluded at Euroa on the Sunday.
Forty members and partners travelled in a convoy of cars
over the two days. Apart from the spectacular scenery enjoyed
in sunny autumn weather there was a good deal of camaraderie
experienced. The social highlight was the group dinner at the
very smart Mansfield Hotel with ad hoc entertainment provided Alexandra Cinema.
by our very own ‘resident’ accomplished pianists, Kevin Adams
and treasurer Barrie Wraith. Members were both surprised and in the cinema after the aforementioned dinner and entertainment!
delighted to hear these two very professional musicians perform After a much needed sleep it was off to the tiny hamlet of
in a pub setting. Swanpool where the 1957 Memorial Hall is transformed each
Over the weekend a number of very interesting halls and cine- weekend into the 50s style Swanpool Cinema. With a mix of
mas were inspected, a few still operating, but most sadly not. second-hand equipment and seating from closed theatres it was
The first stop for the early risers was at the two level really a trip down ‘memory lane’ for everyone.
Healesville Cinema. Located in the 1923 Healesville Memorial A further twenty minute drive along the Midland Highway
brought us to Benalla where a number of cinema venues have
operated over the years. These include the RSL Pictures; an
open-air show; the Starlit Drive-In Theatre, the purpose built
Regal Theatre and the historic Benalla Town Hall.
The Regal is now a retail outlet, the RSL Pictures became
the community Library; a house now stands on the drive-in site,
and the open-air (behind the Regal) is a dusty car-park.
We were able to have a good inspection of the Benalla Town
Hall which is now used only for live theatre and dances etc.
although the bio-box still survives in its unusual location against
the side wall at the rear of the balcony. The auditorium, strange-
ly high, long and narrow, is quite pretty and features decorative
ironwork supporting the curved ceiling, and classical plaster
work.
After lunch, it was back down the Hume Highway to the last
stop of the tour — the Euroa Civic Theatre. Built in 1938 as a
Healesville Cinema.
multi-purpose hall/cinema, it originally featured both stalls and
dress-circle foyers, both of which have now been converted to
Hall, the cinema features a wonderful polished wood ticket box office and storage space for the local council. Although plas-
in the entrance vestibule, and currently seats around 300 in the tered over, the bio box remains, sadly, unused for many years.
flat-floored stalls and another 50 or so in the small balcony. Like the exterior, the hall itself is in a very simple art-deco mod-
Being a multi-purpose hall, the cinema screen is on a motor- erne style and features little ornamentation except circular opa-
ized roller for easy storage when the stage is required. Member line lights and smooth surfaces broken by streamlined plaster
Brian Luscombe has operated the cinema since the 1980s and bands. Entry is now via the side of the building as a new annexe
has a long career in the industry which began in 1956 at the
Geelong Theatre (now Village 11).
Next stop was Alexandra, although en route, a couple of
intrepid enthusiasts sped off for a quick, unplanned inspection of
the Eildon Theatre (closed 1973).
Dating back to 1881, the beautiful Alexandra Shire Hall
features a classical Portico of Tuscan Doric design. The single
level auditorium seats 200 and is a very comfortable and relax-
ing space in which to enjoy a film. Sadly due to escalating trad-
ing losses and the failing health of the operator, Mrs Stella
Webster and family, the local Band committee (who own the
equipment) have officially closed the cinema component of the
venue. The final screening took place last September with the
movie The Patriot.
Then it was back into the cars for the dash to lovely
Mansfield, where we toured the fascinating Mansfield Swanpool Cinema.
Cinema, which opened in the late 30s as The Regent and later
traded for many years as The Star. Of single level, with raked
‘lounge’, and of wood and fibro construction, this is a real old- has been constructed at the front to provide larger space for the
time cinema which continues to be popular with the locals. council offices.
Located in a nearby street is the even older RSL Pictures All in all, a very enjoyable weekend was had by everyone,
which despite remodeling into a Lodge, still retains many cine- and our thanks go to our gracious hosts in each town and to tour
matic features including the projection ports, steps to the bio, organizer Brian Miller. Assistance from Eddie Revell and Don
bricked-in proscenium and a magnificent decorative wooden Flowers is also greatly appreciated. ★
ceiling. Our thanks to Melinda and Brendan Grant, and Eddie • Photos and additional information by Kevin Adams.
Revell for their hospitality — and for an unplanned ‘late show’

CINEMARECORD Autumn 2001 7