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Fuller’s re-opened their theatre at Full Circle
Easter 1930. In keeping with their During the Second World War under
preference of matching the names of Carroll’s leadership, the Princess went
their Sydney and Melbourne theatres, back to first release films with links to
they re-named it the Roxy. There were Greater Union Theatres. MGM,
some weekly runs of first releases such Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros.
as Universal’s Hoot Gibson westerns, films were screened. Carroll then steered
but the theatre was mainly a second the return to live theatre in 1946 with
release house to the Palace. Trader Life with Father. His post-war stage
Horn was the only film there to run successes included Kismet and Sound of
two-weeks after it had finished at the Music. As a Marriner theatre the
Princess. Princess has gone on to host hits like
The Big Chill Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera
As the Depression deepened Hoyts and The Producers. The last vestige of
and Union Theatres Greater formed a the Fuller’s reign is the patriotic sign,
temporary alliance - The General still visible on the south wall.
Theatres Corporation - to minimize The Fuller Footprint in Australia
costly competition for films. Hoyts (Indicative only; short-term leases
wanted the independent circuits - and Dean Theatres. Weekly runs of are not included.)
Fullers and Birch, Carroll and Coyle MGM and Paramount films were not
(Qld.) - to come under Hoyts control, successful at this location. Snider and Melbourne
and in this way bring some rebel film Dean were also helping to run the National (1912), Palace/St James
exchanges, including MGM, to heel. Palace. They also took over the lease of Bijou (1914)
the Lyceum, Bourke Street. This tenure
Hoyts dominated the amalgamation Gaiety (1914)/Roxy
at the Lyceum was short-lived, but for
and ran the exhibition policy. They Princess (1915)
a while Fullers and their associates had
were determined not to share product Lyric (St Kilda)
more theatres in Bourke Street than any
with Fullers because of the Fuller Sydney
other group.
strength in NSW and New Zealand. Royal Standard (1901)/Empire/
After holding out for six months Fullers From Palace to the St James
National/Fullers/Roxy/Mayfair
applied to join the amalgamation. In 1934 the Palace reopened as the
Majestic - Newtown (1917)
Hoyts stipulated that in Melbourne Apollo, boasting the largest neon sign St James (1926)
the Princess and Palace were not to in Australia. The inaugural offering was
show MGM films. Only the Roxy Fuller’s Opera Company. The principals Newcastle
joined General Theatres as a first-run B were from Sir Thomas Beecham’s Victoria
western outlet, and a second and third National Opera in England. Presenting Broken Hill
run, twin-feature outlet. A minimum of popular operas sung in English, the Crystal Palace
press advertising was permitted. In company got some good reviews. Brisbane
Sydney Hoyts could not break the Melbourne’s Joan Hammond in an Empire (1918)/St James
Fuller hold on MGM films at the St early role was among those praised. Kings
James and British product for their The company then departed for a
Mayfair (formerly the Roxy). Sydney before returning to the Apollo Adelaide
The Melbourne Roxy was granted for a second season. The experiment Majestic (1915)/Warner
one privilege, along with the Regent, was a financial disaster. Kings
State and Capitol. These theatres were More variety theatre followed then Prince of Wales
the only ones permitted to open on it was back to films The Apollo Port Pirie
Christmas Day and Good Friday. Soon screened mainly MGM and Paramount Liberty
however, the Health Department first and second-release films. It was
declared the Bijou a fire hazard. The not a great success as a cinema and in Perth
Fullers considered rebuilding the hotel 1937 it reverted to live shows, reviews Capitol
and theatres, but did not proceed with and amateur productions. His Majesty’s (1918)
the idea. Instead, demolition began in The Fuller’s co-director Garnett H. Theatre Royal
February 1934, leaving a huge hole in Carroll took charge of the remaining Melrose Gardens
the ground. Finally in 1940 a circuit. In Melbourne this was the Fremantle
Commonwealth Bank building was Princess and the Apollo. In December
Princess
erected on part of the site. The rest was 1940 the Apollo was refurbished and
taken over by the Melbourne City renamed the St James. The plan was to
Image credits.
Council for offices and a car park. show MGM and Paramount films. After
Opposite: Cinderella and all star
Imperial (Russell Street) and about the sixth film, MGM took over Vaudeville – Table Talk, 17 Feb. 1921
Lyceum. the lease and made the theatre their Trader Horn – The Herald
second exclusive house in Melbourne.
The former Temperance Hall (later 11 Sept. 1931
The St James was sold to MGM in Above: Annie Laurie – The Herald
the Savoy) was reopened under Fuller
1951, refurbished, and reopened as the 1 April 1929
management in 1934, then run as a
Metro Bourke Street.
cinema by an associate company Snider
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