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Australia •• CINEMA, THEATRE & ••
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Reg A0020747R • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• •
West's Pictures In New Zealand GU Russell Street: Access All
The aims of CATHS are: to record the
history of cinemas and theatres, and to I enjoyed the story about T. J. West Sources
promote interest in theatre heritage and in CinemaRecord 52. He was also an The Greater Union Russell
architecture, and other related areas. important player in the development of Cinemas, in central Melbourne,
Patrons: the early commercial cinema in New formerly an exclusive Paramount,
Frank Van Straten OAM Peter Smith OAM Zealand, especially in his partnership Universal, MGM and Disney release
Philip Brady
with Henry Hayward. house, is now showing product from all
Committee: Together they built the first theatre major distributors including Fox,
President: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 in NZ solely for motion pictures: the Columbia and Warner Roadshow.
Vice President: Peter Wolfenden 9744 2570 Kings Wellington, opened in 1910. The opening of Hoyts Melbourne
Secretary: Mike Trickett 5278 1986
David Lascelles, Wellington (N.Z.) Central in 2005 has finally put paid to
Treasurer: Barrie Wraith 9435 9785 the century-long city release policy
Padua Days
★ whereby various distributors were
Brian Scott’s memories of his time
Archivist: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 aligned to certain exhibitors.
Central Victoria Co-ordinator: at the Padua Brunswick (CR52)
Fred Page 5444 0428 (Bendigo) reminded me of happy days. Palace Shows Confidence
Gippsland Co-ordinator: I worked at the Padua in 1943-4, Palace Cinemas is now a fully
Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 (Traralgon) after transferring from the Alhambra independent entity. The company has
Events Co-ordinator: bought back the fifty percent of capital
Brian Miller 9557 7446 where I was second assistant
Film Buffs Group: projectionist. previously held by Village. (The Age 9
Mike Trickett 5278 1986 The bombing of Darwin was in the Nov. 2006).
Publications Sales: news, and as part of a plan to keep Celebrations at the Paramount
Garry Saunders 9812 7227
Membership Secretary: Peter O’Reilly people out of the central city as much Maryborough (Vic.)
See CATHS’ postal address as possible - and to lift their gloom - CATHS member Bruce Leech
CinemaRecord Editor: the Padua introduced a daily matinee. I represented the Society at a special
Ian Smith was rostered for these day sessions. matinee at the Paramount
iansmith8@bigpond.com
CATHS website: The stage curtains were gold. In Maryborough - complete with birthday
www.caths.org.au winter, red globes were substituted in cake and words from the Mayor - to
Postal address: the footlights to add to a sense of commemorate 80 years of screenings.
PO Box 476, Bentleigh 3204. warmth. The projectors were Simplex Bruce presented a framed
★ with RCA sound. congratulatory certificate to owner/
Membership Alan Windley, Sunbury operator Rod How (a CATHS member)
Annual membership subscription is $40, in front of an audience of about 200.
(overseas subscribers $50) and
members receive four copies of
CinemaRecord, notification of events,
and copies of the agenda and minutes
of all meetings. There is no joining fee.
Meetings
Meetings are held on the last Sunday of
February, April, June, August, October &
November.
Archive
The Archive is located in the Prahran
Mechanics’ Institute, 140 High Street
Prahran, 9510 3393. The Archive will
be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm
on the Saturday before each meeting
(see above), and at other times by
appointment with the archivist.
Publications
Back issues of CinemaRecord, other
publications, CDs and videos are
available at meetings. Items are also
available by mail. Please contact Garry
Saunders on 9812 7227 for details. The Paramount in 2000, the year it was twinned. Image: Rod Smith

4 2006 CINEMARECORD