Page 9 - cr54

In some respects Burwood was a lesson
in what not to do. This prim display was at
the exit, not the only available place on
the Highway to mount a sign.

law-makers in NSW. For example, all
surfaces to carry cars had to be sealed.
Other states could simply lay gravel
and screenings where the budget did
not allow for a hot-mix surface. Fire
hydrants throughout the field were
another costly requirement in NSW.
By October 1956, when NSW
opened its first at Lambton, Australia
boasted 25 drive-in theatres. Thirteen of
these were in Victoria. This is
remarkable considering that the first
had opened barely 31 months
previously.
Whilst Australia’s population was
less than 10 million and car ownership
was 208 cars per 1000 people, well
below that of the United States, it
quickly became the largest drive-in
market outside of North America.
Europe did not share in the drive-in
experience until 1957, when MGM
built one outside Rome.
The New Zealand government
passed a law prohibiting the
construction of drive-ins. This was
repealed in 1986, but by then it was too
late. Insider comment was that the NZ
chains pushed for the ban; they did not
want the expense of financing new
circuits.
The rapid uptake of the concept in
Australia occurred without competition
from television. If there was a pause in
drive-in construction - due to the
introduction of TV in Melbourne and
Sydney in November 1956 - then it was
only slight; the thirst for drive-ins was
unquenched.
In the late 1950s, when the great
suburban circuits operated by Hoyts, From the top: Back to the Future: Skyline Broadmeadows adopted a futuristic ticket-
Greater Union and various box reminiscent of the space space-age designs seen at Hoyts Windsor, Padua and
independents came crashing down, the at the Regal Hartwell.
one bright light in the exhibition Uniquely competitive: In Mildura, the CrossRoads (foreground) and Hoyts 16th Street
business was the drive-in. (rear) competed for a population of less than 17,000.
Hoyts 16th Street: palm trees and warm summer breezes, the perfect place to see
a film.
CINEMARECORD 2007 9