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Although Dan Clifford was no
longer operating the Lyric, he was not
finished with Murray Bridge - just yet!
On 13 April 1940 he re-opened at the
800-seat town hall, operating as Star
Pictures with Jack Brook as manager.
Clifford ran the extensive Star circuit in
South Australia.
At the time that Stan Hanns was
selected as the operator for the new
Lyric in March 1924, the Picture Palace
Company had also secured the lease for
the town hall as a possible over-flow
venue - times were good and the owners
were optimistic! Dan Clifford could
well have been involved in negotiating
this arrangement with the council.
Maybe it was in his name, or
perhaps the original agreement had
lapsed, (which is more than likely as
Clifford had originally signed up to
operate the Lyric for 14 years, to
1938). What-ever occurred, Clifford
operated the Star on Saturday nights
(7,10,11,12)
for about seven years.
Watermans sold their interest in
Ozone Theatres to Hoyts in the early
1950s. Consequently, the theatre was
renamed Hoyts Ozone Theatre. Major
refurbishment took place in 1955 in
preparation for CinemaScope. To
accommodate the wider screen, the
proscenium opening was enlarged by
removing the side pillars, and a Miracle
Mirror Screen installed. The murals
were painted over, and new curtains and Top: The pleasantly formal stage setting of the Ozone. Above: View from the stage.
seating installed. Rewiring the building, Images: Peter Smyth.
and bringing in two second-hand vehicles - although rumour has it that
Western Electric/Simplex projectors was this was exceeded on occasions! The
all part of a major work-over. manager at that time was Bob Caire.
Strangely, stereo sound was never The opening of the drive-in and the
installed; the Western Electric 15watt availability of television in Murray
amplifier, modified at one stage by Bridge occurred at about the same time,
Lance Jones, sufficed for the sound severely affecting attendances at the
tracks in those days! Seating was Ozone. Seating was reduced at one
reduced to 812 and evaporative air- stage to 499.
(7,11)
conditioning was installed. Riverview Drive-In under construction Jack Brook stayed on at the Ozone
1958. (Ken Wells)
Colin Kennett commenced work in until his retirement in 1969, the time
the projection room at the Ozone in has been cut - no doubt a further that Hoyts closed all of their country
November 1958, under Jack Brook who modification to the hall at the time the theatres to concentrate on city theatres.
(11,12)
was back as the manager/operator. Jack movies came to Mypolonga! The Ozone was sold in 1970 and Tom
devoted his life to cinema in Murray The 1950s brought a new movie- the Cheap (Grocer) occupied the site.
Bridge, starting as a school-boy viewing experiences to the district. It later became a Bi-Lo supermarket.
handing out advertising brochures for Suddenly a huge screen, about 30m x Today Cash Converters are located at
the Lyric, gradually taking on more 13m appeared on the outskirts of the the old Ozone.
responsibility as an employee at the town, at one end of a five ha paddock. While working at the drive-in
Lyric/Ozone and the Star. He also The Riverview Drive-In opened on during 1976, Colin and his family, in
screened films at near-by Mypolonga 11 December 1958 with So This Is partnership with others, established
Institute during the 1940s and 50s. The Paris and East Of Sumatra. The Cinema Enterprises Pty. Ltd. The aim
‘temporary’ bio-box can still be seen brainchild of a consortium of local was to build a new theatre for the town.
attached to the front wall of the businessmen, it was on Long Island Plans were drawn up, the necessary
Institute, straddling the original front Road at the intersection of Swanport approvals obtained and construction
door into which a ticket-office window Road. Official capacity was 280 work duly commenced.

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