Page 17 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

On the other hand exhibitors
complained bitterly about what they
saw as exorbitant service charges for
W.E. equipment. This forced W.E. to
publish a schedule of comparative fees
charged in various countries. To show
that their lion's share of the market
must mean a superior product, W.E.
claimed 7,170 installations world-wide;
(8)
4,701 of them in America. RCA
Photophone replied two weeks later
with a claim that they had supplied
3,000 installations!
Sydney manufacturer Raycophone
advised the market that 114
installations had been made in
Australia, and four in New Zealand.
Only two theatres were equipped with
Raycophone in South Australia. At the
same time, some 25 theatres had
installed U&J/Benbow sound projectors
(10)
in South Australia and Victoria.
Bill Benbow designed and built a
number of projector heads over the
years. His first enclosed head model
with rear shutter was probably his best
seller of the 1930s. Neither the later
Benbow Superior nor Benbow Junior
(obviously a smaller version) seem to
have been produced in any quantity.
From the mid-1940s the factory
was at 221 Pirie Street Adelaide. From
this address Bill managed his theatre
circuit and assembled a larger and
better equipped engineering facility.
This workshop, like so many others
throughout Australia, was turned over
to Defence Department manufacturing
during World War II. The precision A name to be reckoned with: The locations of Benbow picture shows at their peak.
engineering skills involved in making
intermittent movements and other and one change often made another Ltd. reached their peak in 1958 with 19
projector components, were of great seem imperative, such as better seating. permanent and 14 touring venues.
advantage to the military. This building These upgrades were expensive but During the war, Benbow
was later demolished to widen the essential if Bill was to attract an Amusements fitted out a 1934 model
(1, 5, 11)
street. audience and then hold them, year in, Chevrolet truck as a mobile film unit,
year out.
Mutual Benefits primarily to serve Army camps at
By installing sound projectors at The Institute always benefited; Warradale near Adelaide, and Woodside
South Australia’s Institute halls, Bill receiving the hiring fees, repairs and and Sedan in the country. This vehicle
Benbow was in a good position to both upgrades such as paint-work at little or had its own power plant and sleeping
expand his business and help the no additional cost. At Minlaton accommodation for operator Ron
Institutes survive. Many Institutes Institute/Town Hall, Bill constructed an Ashby, conscripted into the Army so
turned to talkies in an attempt to fill entire dress circle while he was lessee - that he could gain access to the camps
their halls after observing declining his wife Elsie, worked in the ticket to screen films. The service was well
attendances for silent films. Dance office. “Every town I went into I did up received, but one day, under
(2, 5)
nights were tried with varying results, the hall - it cost me a lot of money.” instructions from Bill, Ron told Base
but the advent of talkies brought back In 1937 there were nine theatres Command that this would be the last
(12) visit. The vehicle’s tyres were worn out
the public. operating in country Institute halls
under the Benbow umbrella. Within a and “because of rationing, the boss
Institute buildings often required
couple of years, this had grown to 15 could not obtain a new set.” “Leave the
modifications for ‘talkies’ well beyond
permanent screens with an additional truck with us for a day” came the reply.
adaptations to the projectors, which in
10 touring venues. Based on figures in Ron returned to see a set of new Army
some cases were silent Garvie models.
Film Weekly, Benbow Amusements issue, heavy-duty tyres fitted.
Electrical wiring had to be upgraded,
CINEMARECORD 2009 17