Page 26 - CR

Remembering a Cinema Pioneer

Alan Windley

By Ross King

first met Alan in the early 1960s With the outbreak of WW2, Alan’s
Iwhen through a mutual friend, the father and older brother enlisted in the
late Harry Gratton Jnr., Alan and his army and were soon posted to the
two young children came along to Middle East. Alan’s father had
Sunday morning film shows at my previously served in WW1, enlisting in Meanwhile at home Alan was
home - I was about 18 years of age and 1917. When the situation at El Alamein transferred to the Plaza, Essendon as
assistant operator to Harry. Since that deteriorated, at his father’s insistence, assistant operator to Harry Gratton Jnr.
time we had remained very good his son was transferred to a different and remained there until at the age of
friends. battalion. 19. In keeping with the family tradition
he enlisted in the Army in February
Alan was born at Coburg but grew
1944.
up in the South Melbourne and Port
Melbourne areas before the family After training he was sent for duty
moved to Brunswick during the late to the POW camp at Cowra NSW, and
1930s. Alan told me of how during the was present at the infamous Cowra
darkest years of the great depression, breakout.
when things were really tough growing Alan told how it was generally
up in South and Port Melbourne, how expected the Japanese POWs would
on occasions the family did moonlight make a break, and on the moonless
flits from one accommodation to night of Saturday 5th August 1944, the
another. expected happened. Four Australian
One of Alan’s uncles, George In July 1942, Alan’s father, Richard soldiers died with the loss of over 200
Windley, was a projectionist, so on was killed in action at El Alamein, on Japanese internees, many of whom died
leaving school Alan commenced work the Egypt-Libyian border. by their own hand. Alan often
described the gruesome details of the
as a trainee assistant at the Alhambra Alan told of when having the
Theatre, Brunswick, later moving to the evening meal with his family, his event.
newly opened and swish Padua mother shuddered and exclaimed
Theatre, situated atop of the Sydney “something has happened!” and within
Road hill. Later, George Windley a few days the dreaded wartime
worked for many years in the Printing telegram arrived.
Department at the Paramount Film
Service exchange in King Street.

Photographs:
Top: Brunswick Alhambra Theatre.
Above Centre: Brunswick Padua at night.
Left: Paramount Film Service.
Above: Essendon Plaza
Right Top & Centre: RAAF Mobile Cinema
Right Bottom: Brunswick Padua Interior.
From The Kevin Adams Collection.

26 2010 CINEMARECORD