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YOUR LETTERS Continued... Preston Melody

he Plaza Theatre at Northcote
T(CR66) wasn’t the only one of
Australia
ABN 37 195 378 179 Melbourne’s northern suburbs cinemas
Reg A0020747R with some rather ad-hoc programming.
After the sale of Hoyts Theatres to
The aims of CATHS are: to record the
history of cinemas and theatres, and to Fox Film Corporation c.1933, the
promote interest in theatre heritage and Victorian managers of Paramount
architecture, and other related areas. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Patrons: approached the managers of five
Frank Van Straten OAM independent theatres — the Adelphi
Peter Smith OAM North Carlton, Grand Footscray,
Committee: Moonee Moonee Ponds, Roxy
President: Gerry Kennedy 0432 434 169 Sandringham and the Westgarth ongratulations on your bumper
Vice President: Ross King 9370 9479 Theatre at Northcote — to offer them C editions of CinemaRecord!
Secretary: Mike Trickett 5278 1986 The Plaza article (CR66) was truly
Treasurer: Rodney Bendix 9563 2927 first suburban release.
Editor/Committee: Kevin Adams As both studios were pre-eminent excellent considering it always was the
0409 946 066 and prolific, at least 70% percent of Orphan Annie of the cinema world.
Committee: Shane Moore screen time was assured. Vacant weeks I recently discovered a Val Morgan

were to be filled by British Empire acetate disc labelled Plaza Northcote!
Qld. Convenor: Films, a distribution subsidiary of Not much else to contribute to a
Steve Maggs 0413 805 320
Union Theatres. very comprehensive coverage of the
The Plaza Northcote (1934) was the venue.
Archivist: Gerry Kennedy 0432 434 169
Events Co-ordinator: first all-new modern cinema to accept Clyde Simpson — 3AW & Magic 1278
Les Auld 9689 2765 this offer. Others were opened between
Film Buffs Group: 1935 and 1940. eading Kevin Adams’ article on the
Mike Trickett 5278 1986
Publications Sales: The loss of MGM to the Plaza R Academy Twin (CR67) took me
James Barrand 0418 520 315 resulted in a distribution pattern back. I was one of a large group of
Membership Secretary: Peter O’Reilly different from most of Melbourne: students who attended Cinema 300 to
PO Box 476 Bentleigh Vic. 3204 see Polanski’s Macbeth during the
CinemaRecord Editor: Westgarth — MGM, Paramount and opening week of the Twin in 1973.
Kevin Adams BEF.
cinemarecord@hotmail.com Plaza — Paramount, BEF and spot We had made the trek from the Western
CATHS website: Suburbs (Granville Boys’ High School)
www.caths.org.au bookings as available. under the guidance of our very
Postal address: Planet Preston and St James Preston energetic English teacher.
PO Box 476, Bentleigh 3204. — MGM, Paramount and revivals.
I remembered being very impressed
Gowerville (Melody) East Preston — with the new facilities as our locals in
Membership
Annual membership subscription is $45, BEF and spot bookings. Parramatta were the Roxy (before it
(overseas subscribers $50) and Rivoli West Preston — Delayed releases was duplexed) and the Astra.
members receive four copies of from most, but no Paramount product. Oddly enough I have a further link
CinemaRecord, notification of events, After the Plaza went to vaudeville as I moved to Canberra in 1975 and
and copies of the agenda and minutes in the early 1950s, three of these other patronised both the Boulevard Red and
of all meetings. There is no joining fee. theatres were smartened up. Blue Cinemas in Civic as well as the
Meetings Center Cinema. I believe these were
Meetings are held on the last Sunday of The Star Theatre Company, which also run by the Cinema Center Group.
February, April, June, August, October & operated the Planet and St James,
November. purchased the Gowerville from Mr Sid I believe I still may have the
Archive Guest, who also owned the Rivoli. Polanski programme!
The Archive is located in the Prahran After complete renovation the Regards and thanks for the good
Mechanics’ Institute, 140 High Street Gowerville reopened as the Melody. reading!
Prahran, 9510 3393. The Archive will — Robert Taylor
be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm Programs at the Planet and Melody
on the Saturday before each meeting became simultaneous with the ongratulations on the Bumper Issue
(see above), and at other times by Westgarth, and ran at the St James a C of CinemaRecord 67 which
appointment with the archivist. week later. arrived in the post today.
Publications The fact that the Gowerville and
Back issues of CinemaRecord, other Rivoli could run with such spotty The publication truly realises the
publications, CDs and videos are programs in the 1940s, shows, once ideal as A Journal Of Record.
available at meetings. Items are also again, that a picture theatre in the war A huge amount of work presented
available by mail. Please contact James in high style. Bravo!
Barrand on 0418 520 315 for details. years was a money-making machine.
Brian Miller — Brighton — Ross Campbell

4 2010 CINEMARECORD