Page 10 - CR
P. 10
No doubt this addition to the local
scene provided intense competition.
Also advertising at the time was the
Plaza which may have been the re-
badged Olympia; this theatre closed
with the opening of the Capitol.
By 1935 T. Houghton had control of
the Wonderland and most of the
theatres in the Sunraysia district.
With the increased competition to his
circuit, in the form of a modern theatre,
T Houghton set about to improve his
Wonderland Theatre.
The Astor Picture-Theatre
The architectural firm of Cowper,
Murphy and Appleford (of Melbourne)
submitted plans to the HD on August
26th 1936 to extensively alter the
ABOVE: The single-storey frontage of the original foyer and shops.
Wonderland. The plans, signed by
T. Houghton (as owner) included the
In 1935 M.C. Symonds letterhead In 1935 the Mildura retail firm of
construction of a balcony, a new
stated he controlled the following Washingtons converted a large two-
projection room at the back of the
theatres in the Sunraysia district: storey shop, at 39 Langtree Avenue,
circle, an upstairs foyer, the installation
MILDURA: Wonderland Indoor and into a very attractive two-level theatre,
of ladies toilets and extensive
Open-air theatres; Star Theatre (Open- called the Capitol. The architects were
decorative splays at the side of the
Air and closed in 1935). the Melbourne-based theatre specialist
proscenium opening. These plans were
RED CLIFFS: Diggerland Theatre firm of Cowper, Murphy and Appleford.
not implemented.
(Indoor) and Joyland (Open-Air).
On January 26th 1937 the HD
MERBEIN: Royal (Semi-Tropical)
approved another set of plans from
RENMARK: Arcadia Theatre
Cowper, Murphy and Appleford, for a
De-Luxe.
single-level auditorium through
OUYEN: Star Theatre (Town Hall).
renovation and rebuilding. The
In addition M.C. Symonds ran a
Wonderland closed in February 1937
Dance Palais at the Mildura Shire
to enable the project to begin.
Hall and the outdoor Arcadia Skating
L. Manniche (of Mildura) was the
Rink and Dance Palais.
Master Builder responsible for the
works.
CENTRE: The Capitol Theatre. BELOW: The Wonderland Open-Air Theatre was virtually opposite its new indoor namesake.
10 2011 CINEMARECORD
