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ABOVE: The magnificent “Sunburst Proscenium” at the Astor. BELOW: Hoyts luxurious Ozone Theatre.

The Astor opened on the 20th of The Capitol provided fierce Over the following years various
April 1937 with Girls Dormitory (Fox). competition with the screening of Fox proposals were put forward to improve
The opening publicity advertised and Warner Bros. products - sometimes the amenities at the Astor. In 1939 a
screenings six days per week with on current release with Melbourne's heating and improved ventilation
matinees on Wednesdays, Thursdays prestigious Regent and Capitol theatres. system was proposed and installed.
and Saturdays. Programs were to be But more competition was to come. Cowper, Murphy and Associates
changed twice per week on Tuesdays The large, magnificent, air- submitted plans to the HD, on August
and Saturdays. conditioned Ozone Theatre was 18th 1949 to construct a new foyer that
Three price ranges of seats were opened by the Waterman Bros in was to include a candy bar and new
listed: Lounge Chairs 2/6, Stalls 2/- and December 1938, at 58-60 Langtree toilets. The improvements would also
Front Stalls 1/6; all were plus the Avenue. This theatre replaced the include a modernising of the
entertainment tax that existed at the Capitol which, by this time, had also auditorium with a reduced seating
time. Children were admitted for 1/6, come under the control of the capacity of 801. This plan relied on
1/- and 7d (all plus tax). Waterman Bros. and was closed. removing the tenants from the shop on
The opening programme said that the right-hand side of the entrance and
further improvements to the theatre converting this space into foyer areas.
would take place over the winter However, the tenants refused to vacate
months namely the completion of the and the project stalled.
Dress Circle and Lounge and the The HD was advised on 22
installation of a complete cooling and September 1950 that the Astor had
heating system. come under the control of the
The Astor was to mainly screen Waterman Bros. This company from
MGM, Fox, RKO and Universal films. South Australia controlled dozens of
The programme also noted that (at that theatres in that state as well as all
time) the population of Mildura City remaining theatres in the Sunraysia
was c7000. district.

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