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ALBERT PARK: The former Dux BENDIGO: More than 100 patrons
Theatre is up for private sale. This were evacuated from the Village
includes a permit to redevelop the Cinema Complex on February 19
building into four-storey residential when alarms were set off by acrid
ST.KILDA: Unable to find a new apartments. electrical smelling smoke billowing
tenant to lease the closed George from a rectifier in the projection room.
Cinemas, the building’s owner, a
retired film-buff refurbished the three- WESTERN AUSTRALIA
screen complex and re-opened it
himself on 10th March 2011. Renamed WYNDHAM: The open-air (1969)
the Aurora Cinemas, the venture was Picture Gardens have re-opened after
short-lived and closed again with less a major refurbishment. This has
than two weeks of trading. The cinemas included a new building and the
originally opened in 1994 but were installation of surround sound and a
closed and vacated in October 2010 by NEC NC200D digital projector with a
the Palace Cinemas company who GLENFERRIE: Long ago GDC server.
reported that the location had been converted into a shopping arcade with
losing up to $400,000 a year. first-floor theatre-restaurant and dance-
studio, the former Glen Theatre
building was sold last year for a
$5million. New owner, Eddie Tamir
(who also operates the Belgrave Cameo
and Elsternwick Classic cinemas) has
applied to Boroondara Council to
rebuild the property with an eight-
screen cinema complex on the upper
level – along with a 100-seat roof-top
cinema. The complex is to be called
The Lido.
BELGRAVE: The Cameo
Cinemas have constructed two brand
new auditoriums at the rear of existing
buildings. The ultra-modern Cinemas 6
and 7 opened on March 3, 2011 and
complement a complex that now
features the original 1935 auditorium
plus modern cinemas as well as a large
ALBANY: Overlooking the
outdoor cinema for the summer
CHARLTON: In a repeat of harbour, the strikingly modern, Albany
months.
September 2010, the historic Rex Entertainment Centre opened on
Theatre again suffered significant MELBOURNE: Amalgamated December 11, 2010. The complex
damage in February when flood-waters Holdings are considering the possibility features the large, 620-seat Princess
inundated the building for a second time. of a future cbd hotel development by Royal Theatre as well as a smaller
utilising the site of their current
This has rendered it inoperable with 200-seat performance Studio along
Greater Union Cinemas in Russell
all the electrical wiring water- damaged, with bars and a restaurant.
Street.
all carpets ruined, two-thirds of the
PERTH: The multi-million dollar
downstairs seating un-useable, warped
State Theatre Centre finally had its
panelling, the piano water-damaged and
grand opening on January 27th, 2011
foyer fittings detached. Most of the
with an opening ceremony held in the
town was badly affected again and has
575-seat Heath Ledger auditorium.
left many fighting difficult insurance
battles before any restoration can start.
TASMANIA
MELBOURNE: Yet another major
piece of the cbd’s theatre history is set QUEENSTOWN: The historic
to disappear as the Palace Theatre in Paragon Theatre in is currently for
Bourke Street is expected to be sold for sale with a $500.000 price tag. In
around $20 million before being LAKE EPPALOCK: The future of recent years the theatre has been nicely
demolished for redevelopment. A retail Eppalock Open-Air Cinema is in refurbished by a local doctor who has
centre and 140-metre high apartment doubt with a 60% drop in patronage now returned to his home overseas. In
tower is proposed to replace the historic from last year over the past summer April, a major fire at the adjoining
three-level theatre that over the last season. The family-run theatre has been service station next door caused no
century has also traded as the Apollo, in operation at the lake near Bendigo damage to the theatre whose concrete
St.James and Metro. for forty years. walls surely came in handy.

6 2011 CINEMARECORD