Page 17 - CR

Not only was the slide screened at the Late
Show, but after the trailer at the normal
evening program, something that involved
a trick called ‘snatching the arc’. It was
a skill that only South Yarra assistant
projectionists needed to master.

Thacker also inserted the Late Show He was possibly the best manager Hoyts
attractions into the Hoyts block had at the time, but as a non-conformist
advertisements in the newspapers, and a his talents went unrecognised. He
large banner over the theatre’s entrance kept the Late Show going despite
showed the title of the next Late Show indifference, if not opposition, and in
program. All of these hand-painted signs doing so made a significant contribution
were carefully stored and re-used when to Melbourne’s cultural life.
necessary. The supper show largely
sold itself. Only towards the end of the Thacker himself refused to acknowledge
theatre’s life did it begin to struggle. that the theatre was closing until he
stuck the “Theatre closed” posters
Eric Thacker was an extraordinary on thedoors as we locked up for the
fellow and the best stories about him last time. He did not linger, just went
are largely unprintable. He was a straight to his car and was off.
tall, well spoken and imposing man, The manager of Hoyts Malvern (two
with a formidable manner. He was an He then retired from the industry and stations down the train line) tried to
event unto himself, a phenomenon, a concentrated on his music. At the continue the tradition of Friday Late
happening. He could be appallingly Conservatorium his students knew him Shows. It did not work out.
rude and coarse, even to customers! as Professor Thacker.
Similarly, late shows were exhibited at
Two favourite Thackerisms were “Metro Postscript Hoyts Athenaeum in central Melbourne,
going mouldy” (MGM) and “the worn- until it too ceased showing films in the mid-
out brothers” (Warner Bros.) He did not 1970s. Hoyts even installed an up-market
mind insults directed at himself - as long The Regent had a one-year life as a Philips 16mm projector for the purpose. +
as they were good ones. If someone had live-performance rock-and–roll venue.
a complaint he would say, “Joe Walker’s It burned down under questionable
the name. Tell him about it. I couldn’t circumstances. Eric White worked at the South Yarra
care less.” (Circuit Supervisor Joe Walker Regent as an assistant projectionist for the
could match Thacker for rudeness.) About a year before it closed as a last two and a half years of its existence.
cinema the Trak Cinema was established
further east on Toorak Road. The Trak
On the other hand, Thacker was
well-educated, well connected and remained viable for a further 25 years, Photographs and ads from the collections of:
cultivated. He taught part-time in the demonstrating that there was still money Eric White, Brian Pearson and Kevin Adams.
music department at the University in cinema in the area for a company with
of Melbourne. some get up and go. Below: Ad for the last Late Show.

CINEMAREC ORD 2012 17