Page 27 - CR

Pictures this page:
Rebirth The Palais today.

The Cummings and Wilson 35mm
projectors and Raycophone sound
equipment were removed from the
Palais and re-instated in the Filmways
Theatrette in South Melbourne.
The Neon sign at the front of the theatre
was damaged by vandals and removed.
The seats were removed from the stalls
and the theatre was used as the local hall
again for dances, markets and sports
such as basketball and badminton.

Sadly, by the 1990’s the Palais had
fallen into a state of disrepair. The local
council decided it was too expensive
to maintain the theatre and proposed to
have it demolished to provide parking
for log trucks that ply the local roads.
However, the local community rallied
to save the Palais and soon formed
a committee. Through fundraising,
community grants, donations and
volunteer labour, the Palais was restored
and re-opened in 2000.
I started screening 16mm films at the Palais
on my days off from working at the Village
Cinema Complex in Hobart - and we
formed a local film society. I then purchased
and re-installed 35mm projection and
started booking film prints after they had
finished screening at the Hobart cinemas.
The film screenings are well supported by
the community and attract large crowds
during the school holidays.

Like many other independent and
community cinemas, our next challenge
will be to convert to digital projection
once 35mm film prints are no longer
distributed. A costly affair!

I am committed to keeping this 100 year
old cinema operating and am confident that
we will be able to apply for a community
grant - or that over time digital projection
equipment will become more affordable
for independent cinemas.
After 100 years as the social hub of the
Franklin, the Palais Theatre continues
to serve the local community well. +
Photographs and old advertisements
from the collections of
Sam Turner and Kevin Adams.

CINEMAREC ORD 2012 27