Page 14 - CR

- By Ross King & Kevin Adams -

Darwin’s “Star” of the North

hile walking along the Smith Street
WMall, on a recent trip to Darwin,
the sight of a cinema projector, a South
Australian made Super Standard to be exact,
complete with RCA soundhead and Western
Electric arc lamp - was more than enough to
entice former projectionist, Ross King to take
a closer look. This is how he was introduced
to the Star.

The last films that ran through this machine
on Christmas Eve 1974, just a few hours
before Cyclone Tracey struck and devastated
so much of Darwin, were the ‘rock’ double
Fillmore featuring The Grateful Dead and
Joan Baez in Celebration At Big Sur.

It was really good to see the former Star
Theatre has been retained in the form of
‘Star Village’ where a number of boutique
eateries and speciality shops now conduct
business. Of particular interest to a theatre
enthusiast are the detailed display boards, Local contractor, Harold Snell built the Star
featuring photographs and relics recording Picture-Theatre in 1929, a prospectus for
the history of the Star, much of which has shares in a partnership having been launched
helped tell this story. in October 1928.

ABOVE: Memorabilia display in arcade.
RIGHT: Balcony girder on Frank Cook’s truck.
RIGHT BELOW: Construction of the Star.

14 2012 CINEM AREC ORD