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The Star in 1930.

The completed theatre seated 860 people on The following year running water was
two levels in both deckchairs and bench type connected to the theatre by laying pipes
seats. The theatre was constructed with the beneath Smith Street to connect to the supply
screen and section at the front open to the sky at the couple’s hotel.
and exposed to the weather. This area was
designated for the “coloured” folk, while the The Duncan’s sought professional
“whites” sat upstairs in deckchairs under the management for the Star and in 1931 after a
cover of a roof. long haul from Kerang in Northern Victoria,
a young Tom Harris arrived in Darwin. In
late January, he enthusiastically took over
as the ‘picture-showman’ becoming the new
manager of the Star. As an entertainer, Tom
would sometimes lead the audience in sing-
a-longs during interval.

The bio-box was also located on the upper
level, as were two businesses - a travelling
dentist and Weston’s Hairdressing and
Shaving Saloon. Two let-able shops were
also provided at street level. These flanked
the central theatre entrance and one operated
as the Star Refreshment Rooms. Original screen.

On the 9 of October 1930, the original
th
syndicate that operated The Star Picture
Company was dissolved and the business
was acquired soley by two of the original
partners, Christina and Duncan Gordon who
operated the Victoria Hotel opposite.

Myra Hilgendorf wrote in April 1939:
“I’ve been to the pictures twice this week
– an unusual theatre in our experience. It
is built so that the screen and the section
in front are open to the sky, and the blacks,
Chinese and half-castes (sic) sit there
exposed to the weather and the whites
sit upstairs in deckchairs under cover of a
roof… At interval everybody goes out for
refreshments for half an hour or so –
a beer at the pub or a Jap Squash
in Chinatown.” Segregated audience.

CINEM AREC ORD 2012 15