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THE WARDS

OF BRIGHTON

A Movie Dynasty

By Brian Pearson

his is not a history, but more of an If I were to live up to 400 miles from home, I Make no mistake about it though. Bert was
Taffectionate memoir of a Melbourne preferred that it be in a city, and the obvious the real founder of the Ward empire when he
family who changed how things were choice was our neighbouring capital where took the lease of a nondescript hall in Church
done in that city’s mid twentieth century I was to live for nearly thirty eventful years Street, Middle Brighton.
cinema industry. before returning to my roots and further
happy connections with the South Australian It was near the railway station, and was
There were three Robert Wards. I was cinema industry and its people which are still approached by a narrow and dingy passage
privileged to know all of them and to be a at the centre of my life. sandwiched between two shops which
member of the extended family which grew opened out to a foyer with a staircase leading
up around ‘Bert’ Ward, his wife Marge and Bert, always referred to as such behind his to a balcony, ladies’ parlour, toilet facilities
their children, Robert, Andrew and Janet. back, but rarely to his face for he had a natural and the balcony.
They were the kind of people who took dignity which was commensurate with his
‘strays’ under their wings, and Marge was sense of civic duty – he was a councillor and To the right at ground level was a motor
very much at the centre of that warm and one-time Mayor of Brighton – was movie generator room for the arc supply, and
welcoming atmosphere. struck at a young age, like so many of us. to the left a walk through the Melbourne
He was so young in fact, that when he drizzle to outdoor facilities for men
When I met Robert, I was a newly arrived decided to buy and operate a picture-theatre built against the auditorium wall. All
movie-struck young teacher from Adelaide, it had to be put in his father’s name. in all, it wasn’t very prepossessing,
a refugee from a career which would have but it bore the grand title of the Prince
meant long years in the theatrical wilderness George Theatre.
of country villages, far from the bright lights The only known photo of the Prince George
on the marquees of Rundle Street. Theatre - the side wall from a rear property. In silent days it did boast what was probably
a Photoplayer piano console organ with
the pipes in a large adjacent cabinet and
was, I believe, the first Melbourne theatre
to use diathermal heating in Winter for,
whatever the building lacked, Bert was
determined to make it a place which would
be a preferred venue for the movie fans of the
bayside suburbs.
As time went on, the business prospered to the
extent that Bert was able to buy a large house
in Well Street which had extensive grounds
opening onto Church Street near New Street
which were large enough to accommodate a
fine modern theatre in the art deco style and
an adjacent block for car parking.

Photoplayer console.

20 2012 CINEM AREC ORD