Page 9 - CinemaRecord #86

The original Barkly proscenium
Barkly Theatre above the entrance. In one of
those unfortunate decisions which masquerade The design of the balcony impressed the writer
for Building. It extended forward further than
as modernisation, the leadlight was later
removed. in any other cinema of the time, and without
supporting pillars, hugging the walls like arms
reaching to the stage. Building wrote: “In
Most purpose-built suburbans of this period places of amusement construction like this
made no provision for a balcony foyer. Instead, calls for considerable engineering skill”.
the stairs led directly into the balcony. This Some comparisons with theatres of similar age
thinking - to create the largest possible show just how much skill: whereas the Barkly
auditorium – was still in vogue when the first balcony held 43 percent of the theatre’s
Rivoli opened in 1920! Bucking the trend, the capacity, Hoyts De Luxe (1914) was
Barkly offered a full-width foyer, with French 20 percent, the Glenferrie Theatre (1912) was
doors opening onto three balconettes. From 22 percent and the Empress Prahran (1913)
this foyer the entrance to the circle was via a was 34 percent.
ramp (why not the usual steps?) which passed
beneath the bio room. That’s part of the charm Although the Barkly was not the only early
of the Barkly; an embryonic step in the cinema to have the bio-room at the rear of the
evolution of the picture theatre.
balcony, it was forward thinking to do so.
Exhaust flues closer to the roof-line rather than
Some aspects were not impressive. The in the stalls was a better option for operator
pinched street entrance, with shops either side, health and comfort, but sometimes only
showed that even innovative thinkers are marginally so. A Health Department test one
captives of their times, or their client’s wishes. night in March 1927 showed that the bio-room
Building made no bones about this. “Barkly temperature was 32 C at 10pm, while outside
Theatre Footscray has an elevation to the it was 21 C. (5)
street designed more on business than
amusement lines. Attractiveness is generally The auditorium was rectangular, with no
attempted externally in buildings of this class”. convergence of the walls (splay) to emphasise
True enough when viewed only from the the proscenium; the appearance of the stage
footpath, but from across the road the totality more that of a superior hall. This box-like
was handsome, whatever one’s view about the finish was often the choice until about 1920.
towers. How to emphasise the stage without resorting
to stage boxes remained a challenge for
A photo in Building to rear of balcony (too architects. The problem was only resolved in
poor for reproduction) shows that the original the 1930s when splayed walls supporting
ceiling lights were upturned pendants which back-lit plaster mouldings became the
emphasised the patterned ceiling. The standard.
proscenium was re-designed in the 1940s.
Films and Live Theatre?
Interior photos show an integrated wall decor
often missing from theatres of the period. In In keeping with their mission to bring the best
the poorest suburban fit-outs, such as the Lyric to Footscray, the directors had included a
Prahran (1910), the decoration was painted fly-tower and below-stage dressing rooms, and
burlap on brick. In fact the design of the initially sought a full theatre licence. The
Barkly walls – plaster borders framing specifications for the fire-curtain were
moulded garlands – was a simplification of a impressive: 35 feet wide and 31 feet high, set
style which would reach full expression in on a steel frame, with side wheels set in vertical Footscray Advertiser, Sat. 3 April 1926
some Hoyts suburbans of the 20s. metal tracks. The structure was to be counter-

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