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HOYTS BENTLEIGH by Les Egan

ne Saturday afternoon in 1977, my some black
Oyoungest son and I went to Hoyts trousers and a
Bentleigh (in the Melbourne suburb of the maroon tie
same name) to the intermediate session and start next
(5.00pm) to see Close Encounters of the Third Saturday.
Kind. On the front door of the cinema was a With that he
hand written notice - "Wanted - Male Usher. said, "I must
Must be available to work Saturday nights". go now to the
bio box to run
the film".

Subsequently,
about a year
later, I was
appointed
Manager. We
had four
permanent
staff - manager, projectionist, booking clerk resigned. The theatre closed about two years
and a cleaner - and about seven or eight later.
casuals (ushers and candy bar girls).
In December 1986, the new Hoyts Multiplex
My biggest claim to fame was interviewing in the Chadstone Shopping Centre opened.
Tom Burlinson when we premiered The Man Hoyts Malvern closed in February 1987.
from Snowy River (after the premiere at the
Star Cinema in Mansfield, in country In my days at Hoyts Bentleigh, I was obliged
Victoria). to wear a dress suit for evening sessions and
greet the patrons. You don't see that any more.
One Saturday night, we filled the theatre with Even though it was a very time consuming
Kramer Versus Kramer, just over 1000 job, I enjoyed my time at Hoyts Bentleigh as
uncomfortable seats and without air- usher and manager. When I drive past that
The author (right) interviewing Tom Burlinson
conditioning. The least number of patrons I corner, it brings back many memories. ¬
In those days, they were still screening recall at a session was on a Wednesday night
dreadful shorts before the feature film. At when three patrons presented for The Long Credits:
interval, while drinking a lemon cordial, Riders.
Manager Maurie Isaac was walking around Images:
the foyer, and I asked him if a 50 year old After managing the theatre for nearly two Les Egan.
(which I was at the time) would qualify for the years, it became a bit too much for me, as I was John McCabe collection.
job as your usher. He replied, "Get yourself still running my own display business, so I CATHS Archive.

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