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£78,000, and during this year, to May 30, On 2 September 1922 the Palace, “Direction Mr. F. W. Crane, was fined the minimum
£45,000; so, if building went on at the same Haymarket Theatres Ltd” advertised Fatty penalty of five pounds for allowing patrons to
rate during the next seven months, the total Arbuckle in a five reel comedy The Life of the stand in the aisles. He was not alone; on the
amount laid out would exceed that of last Party, and The Truant Husband. On same day the managers of the Strand and His
year. These facts showed that the city was 14 October 1922, the Palace advertised that it Majesty’s were fined the same amount for
continuing to prosper and progress and he was screening continuously 11 am to 10.30 similar offences.
trusted that this continuous picture show pm.
would prosper likewise. It had been said that, The Mercury of 22 September 1923 (p.12)
with increasing wages, the people spent too In February 1920, a small fire at the back of contained an announcement of a merger
much money on amusements and pleasure. the theatre was attended by the Fire Brigade; between Haymarket Theatres Ltd. and Hoyts
Well, surely after a hard day’s work, they it was reported as being caused by paper being Pty Ltd. With 21 theatres involved, the Palace
were entitled to recreation and amusement, by set on fire in a urinal. Larrikins were about in and the Majestic in Launceston were the
attending picture shows and other those days too! However, a more serious fire Tasmanian interests of the new combination.
entertainments, in preference to spending occurred on Saturday 25 August 1923, when Alterations and renovations were announced
their money in less desirable ways. nitrate film caught fire. The report in the by the directors to restore the Palace to its
(Applause). Mercury of Monday 27 August, page 7, is as former prestige as a most popular house of
follows: entertainment.
He trusted that the enterprise of the company
would be amply rewarded. Comparing the city “OUTBREAK OF FIRE AT PALACE THEATRE” This merger did not save the Palace. On
now to what it was ten years ago, who was “Operator taken to hospital” Saturday 5 January 1924, page 10, the
there who could justly say that Hobart was too Mercury carried a report that the Palace
slow? He then declared the building opened. “As the result of heat from the carbons coming would close. It briefly stated that the Palace
(Applause). into contact with some film at the Palace was opened in June 1914 by Palace Pictures
Theatre, in Elizabeth-Street on Saturday Pty Ltd, which relinquished control to
Miss Eva Crease (leader of the orchestra) afternoon, a fire occurred in the operating Australian Feature Films in 1918, and then
played a violin solo, and after the exhibition room, and its contents were severely Haymarket Theatres Ltd until 22 December
of a couple of good films, the proceedings damaged, an estimate of the extent being 1923.
terminated. 500 pounds. The films of the serial “Robinson
Crusoe” and a part of “Beyond the Rocks” The accommodation was described as
FIRST ENTERTAINMENT were badly burned; damage was done to an cramped, and the directors (Messrs.
The first entertainment last evening was operating machine, and the back of the Chesterman, Weller Arnold and
crowded, scores failing to obtain admission. electric power board. F.D. Valentine) could not extend the seating
The programme consisted of eight films, all of capacity. The future use of the building was
which were very clear, with an absence of Basil Williams, the operator, aged 27 years, uncertain. A grand farewell performance was
flicker. They consisted of: “I hear you calling tried to put the blaze out but was badly advertised for that evening. Sadly the Palace
me,” a drama; “Éclair Journal,” topical scorched about the hands and head. First aid was the first victim of a change in first release
gazette’ “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle,” was rendered upon arrival of the fire brigade, exhibition.
drama; Battle of Bull Run,” comedy; “The which responded to the call with its usual
Champion,” comedy; “His Wife’s Child,” in alacrity, and the injured man was taken to the As is evident from the photograph, it is a
two parts and “Pimple’s Humanity,” comedy. public hospital by one of the firemen, and narrow building, and with seats limited to 700
A tuneful orchestra supplied the music.” detained for treatment. His condition is not and no opportunity for expansion, larger
regarded as serious. venues may have been more attractive to film
The detailed reporting in the Mercury gives distributors. By comparison, the Strand held
some idea of the growing importance of the The fire was extinguished with the aid of 1680, and His Majesty’s over 1500.
picture industry as a form of entertainment by chemical extinguishers. It was fortunate that
1914. Although pictures were “silent” in that the matinee audience had left only a few An article on 8 January 1924 stated that now
actors’ voices were not recorded, films did minutes beforehand, and at the time of the the Palace was closed, there was no picture
have a musical accompaniment, sheet music outbreak there were probably no more than show in Hobart before 2.30 pm, but the
being provided by the films’ distributors. 100 people in the theatre. The automatic Palace Directors said that patronage did not
Certain sound effects could also be generated shutters in the operating room, which cut off justify keeping it open.
by simple devices backstage, for example for all light from the screen working
running feet, horses’ hooves, thunder and satisfactorily, and the music continuing to A report on Saturday 19 January 1924 of a
running water or waves. Often a pianist play, the audience was kept quite in the dark meeting of the shareholders of the Palace
sufficed during the day, an orchestra being as to what was happening, and many thought announced a decision to sell the property and
employed for evening sessions. Sessions were the electric current had failed. They remained wind up the company, which would be ratified
advertised in the Mercury, and often reviews in their seats until requested to leave by the by another special meeting at a later date.
of programmes were published. management.

In 1916, assistant operator Eric Flood enlisted, The damage is
and the Mercury of 9 October 1916 reported covered by
that a dinner had been given by the manager, insurance in the
directors and staff at the Imperial Hotel to Union Insurance
farewell him. He had worked at the Palace Co.’s office. The fire
since its inception. His position at the Palace will not cause any
was to be filled by a returned soldier. interruption to the
screening of
In 1917, a Photoplayer organ was purchased pictures at the
for the Palace at a cost of £3250 to Palace Theatre.”
accompany day sessions and, in 1918,
exhibition control passed to Australian On 4 June 1923, the
Feature Films, and later to Haymarket Palace was visited
Theatres Ltd. This latter company was NSW by the local duty
based and also controlled exhibition at the police sergeant and
Majestic in Launceston. the then manager,

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