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The rear of the auditorium c. 1930
the top or gallery boxes being omitted and the auditoria. This was usually done by elevator, Paramount at the time was in the process of
construction continued over and above the so after the first performance in the Tivoli, the setting up an Australian circuit, due to its
proscenium in the form of an elliptic arch,. One performer’s props were quickly transported up dissatisfaction with local distributors. Included
striking feature in the Stalls and Dress Circle to the Roof Garden, but only small items, as in the circuit at that time, and later described
is the absence of posts. The treatment of the the ceiling of the stage in the latter was quite by Roy Purves as “a bunch of lemons” was the
interior is carried out in the Louis style.” low. Adelaide Wondergraph, Rockhampton
Paramount, Stanmore Theatre, Melbourne
The first manager, Roy Purves, would later At their peak, the Tivoli had a fine orchestra of Auditorium and Townsville Paramount.
reminisce that, in the early days, the Tivoli some 20 players in the main theatre and 14 in
often saw weeks in darkness, and that early the Roof Garden. Charles Groves, the On 8 September 1918, the Musician’s Union
attractions were often spasmodic. The Tivoli conductor for 14 years, would bow to the held a Queensland Patriotic Fund Concert in
was sometimes leased out to Charles King or audience in the Tivoli and then hurry upstairs the Tivoli. “Long before 8 o’clock,” it was
the Tait circuit. During the influenza epidemic, to the Roof Garden and his “second” orchestra, reported, “the dress circle was full, and before
the theatre remained open, despite others being which was staggered to commence later than the concert commenced there was not a vacant
closed by Government decree. No explanation that in the main auditorium. Both orchestras seat in the house. The orchestra consisted of
for this exemption was ever forthcoming, much would fall victim to the Depression and be 52 professional performers and the programme
to the annoyance of other theatres, but the dispensed with, following the coming of talking was an exceptionally fine one, Mr E Jackson
Tivoli was also used as an inoculation depot pictures. being the conductor.”
for flu vaccinations.
On 31 March 1918, it was announced that Around 1919, the theatres came under the
Vaudevillians who appeared at the Tivoli Paramount Pictures would be given a lease of control of Haymarket Tivoli Theatres Ltd, a
included Gautier’s Dogs, Sunshine Panto the Tivoli for use as a permanent picture merger between Rickard’s Tivoli circuit and
Kiddies, Long Track Sam, Argus the Boy theatre. A few days later, The Patriot reported, the rising Haymarket Theatres Ltd. The Tivoli
Wonder, Jack Cannot, Isabelle D’Armond, “Yesterday morning a huge crowd awaited the in Brisbane was operated as a combined
Alfred, Fred Reade, Peter Dawson, Ada Reeve, opening of the Tivoli as a continuous picture film/vaudeville house, the programmes usually
and in a small role, Judith Anderson. house, featuring Paramount films. The being shared. Everyone’s reported in 1924, “It
Hon. John Huxham, Home Secretary, who was is not too much to say that the Tivoli is perhaps
Acts and performers were contracted to do three introduced by manager Mr Roy Purves, opened the finest picture theatre in the southern
shows daily: one matinee in the Tivoli and two the theatre and made a few graceful comments hemisphere, and owes the greater part of its
evening shows, the main performance being in upon the excellence of Paramount films and the popularity to the hard work and courteous
the Tivoli followed by a second show in the beauty of the Tivoli, which may rightly lay handling by Mr Purves.”
Roof Garden. The use of props and scenery claim to being the most beautiful and tasteful
was kept to a minimum in order to allow in the Commonwealth.”
transfer to be effected quickly between the two

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