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Going to the Pictures in Wollongong, NSW

Robert Parkinson

t one time there were three hard-top streamlined interior, an amazing colourful
Atheatres: Crown (about 2300 seats) in lighting system (mostly hidden in troughs)
Keira Street, Savoy (1100) in Church Street, and the relative luxury of more expensive
and Civic (1700) in Kembla Street. A fourth seating where patrons enjoyed carpeted
the Regent (1530) opened in December 1957 foyers and leather seating. In the upper foyer
in Keira Street, and the triple Town Cinemas vases of flowers and a glass case displaying
(522, 256 and 412 = 1190) opened in Burelli women’s fashion provided by a local store
Street in December 1976. All were within added to the ambience. But the height of
walking distance of home, although I never did sophistication was upper circle double
go to the Town. In 1957 a drive-in, the seating for those wishing to “hold hands”.
Southline (682 cars), opened in nearby Fairy Before I could appreciate that management
Meadow. Wollongong University Union Hall had provided such a level of comfort, I used The Crown proscenium
also began screenings of mainstream films in to think they had been extremely clever to have patrons who could also avail themselves of a
1978. daylight penetrate though troughs above and Pass Out to visit nearby milk bars – the Crown
around the proscenium and along walls (later alongside the foyer, Messrs Williams and
Wollongong Theatres Pty Ltd controlled the realised to be blue neon tubing). All this magic Jenkins cafe across Keira Street (much to my
Crown and Savoy, the Jones family the Civic reached a climax as multi-coloured lights surprise I learnt later that the owners were of
and Regent, while Greater Union ran the Town. dimmed, and the bronze crushed velvet stage Greek extraction), and the Black and White cafe
The drive-in was controlled by a partnership of curtains parted to reveal red velvet swags above on the corner of Crown Street. The Lower
Greater Union and Wollongong Theatres. the screen on which the projected National Circle (equivalent of Back Stalls) also gave
Anthem (“God Save the King/Queen”) access to a covered fernery, refreshment
As a youngster I was most impressed by the demanded all and sundry stand to attention. The counter and WCs on the eastern side. Toilet
size of the Crown, a scenery fly tower, neon projection box was behind the upper circle. facilities for front stalls were located further
street sign and surrounding neon tubing, the down outside. In 1957 they were relocated
One of my earliest under the eastern wings of the stage (ladies) and
memories relates to emergency staircase (men) to allow for
the blackouts of the construction of another theatre which did not
late 1940s when many eventuate.
exhibitors installed
generators to provide Under the stage a few small dressing rooms
minimum power. On catered for the occasional live show. As a
entering the Crown I primary school pupil I remember assembling
was disappointed to there before appearing above in the choir for
see only a few “work” the annual concert. Gymnastic displays were a
globes alight in the popular feature with boys forming pyramids
ceiling, no coloured almost up to the top of the proscenium. Shows
lighting, no footlights, like Jack Davey’s “Amateur Hour” were often
stage curtains wide booked into the Crown, but live performances
open, a blank screen, became impossible after July 1955 when
and no music. That CinemaScope was installed and the fly tower
was in stark contrast became inaccessible. Because the stage was too
to normal operations. narrow for the new ratio, and to avoid costly
renovation, a false maroon velvet proscenium
Programs were and large screen were erected in front with a
supplied mostly by gold brocade curtain electrically operated from
MGM, Fox, the projection box. Some concealed lighting
Columbia, Universal, was lost, but offset by opalescent strips of
Cinesound and lighting in proscenium splays.
selected British
studios for three day In the absence of air-conditioning, ventilation
screenings with was by means of ceiling vents and roof cowls,
changes on Tuesday but heating was eventually provided by eight
and Friday. Evening industrial gas heaters in June 1954. Along the
sessions were at 8 pm, upper walls on each side, nine solid wooden
Saturday and public casement windows were partly concealed by
holiday matinees at 2 decorative plaster panels. Along the side walls,
pm, and an 11 am a stepped balcony extended like two open arms
shoppers’ session on from the upper circle to exit doors through the
Wednesdays. proscenium splays. This arrangement most
likely replaced boxes during the 1937 Crick and
At interval “lolly Furse renovation, but in my time there were no
boys” carried trays of seats and no one used the exits. The previous
ice cream and sweets interior had been designed by Kaberry and
for purchase by Chard in the 1920s.

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