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So much was I in awe of this favourite picture
show that, if stall exit doors stood open after a
matinee along the Keira Street façade and I was
passing by, I could not resist a quick peek
inside. The vast auditorium was then empty and
quiet but, not long before, I presumed hundreds
of patrons had been as entranced as I was. One
final memory is of a distinctive but not
unpleasant aroma, probably from cleaning
materials used in preparing the theatre for the
evening session.

Not only was the Crown faced with
competition from the Civic but after December
1957 from the Regent, located not far to the
north in the same street. It was rumoured that
a director of Wollongong Theatres was so
worried by this additional rivalry that he
developed the habit of standing outside the
Regent to count patrons as they emerged. What
he hoped to achieve is unclear but he could not
have failed to notice that business was booming
and so much so that the new arrival outlasted
the Crown by nearly forty years.
commodious for the which more intrepid youngsters often used as
presentation of concerts a skating area.
and other live productions
which could also use a fly The growing interest in television spelt the end
tower above. Proscenium of so many picture shows, among them the
dimensions also allowed Savoy in September 1964. Demolition within
installation of wide screen a few weeks saw the once cream textured walls
without renovation in and fancy lighting turned to rubble and
December 1954. It was unceremoniously dumped on a nearby
said that management did beachfront. A parking station was constructed
not believe the new on the site.
medium would last and had
delayed similar installation The Civic Theatre had been built for
at the Crown and other Wollongong Council in 1927 as the Town Hall
outlets until July of the Theatre. Although regular screenings dated
following year. from a 1939 lease to Herbert Jones who adopted
the name Civic, this council-owned structure
Savoy sessions were at underwent little change from its original design
1.30 and 7.30 pm on six by architects Kaberry and Chard. Unfortunately
The Crown under demolition Dec. 1972
days a week, and programs this led to patrons regarding it as a “flea pit” in
The Crown closed in October 1965 and stood often lasted for a week or more. Films came comparison to the more modern Crown and
vacant until demolition in December 1972. A from much the same studios as at the Crown Savoy.
shopping mall was constructed on the site. and were projected from the rear of the upper
Before destruction got under way, an intrepid circle. A street awning was surmounted by a A streamlined touch had been added when
cousin of mine gained access to the fenced off horizontal neon sign of the theatre’s name, Crick and Furse redecorated the ground floor
premises to get a final glimpse of the “old lady” while to the north a similar vertical sign was foyer with concealed trough lighting and the
and perhaps gather a souvenir or two. He attached above the parapet of the mezzanine façade with a vertical neon sign. The
reported that he found in the projection box foyer. Alongside perched a “Now Showing” auditorium was ornamented in a restrained
several photos of the company’s theatres on billboard where the changing of program 1920s classical style with simple pendant lamps
glass slides, but regrettably most had been posters must have
smashed by vandals. Two of the Thirroul Kings involved a
I could use in my book on local picture shows, p r e c a r i o u s
but others were irretrievable. My cousin also procedure – well
said he found traces of 1920s fittings above the before the days of
deco ceiling and around the stage. OH&S.

The Savoy opened in December 1936 on, as I Exit from the upper
later learned, the site of a picture palace called circle was through
the Globe – hence Globe Lane along the the foyer or a
northern side of the building. southern door to an
external staircase
Architects Crick and Furse adopted the and from the lower
contemporary streamlined style for a circle through
completely new structure. The smaller entrance doors.
auditorium was more intimate than its larger Stalls patrons exited
sister the Crown, and the lighting system was through northern
especially breathtaking in ceiling troughs, doors to the
around proscenium splays and on the floating adjoining Globe
panel jutting out from above the proscenium. Lane but had to
Footlights illuminated a silver fringe of the red negotiate stairs on a
velvet stage curtain. The stage was sufficiently concreted incline The Savoy, wrecking has commenced 1964. .

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