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30. HOYTS CIRCLE THEATRE PRESTON By Rod Cook

In the mid 1930's, Hoyts had embarked on a major building campaign, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.
Great suburban theatres such as the New Windsor, Padua Brunswick aml Park, Albert Park were among the
large tWo level 1,500 plus seat theatres opened around that time in Melb(>Urne.
Suburbs in the more ·outer' suburbs of Melbourne did not, at that stage, require such large theatres and so
smaller cinemas with a capacity slightly under 1.000 were commissioned .

Built as one level, thesetheatres were known as ·stadium' style.

In 1938, Hoyts commissioned architects Cowper, Murphy and Applegate! to design what was to become the
Circle Theatre in Preston, and about the same time an independent operator had an almost mirror Image
version built (in terms of layout), the ·sun· Yarraville, which still eXIsts bull is unfortunately In a derelict state.

Although one level, the theatre was divided into stalls and lounge for ticket selling purposes. Entry to the
lounge seating area was by a set of stairs to the left of the L-shaped grouncl floorfoyer, to a second storey foyer.
The total seating capacity was 800.

Attractive in its styling, the foyer and interior were decorated in a circle theme. The ticket box and coming
attraction had curved sides and the coming attraction display on the walls was enclosed with a circle and lit by
a lamp at the top. The ceiling of the foyer also contained curves In the various recesses. The auditorium had
.a moulded plaster ceiling which had overlapping curves throughout, broken only a by a central straight panel
with three fluted lines. The walls contained circular patterns in the paintworl< going from ceiling to just above
seat height and contained decorative plaster mouldings within them.
The Circle opened on November 26th 1938, With "Gold Is Where You Fine! W starring George Brent and Olivia
De Havilland and supported by "Little Miss ThOroughbred" With, as the opening program hailed, tomorrow's
biggest little star' Janet Chapman.
The Circle continued on into the early 1960's where screening of such special nights as 'Ranch Nlghts' on
Wednesday nights were used to attract patrons. It was closed as part of Hoyts rationalisation which saw
numerous theatres disposed of for various purposes, provided it was not for the screening of English speaking
films!

A drawing of the theatre was used in advertising by Hoyts in the early 19'70's to advertise some of their more
recently closed theatres that were being offered for sale including Ivanhoe and the Trocadero in Footscray,
Ironically, the Circle was not one of them.

The Circle was sold for use as a dance studio, and occasionally used few wedding receptions (Including the
author's) into the mid 1970's During this time the stalls floor was levelled :and the ceiling painted black. Some
theatre seating (although not original), was installed In the 'lounge' area on every second row. Although devoid
of projection equipment, two spools remained in the rewind room as a reminder of its original use.

Despite some rumours that a syndicate was interested in reopening it, the! Circle was demolished during 1976
to make way for an arcade which bears the name 'Circle Arcade'.

It was sad to go through the theatre during demolrtion, but thanks to the wreckers, one of the plaster moulded
circular 'coming attraction' display wall panels and the booking office sign have been saved as the last tangible
reminders of this beautiful theatre from the late 1930's era of smaller sta(:iium style theatres .
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H 40u r.on ossisf. please call me on 465 0204.

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