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Robert Granville Ward haa been a· pioneer, an innovator, a constant enthusiast and a maker of history in
Brighton, who left his mark in many ways. He was a person who was determined to develop and succeed. Bert
Ward went through every imaginable change in the film industry. He experienced and enjoyed times when the
industry was up, he weathered the times and persevered when it was down.

Bert Ward's introduction to films came when still at school, and he worked at The Roxy, Saodringham, helping
the projectionist. At 16, in 1923, he became assistant projectionist at Hoyt's Centre Theatre, Brighton. (Re-
opened as Bay Twtn.)

By 21, he had saved enough money to buy the Paramount Theatre in Church Street, and changed 1he name to
Prince George. The site is now the car park oft he Safe supermarket. It was the first suburban theatre to make
the change to "talkies·, the first to have central heating, and Bert Ward worked to achieve one of the best sound
systems in Melbourne.

The Dendy was completed in 1940 during the war, when the Government saw entertainment as an important
morale builder. Bert and the projectionist had a backroom workshop at the theatre, where they made arma-
tures and other generator parts for Spitfire fighters.

Bert Ward's llfe spanned the whole of the life of the film industry. He had always been a benefactor. With his
wife, Merger, who died in 1975, he raised thOusands of dollars With charity film screenings and lunches. He had
brought to Brighton Sir Edmund Hillary, Tony Hancock, Tommy Trtnder, Spike Milligan and Barry Humphries,
among others. All his life he worked for change, finally with the new development of the Dendy site.

He had been a Brighton city councillor for 21 years, and was mayor in the city's centenary year, 1956. He
worked tor Red Cross, elderly citizens, the southern Memorial Hospital, of which he was a life governor, and
called the first meeting of Brighton Lions Club.

Entertainment was his business, making people happy in a world that was often unhappy. Ber1 Warcl was an
example of devotion to one's family, integrity and generosity.

As the coffin was carried from the church, Tony Fenelon played a Fantasia in classical style based on the song,
'There's No Business Like Show Business, followed by The Dendy March, composed by George Blackmore for
his opening season on The Dendy TOSAVIC Wurlitzer.

EDITORS NOTES

1. Cinema Record- We are now into our seventh issue and second year of CinemaRecord (note the
middle capital., as in CinemaScope and WurliTzer). Thanks to all those members who have written
about their favourite cinemas, or sent in articles of interest which we reprinted.

This is your publication and that's what it is all about - writing history.

Looking a bit closer. you see the same names cropping up as contributors, a fairly small percentage of
our 100 or so members. so how about some of you other Graham Greene's, Somerset Maugham's and
Agatha Christie's out there putting pen to paper.

Don't forget you have an editor at this end to hack it around and. if needed, embellish it. See what you
can do. We need a constant flow of articles from you, so that you have something to read.

2. Serials for Sale- There is a place called "Saturday Matinee" at 280 Chapel Street. Prahran, part of
a market called ''The Cellars", next door to Dan Murphy's. They have heaps of videos of serials from the
30's. ·40's, and SO's for sale (including "Spy Smasher" and "The Crimson Ghost") and also films of this
era e.g. Tim Holt. Durango Kid, Hopalong Cassidy.

They claim to have over 75 unobtainable titles to chose from. Phone: 521-1315 & 534-23'32
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