Page 21 - CINEMARECORD-100

This 100th Edition of CinemaRecord Celebrates
a Selection of 100 Year Old, Operational Theatres

by Richard Twentyman, from an idea by Barb Trickett

Melbourne’s Alexandra Theatre, Exhibition Street, c. 1890. The former Alexandra Theatre, now Her Majesty’s Theatre, in 2018
Originally built for Jules Joubert, and named after Princess Alexandra, wife of the future King Edward VII, the Alexandra Theatre in Exhibition
Street, Melbourne, was opened on 1 October 1886. The Architect was Nahum Barnet. The theatre was closed, renovated and renamed Her Majesty's
by J.C. Williamson, reopening on 19 May 1900. The Architect was William Pitt. In 1924, the theatre was renamed His Majesty’s to honour King
George V. On 25 October 1929, the interior of the auditorium was destroyed by fire. After rebuilding, it reopened on 28 July 1934, the Architects
were Charles Hollinshed and Albion Walkley. Frank Thring Snr used the theatre as his Efftee Film studio for a while, and radio stations 3AR and
3AW also broadcast from the building. In 1953, the theatre was renamed Her Majesty’s following the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1978,
the building was sold to Gabriel Rose, who operated the theatre until 2000. In 1986, Her Majesty’s Theatre was classified by the National Trust
and was included on the Victorian Heritage Register. On 16 June 2000, the theatre was purchased by TV personality Mike Walsh, who substantially
refurbished and re-opened the theatre on 8 May 2002 with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Hollow Crown. Further building
improvements and seating replacements took place over the following years up until 2011.

The Geelong Theatre, Ryrie Street, at its opening in 1913. The former Geelong Theatre, now the Village 11, in 2018.
The most noted of the remaining operational theatres in Geelong is the Village 11 cinema, which started its life as the Geelong Theatre in 1913.
Plans had been prepared showing the new theatre to consist of dress circle, stalls and pit to accommodate between 1500-1700 people. Whilst the
building was primarily designed for screening of films, it was also to be provided with “a stage fitted with fly floor and all appurtances required for
the quick handling of canvas and to be available for theatrical displays”. The design also showed a section of roof which could be opened in hot
weather. That structure still remains in place today, although it does not extend through into the ceiling of the upstairs cinema. The theatre is thought
to have been designed by Geelong architects, William Tombs and James Durran, of the Geelong architectural firm of Tombs & Durran, in association
with Melbourne architect, Frank Richardson. The Geelong Theatre was officially opened on 25 May 1913. World famous contralto, Madam Clara
Butt, performed at the opening together with her husband, baritone Kennerly Rumford. At the time, the theatre seated 1750, but this reduced over its
life as the Geelong Theatre to around 1200. The overall interior colour scheme was rather drab, with walls and ceilings painted in fawn, and much
marble and timber panelling in the foyer.

In around 1970, the Geelong Theatre was closed for conversion into the Village Twin cinema. The design of the alterations was carried out by
theatre architects, Sofarnos Monsborough Pty Ltd, with construction taking place over the two year period between 1971-1973. It was during conversion
to the Village Twin that the magnificent façade of the building above the verandah line was completely covered over by horizontal, white bands of
sheet metal with gaps between, and adorned with a large “VILLAGE TWIN” illuminated sign. The Village Twin opened on 7 December 1973,
screening the Poseidon Adventure on the official opening night in Cinema 1.

In 1993, the theatre was closed to allow for its conversion into the new Village 11 cinema. Cinema 1 (upstairs) was renumbered as Cinema 4, and
Cinema 2 (downstairs) became the new Cinema 1. The smaller Cinemas 2, 3, 5 and 6 were built within the space previously occupied by the old
Geelong Theatre stage and fly tower. A new building was constructed along the western and southern sides of the old theatre to house Cinemas 7,
8, 9, 10 and 11. As part of the works, the much-hated white cladding was removed from the building façade, which was then restored with a new
colour scheme. On 16 December 1995, the Village 11 opened with a premiere screening of the new James Bond movie, Golden Eye.

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