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Cathedral Hall, Fitzroy
Paramount, Oakleigh
Westgarth Theatre, Northcote
established his own importing company, The Cosmopolitan Theatres chain rapidly
Dionysios Films, and began screening Greek expanded and often leased, or purchased many
films in the four eastern states. He was a typical theatres around Melbourne and in interstate
"travelling picture man" visiting many centres, locations. These theatres were nearly always
including country Victoria. He was the only formerly independent rather than chain
importer of Greek films from 1949-1956, after operated.
which time other Greek interests, including his
father, set up competing operations. They included the Kinema (Albert Park), the
Empire and Liberty theatres (Brunswick),
In 1957, Stan imported the first colour Greek Cathedral Hall (Fitzroy), Paramount
film, The Shepherdess' Sweetheart, which was (Oakleigh), the National (St. Kilda), Victoria
National, Richmond screened at the Melbourne Town Hall. and Globe theatres (Richmond), Sunshine
(Sunshine), Westgarth (Northcote) and the
Sun (Yarraville).
Another chain of theatres also evolved,
operated by Stan's father and brother, Speros
and Nakis (Nick) Raftopololous, together with
brother in law, Jim Anagnostou. Also included
in the partnership were George Tolis and the
Lazagos brothers.
This partnership at various times operated the
Sun, Yarraville
Pantheon (a hall in Prahran), the Globe and
Globe, Richmond
Victoria theatres (Richmond), Astor (St Kilda)
and the Sunshine (Sunshine).
In 1956, television was first transmitted in
Melbourne to coincide with the Olympic Both groups also had interstate operations.
Games. Within months, cinemas began to lose
business and either reduced screenings, or The Astor is Melbourne's last remaining,
closed. Stan began to rent time at some theatres largely untouched art deco cinema, and is
to screen Greek films, particularly on Tuesday currently operated by Palace Cinemas. ★
and Wednesday nights. As many Greeks were
shop keepers, the quietest days of the week
were often midweek and therefore midweek
screenings proved popular. Credits:
Victoria, Richmond
Astor, St. Kilda 50 Years of Greek Cinema in Australia - Odysseus
Newspaper December 1999.
Cosmopolitan Motion Picture Advertisement
(undated)
Sunshine, Sunshine
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