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BENDIGO’S …

Mike Trickett

ver the years, most people have
Oexperienced a night at a drive-in theatre.
But in the 1950s, the introduction of the drive-
in in Australia was quite a novelty. For many
families the opportunity to go to a movie, with
a couple of kids in their dressing gowns ready
for bed, was an exciting concept which was to
become very popular with families.
The sign says it all. “We faced a final curtain call, now I’m afraid we are no more. Closed.

In 1955, Bendigo (Vic.) was a much smaller from 6.30. This meant that the patrons could
city than today, with a population of around enjoy a meal in their car before the show started.
30,000. The site chosen for the drive-in wasn’t
in the city, although to the residents it seemed The initial offering was a double feature for
so. The adjoining Shire of Strathfieldsaye four nights of the week, with a two programs
approved construction of the Golden Drive-in of a single feature on Fridays and Saturdays –
on 21 April 1955. The entrance at that time was and of course, no Sunday screenings in those
on Orphanage Road, which was subsequently days.
changed to St Aidans Road.
The Golden Drive-in opened to an invited
audience on Thursday 8 December 1955. The
public opening was the following night. As
was usual in the early days of a drive-in, film
fare was always a revival. The Golden opened
with Warner’s The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady
which had done the rounds five years earlier.
When the Golden Drive-in opened its gates to
the public, it proved to be a popular place to go
and to be seen. The theatre opened under the
The added bonus of a well stocked café on site, management of Mr. Kevin Houlahan, who
offering a good range of take-away food that remained as manager until the theatre’s closure
could be eaten in the car while waiting for the in 1988.
movies to start, was a very appealing option for
the mums of the day who usually spent a large The drive-in advertised that the show started at
portion of their day in the kitchen preparing the 7.30 pm (pre-daylight saving) and the kiosk
family meal for that evening. with a full range of take-away food was open

One of the Super Standards in operation.
The Golden Drive-in was situated some 5 km
east of the city and boasted a capacity of over
500 cars, with 10 ramps and 262 stanchions,
each holding two weather resistant speakers. A
children’s play area, complete with swings and
slides was located under the screen.
The screen surface was made of Timbroc, a
Masonite like material, and was 16 by 9 metres
in size (it opened with a standard aspect screen,
later enlarged for CinemaScope). Construction
of the drive in was by local building and
construction firm, John D Booker
Constructions Pty. Ltd.
Left: Aerial view of the Golden Drive-in.

42 CINEMARECORD # 100