Page 6 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

37a. Additional to the Shepparton Lyric/Capri by Mike Purden

1. The motion picture form of entertainment commenced in the town of Shepparton on March 17, 1910, when
entrepreneurs J & N Tait brought their Biograph entertainments to the area. These silent movies were
shown every Thursday night at the Star Theatre, Fryers Street, with prices ranging from 6 pence to 18
pence, with an extra sixpence charged for reserved seats.

2. By 1911 local enterprise moved and a company was formed to supply local entertainment bi-weekly. They
opened an open-air theatre between the Mechanics Institute (the old Shepparton Library) and the Savings
Bank building (later AMP now C.R.I. buildings) in Wyndham Street. In 1913 another company was formed
in opposition and started on a block of land on the corner of Wyndham and High Streets where the Colonial
Mutual Life Assurance buildings are today, named the Lyric Open .Air Pictures. The first company closed
down and another picture theatre was built in High Street called the Paramount which was constructed
from materials from the demolished "Chateau Dookie" winery building. Chateau Dookie was established
by John Curtin in the early 1880 s when he planted 500 acres of vines at Dookie, 23kms east of Shepparton.

3. The Paramount provided facilities for indoor and outdoor pictures having the operating box in position to
serve both purposes. Owners of the Paramount were Messrs. W. Guthrie and W. Daish.

4. Another building opposite the Paramount built in 1882 as a Public Hall also showed films at different
times. An advertisement in the Shepparton News of 23.4.1914 displays an ad-

LYRIC PICTURES- PUBLIC HALL Prices - Adults 6d. Children 3d. 8 o'clock, Wed., 25 March
1. His Inspiration (drama) 1 000 feet 4. Pathes Gazette 500 feet
2. Sandy and Shorby (comic) 500 feet 5. A Doll for a Baby (drama) 1000 feet
3. The Runaway (drama) 1000 feet 6. Why Girls Leave Home (comedy drama) 2000 feet

Shepparton News, 22.4.1915, displays another ad - MELBA PICTURES, PUBLIC HALL, HIGH STREET.
The Public Hall served many purposes over the years as an Anglican Parish Hall, R.S.L. and last known
as the Legion Hall, and was demolished in May 1970, the Target Department Store now in its place. In
1916 Walter Nathaniel McMillan ran a bakery business in Fryers Street opposite the present TAFE College,
and worked part time at the Star Theatre, also in Fryers Street, as a doorman.

5. With a recession being experienced at the time Walter saw so many of his customers from the bakery- the
only difference was that they were paying cash to go to the pictures but were putting it on the slate at his
bakery. So he sold his bakery and purchased the Star and ran the bakery which formed portion of the
building.

6.. In the same year Walter purchased the Lyric Open Air in partnership witih a Mr. Les Thompson who was an
operator, and its title gave the name to his later named Company, Lyric Photoplay. The Lyric Open Air was
soon closed leaving only the Paramount and Star the sole buildings for such entertainment.

7. Perhaps Walter McMillan s greatest venture of all was the erection of the Lyric Theatre in Maude Street in
1924, as he could not obtain financial assistance from banks and had to buy money at steep interest
rates from private investors at some cost of Pounds 15,000 ($30,000). About March of 1926 he purchased
the Paramount Theatre. The outdoor area of the Paramount was used as a dance venue after the films.

8. The Shepparton News ofThursday, February 27, 1930 states- PICTURES & DANCING at the PARAMOUNT
NEXT SAT., PARAMOUNT PALAIS, DANCING 2/-, PICTURES 1/-, CHILDREN 6d.

9. Shepparton News ad ofThursday, 9th July, 1936- FINAL DANCE IN THE PARAMOUNT PALAIS THURS.
JULY 9. AFTER THIS DATE ALL DANCING WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE STAR THEATRE, AND
THE PALAIS CONVERTED INTO A MODEL PICTURE THEATRE. COME ALONG AND FAREWELL AN
OLD FRIEND. GENS 2/6d, LADIES 1/6d, SUPPER PROVIDED

10. Shepparton News Monday July 13th, 1936
GRAND FINAL DANCE IN THE PARAMOUNT PALAIS- THURS JULY 23.

11. May 1930, the much talked of £6,000 WESTERN ELECTRIC talking picture equipment arrived in Shepparton
for the Lyric, where a small army of electricians and Chief Engineer, Mr. Noble from the Sydney branch
began installing talkies which opened on Thursday, 5th June, 1930.