Page 14 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

wood splintering off as it went. Finally it crashed into the cast iron lattice at the foot of the stage into a hundred
pieces. This was a relief as I had visions of it going right through the screen!

Apart from a few blockbusters like 'The Exorcist" and "ET" (at Forum also) the Rapallo was mostly programmed
with middle quality shows, some arthouse product and lots of double bills. On one re-issue of "American
Graffiti" the start of the print was so splicy that Bill Haleys "Rock Around the Clock" over the opening titles went
One O'Clock, Two O'Clock, Seven O'Clock Rock.

By the time videos had made an impact, the Rapallo was the Forum II and its Russell Street entrance closed.
Access to the theatre was via the Forum's Foyer. On quite a few occasions not one patron would show up for
the film. Despite Ed Wilson, G.U. State Manager, wandering around saying how he loved the place (didn't we
all), we knew the Fat Lady was about to sing.

Interior of Odeon c.1967

FORUM
At 154 Flinders Street, in the former stalls area of the State, sat the Forum. Many of the decorations of the
State were used in the Forum, including proscenium, statues, ceiling, temple, trees and stuffed animals. Even
the bio box had a luxury feeling not found in any other. During 1981 a large sum of money was used to refurbish
both Forum and Rapallo. Xenons replaced carbons, new dimmers, carpet and cinemeccanicas replaced Kalees
in the Rapallo. The Russell Street entrance closed and G.U. gave up the illusion that the two theatres were in
separate buildings. Roving assistants replaced a permanent one in each bio. Duties were performed in both
bios and necessitated walking through the Forum 2 auditorium at least twice a session. On one such occasion
this writer even met Pat Boone coming down the aisle.
The Forum projection booth was unusual in its placement. It sat at the front of the former dress circle, two thirds
down the theatre toward the screen. It was possible for six hundred patrons to be in for a session and not one
could be seen from the bio box. One school holidays a projectionist opened the large viewing port and threw
out balloons, much to the delight of the hundreds of kids below. The manager however was less than enthusiastic
and put a stop to the practice immediately.

In 1974 the Chelsea's 70mm projectors were moved to the Forum for "That's Entertainment". Many 70mm
programmes followed till closure in 1986. The first session of "201 0" was memorable because of faulty magnetic
sound tracks on the print. In one scene Roy Schieder is seen talking to a Russian, however no sound is heard
at all, only his lips moved. The outer left channel had completely disappeared. The season continued with a
35mm cinemascope print.
One annoying aspect of doing a nightshift at this theatre was waiting for the 'Stargazers' to leave. At the end of
each session a few patrons would always wander to the front and look up at the sky and other decorations
overhead. Finally they would catch the angry faces of projectionists in the ports waiting to go home.