Page 17 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

Castlemaine Town Hall

In 1994, the Mechanics Institute Hall was re-designed with "raked" seating from dress circle level down to
ground floor level. So Castlemaine functioned as a major entertainment hub for Central Victoria. That function
enjoyed a great impetus with the Lola Montez season in September 1855, and Castlemaine's theatrical activities
continued right through to the 30's of this century.

The Second World War and the advent of the one-eyed monster changed all that. Theatrical activity in the
"Maine" today is a far cry from the bustling hurty-burly of the 1850's and 1860's when the town had a bigger
population than Melbourne, and many people believed it was destined to become the Capital of the state of
Victoria.

Incidentally, on the subject of stage shows at the Castlemaine Mechanics Institute Hall, in 1933, as a growling
lad I saw Melbourne's leading semi-professional company - The Cairns Memorial Players, present a slightly
fading "mill-girl" romance called "Tillie Of Bloomsbury". The young hero who attracted a queue of eager and
hopeful femmes at the stage door after the show, was a young Norman Balmer, who as "Eddie" Balmer had a
long and distinguished career, extending for 35 years at "3KZ- The Brighter Broadcasting Service".

······-------------······-····---····
I
I
I I
I A Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year to all the members of I
: the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of Victoria. :

: A special thanks to those who contributed articles for CinemaRecord. :
You have become part of the history that we are documenting.
1 1
I I
1 Lets all keep up the good work in 1998. 1

I I
I I
·-----------------------·-······--·-·