Page 24 - CinemaRecord #21R.pdf

A recent screening of 'The Full Monty " in February 1998 surprised everyone with a turn out of more than 250
for the single session. Again in April a season of "Titanic" was screened over four sessions. Due to the popu-
larity of the venue and heavy bookings for Saturday night functions, film screenings tend to be held on Fridays
or Sundays.

Some Nhill residents have had a long association with the theatre. Included amongst these is Frank Davis who
was a projectionist from 1939 -45 and 1946-65. The current projectionist is John Allen who has operated the
plant since 1983.

Acknowledgements:

With generous help and assistance from Reg Morrison and John Parsons of the Nhill Historical Society

(1) Nhill & District Entertainment Centres 1920's to 1986 F.W. Fritsch (Nhill & District Historical Society)
(2) Nhill Free Press- 30/5/27. Article on the Royal Picture Theatre opening. (Nhill & District His. Soc.)
(3) "The Health Department" is the name used by the author to include all the name changes made by the
relevant government bodies supervising Public buildings.
(4) Public Records Office- Building Files.
(5) Nhill Memorial Community Centre - Souvenir Program - 20 February, 1986
(6) Interviews With Nhill Residents- Reg Morrison, John Parsons, Frank Davis & John Allen
(7) John Allen - Projectionist

Photos by courtesy of the Nhill Historical Society and from the Gerry Kennedy Collection

Early Daylesford Movie Newsreel Unearthed

John Henry Horace Jackson was born in Kidd's Gully, Daylesford in 1887. He became a talented engineer,
craftsman and mechanic who, in 1903 at the ripe old age of 16 built a petrol engine and a small steam engine.
The steam engine has recently been donated to the Daylesford Museum by a member of the Jackson family.
The petrol engine was built to drive a lathe and grinder in his garage and engineering works which by 1909 he
was operating at a site somewhere opposite the Powerhouse in Vincent Street North.

John Jackson also became involved in early movies. In 1911 he was a member of the Alpha Picture Company,
screening films in the Town Hall. There was a prompt falling out and Jackson went into opposition, forming his
own Star Picture Company, with both companies maneuvering to secure use of the Town Hall. Jackson, in 1912
also began the Star Open-Air Pictures in Vincent Street South, described as a big open-air stadium, on a site
where the Department of Natural Resources and Environment offices now stand.

In 1913 Harry Maddicks of The Alpha Pictures began filming local movie newsreel footage. John Jackson
began filming his "Daylesford Star Gazette" the latest local news in animation the following year and continued
until he went overseas in 1916 on special work for the Ministry of Munitions where he was engaged on the
manufacture of aero engines at Farnborough until the end of World War 1. He did not return to live in Daylesford,
but often returned to film and to show pictures for charity. After World War 2 he raised money for the construc-
tion of Jackson's Lookout which was, obviously, named after him.

Included with the donation of the steam engine was a quantity of film. One reel of 35mm nitrate stock in good
condition, contains the bulk of Jackson's 1915 newsreel footage amounting to about 1200 feet of film, or about
20 minutes. Events included are the New Year's Day Sports at Glenlyon, Hospital Sunday on Wombat Hill,
opening of the Drill Hall in Bridport Street (including parade of Boer War Veterans}, opening of the Ladies Rifle
Club, Empire Day Celebrations and a little of a football match between Wombat Hill and Musk Vale. Later 16mm
film includes the opening in 1938 of the Memorial Tower on Wombat Hill, shot in early Kodachrome.

Chris Long, the well known authority on early Australian movie film, has assessed the film and is currently
researching John Jackson's film making exploits. The Museum, in conjunction with Chris is investigating copy-
ing the newsreels. It is anticipated that a video compilation would then be produced and made available.

David Endacott, Daylesford and District Historical Society. (Reprinted from "Around And About Spa Country")