Page 5 - CinemaRecord #21R.pdf

St. Kilda: The National Theatre, once "The Victory" theatre and now home to National Theatre Ballet and
Drama Schools, is undergoing a repainting of the facade, described in the Port Philip/Caulfield Leader as a
vibrant art-deco colour facade, stage two of a three year, $24,000 restoration program,

St. Kilda: The Astor is now on the Internet. www.astor-theatre.com

Cheltenham: The former Memorial Hall, 1261 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham has been sold at auction for
around $500,000. Weekend screenings were held in the Fifties and were discontinued with the arrival of television.

Cheltenham: The new Village 16 is now under construction.

Elsternwick Classic: The Classic has announced their expansion to four screens. Seating will be 220, 180,
120 and 50 and the project cost is in excess of $1 ,000,000. A second 48 seat scinema (above the existing foyer)
opened on 1 0/9/98. The main cinema currently seats 381. Restoration is underway on the old upstairs foyer. On
the 13th July, GTV-9 reported a full house at the Classic for a 4.30am session of the French-Brazil Final of the
Soccer World Cup, shown on the big screen. Breakfast was available for early patrons. Innovative showman-
ship at its' best.

Elsternwick Classic: The Classic is running its "Classics At The Classic" season. The first batch of movies for
the season includes "Dames", a spectacular Busby Berkeley musical starring Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell and Guy Kibbee, the Marx Brothers "A Night At The Opera", "Arsenic And Old Lace", Frank Capra's
brilliant comedy farce in which Cary Grant tries to maintain order as his two sweet aunts Jean Adair and
Josephine Hull poison men as an act of charity, and "Maytime" one of the most enduring Nelson Eddy/Jeanette
MacDonald operettas, with music by Sigmund Romberg. Also starring is John Barrymore.

Carlton: Nova is running "Cry Baby" sessions for parents with young children. Staff will increase the sound
volume if necessary.

Melbourne Docklands: Crawfords Australia will manage a complex in the Docklands site, comprised of a
Paramount Theme Park, film studios • and a 20 cinema complex.

East Coburg: The Progress is currently screening. It was listed in The Age entertainment guide 18/9/98 as
screening a short festival of indigenous films on behalf of several groups working on titles and reconciliation
issues from 22 to 25 of September.

N.S.W: Fred Page has recently returned from the Riverina and reports as follows :-The former Plaza Theatre,
Narrandera continues to function as a church. The Roxy at Leeton is still thriving as a community cinema co-
operative, similar to the Stawell Town Hall operation. Films have not been shown at the School of Arts, Finley
and the Civic Hall, Jerilderie for some years but have recently been brought back to life for one night only
screenings of "Titanic". A testament to the huge popularity of this major attraction.
Kindred Spirits The Performing Arts Family: As part of the Australian Family Project and the International
Council of Museums (!COM) conference taking place in Melbourne in October, the Performing Arts Museum
presents an exhibition which celebrates Australia's performing families.
From the multi-generational circus families of Ashton and Holden to the musical theatre families of Toni Lamond
and Jill Perryman. From Frank Thring and his father to Stanton Welch and his parents, this exhibition examines
the shared skills, experience and devotion which binds these kindred spirits.
Performing Arts Museum -The Exhibition, Victorian Arts Centre, St Kilda Road Foyer, Theatres building.
Open daily. FREE From Tuesday 6 October 1998.

Hoyts In Polish Deal: Following competitor Greater union's move into the former eastern bloc, Hoyts will
spend $15 million building cinemas in Poland over the next three years.

The venture will deliver Poland's first multiplex centre with a 1 0 screen development in Lodz, the second
largest city, due to begin later this year. The venture partner is developer Echo Developments, although
Hoyts is funding the entire deal.

In May Greater Union announced an estimated $20 million multiplex joint venture with the similarly named -
and unrelated - Echo Cinema. Herald Sun, 25 June 1998.