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CINEMARECORD

1995, as a multi purpose venue, before a capacity audience
battens and curtains for stage shows. of 650, who were given a special opening concert. (11)
Apparently 'Sorlie's' appeared or played there from time to
time, as well as other touring shows. There are two large Films were introduced later that year. For many local chil-
dressing rooms at the rear of the stage. The building is all dren, it was their first experience in a cinema, and when the
brick and quite solid, with a very light cement render wash house lights dimmed, some became frightened and leapt
over the internal walls, barely covering the brickwork. from their seats. But the fear turned to fascination when the
film got underway. According to Mr Hugh Packard, one of
We liked the theatre immensely and thought it had great the members of the committee, The best moments are when
potential. It was disappointing for us that it didn 't work, but it's filled with 600 kids and you hear the building erupt with
like everything we got there too late. It had a bad reputation laughter. (12)
and locals just were not going to go there. They had the new
twin in Wagga which you would swear was just across the The sound system was bought cheaply from a rock band,
street (9) and two carbon arc projectors were acquired from the

Melissa O'Brien recalled the Montreal thus: I am originally former Majestic Theatre in Hay. (13)
from Tumut, where we had a beautiful old theatre, the In June 1998 settlement was proceeding for the sale of the
Montreal. I remember going there as a child, with its red theatre to Council, using funds from the foundation and a
velvet curtains and the galleries on either side. There was a $40,000 deposit raised by the local community. This deposit
great furore not so long ago, when they wanted to knock it was donated in small quantities by the townspeople them-
down, but the town banded together and have since redone selves, including children who would drop by the theatre to
it and are now utilising it to show movies as it once was.(lO) give their coins and dollars. That the Tumut community
In 1995 the Blakeney-Millar Foundation, which had more wanted the theatre kept was certainly evident and a tribute to
than $1.5 million in trust bequeathed by Lily Millar for those who have campaigned tirelessly to retain and restore
Tumut projects, offered to buy the theatre and lease it to it
Council. Council rejected the offer, believing the theatre
would be a burden on ratepayers. A community group, The Montreal screens one or two nights weekly, and is
Montreal Steering Committee, was established and pre- extensively used for school functions, meetings etc. Films
sented a proposal to the Learmont family and the Founda- such as "Titanic" look and sound wonderful on its huge
tion requesting two years to cany out a feasibility study into screen. It is in good condition, although its foyer space is a
the theatre's future. The theatre was reopened on April 19, (Continued on page 8)

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