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Rudd MP". It was during our visit to the candy bar that Cleopatra/Paris Theatre
the manager asked us whether we were staying for the
second feature, for which we replied, 'it was the film we By Trevor Walters
wanted to see' and to their credit, they screened it.
The Cleopatra Theatre opened on the 28th of February·
The large Hammersmith Odeon in 1981 was screening -a 1964. Opening with the big blockbuster film 'Cleopatra'
James Bond film. This huge auditorium looked even big~ starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the thea-
ger as it turned out to be an essentially private screening tre instantly became the flagship of the Hoyts circuit, des-
for the two of us after the staff confirmed that we wanted tined to screen all the long tunning 70mm presentations
to see the tnO\!fe. With its near 2,000 seat capacity we of the day. ·
certainly had our choice of seats!
But the life of the Cleopatra- Paris would be short. Born
The cancelling of screenings due to poor patronage is, out of the old Lyceum Theatre (refer June 1999
I'm sure, not isolated but it does bring into focus the hard CinemaRecord) the theatre had a life span of only five
times our exhibitors go through. years 11 months.

*********************************************** The build up to the opening of the film 'Cleopatra' was
enormous. There was no shortage of marketing material
as the behind the scenes activities of its stars coupled
Along Film Row - Victorian News. with the many production delays kept the publicity ma-
chine well oiled.
From :The Australian Exhibitor, Sept 1 1966
'Cleopatra' screened for 14 months. The theatre then
closed for a couple of days and was re-opened as the Paris
AFTER "My Fair Lady completes a record 91 weeks at Theatre on Saturday the 17th of Aprill965 showing 'The
the My Fair Lady Theatre, Bourke Street, Melbourne, the Sound Of Music.
theatre will be known as The Palladium Theatre.
After a 32 month season 'The Sound Of Music' was trans-
Demolition works have commenced on the site of the ferred across the road to the Esquire Theatre where it
proposed triple cinema centre which will be built by Hoyts continued for several more months. But it was time a
Theatres in Bourke Street, Melbourne. new film entered the Paris Theatre and this was 'Doctor
Do little.
Graham Burke, assistant to Village Theatres' managing
director, Roc Kirby, was off duty for a few days last week AJthough 'Doctor Dolittle' screened for six months it was
with the flu. considered a failure, as was 'Valley Of The Dolls' al-
though 15 weeks for this film seemed a fair return.
Noel Henry, well-known director of Star Pictures, Port~
land, and who is also town clerk of Portland, has submit- The enormous success of 'The Sound Of Music' was an
ted his resignation as town clerk effective from January impossible act to follow, but with the release of 'Star',
5, 1967, when he will complete 50 years service with the another Julie Andrews film, expectations were high that
local council. Noel succeeded his father, the late Mr. T. this may occur. But this did not happen and 6Staro was
E. C. Henry, who also held the office for 50 years. Noel also considered a failure with a five month season.
will continue as a director of the Star company, we trust
for many years hence. It was now all downhill, 'Finians Rainbow' and 'Charley'
did all right but by now .the glory days for the Paris were
Hoyts director of theatres Allan Barr, paid a one day busi- over. The big blockbusters would now go into the newly
ness visit to Melbourne last Wednesday. opened Hoyts Cinema Centre.

Les Randall, Concessionaires topper, was another It was now revivals and double features with the occa-
Sydneysider in Melbourne. Les was here from Wednes- sional first release that would screen there. Exactly the
day to Friday. way the old Lyceum saw out its life.

Erik Thacker, manager of the Regent Theatre, South The Paris could not buy an audience, even the feature
Yarra, is currently on three weeks annual leave. He is version of the extremely popular television show 'Skippy'
being relieved by George Pascoe. failed. 'Skippy And The Intruders', the Christmas holi-
day attraction, was meant to be the Paris Theatre's last
Twentieth Century Fox Films Victorian manager, Bob film, but with a first Saturday night's attendance of less
Gunn, with his wife and family is to be found at Lakes than 100 and the kids staying away through the day,
Entrance for a fortnight's fishing during the school holi- 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines' was
days·. dusted off and closed the Paris after a three week season . .

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