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Circa 1955

sat in the same seat with his 5d worth of mixed Jollies. I The 1812 Theatre has since progressed in leaps and
made sure I sat as far away from him as I could. bounds, as I can attest having been a subscriber for many
years.
On Saturday nights when the Loyalty screened popular
films and a full house was assured, vocalists would keep In the early 80's (Year of the Child), my daughter Jenny
the audience entertained at interval. performed in the theatre playing the Wicked Witch in d1e
fairy fantasy, "Are There Any At The Bottom Of Your
A popular diversion at interval around the corner in Main Garden"? written and directed by Merilyn Brend.
Street, Upper Femtree Gully was the "Tarax Bar" owned
by Milton and Betty SeiJs. Betty bad been an entertainer The theatre became fully owned ty the The 1812 Theatre
on the Tivoli Circuit and once the customers had all been four years ago and continues to be a Mecca to theatre
served, Betty would bring out her guitar and she and hus- goers who enjoy a selection of plays each year, including
band Milton would entertain the appreciative audience. comedies, dramas and thrillers.

Theatre owners started to diversify and intersperse films
with live shows. One such show will remain in my Julie Ross - Executive Committee Member of the Federa-
memory forever. It was Shalwyn the Hypnotist who cast tion of Victorian Film Societies.
his spell over some of the locals and had them behaving (Member ofPo11 Melbourne Film Society- Vintage Port)
in an extreme, albeit very funny and strange way. The
audience loved it.
Special thanks to ttl! who helped with this histOJ)I - in
Those full houses started to wane from 1956 onwards particular: Betty McLay (nee Spalding, daughter of origi-
with the advent of d1e Melbourne Olympic Games and nal owner) and Dorothy Hall(nee Tonkin, daughter of
consequently ownership of television sets. The novelty of original builder
TV took its toll and caused the demise of a number of
theatres.

The flame flickered and died on the Loyalty in the late Euna Stone (my 11111111)
1960's when it was bolllght by the Shire of Sherbrook in Roger Seccombe (CATHS)
1972. Prior to this it was a storehouse for three years, Phil/ Garland- Pres. Sherbrook FootHills Historical Soc.
Jeff Redfem (1812 Theatre)
On November 1972, exactly 33 years after the Loyally Hurtle Lupton (MP- Memberfor Knox)
Theatre opened, the curtain rose on a new stage and a Gerry Harant (Federation of Victorian Film Societies -
new era, when "The 1812 Theatre" was re-established Life Member)
owing to their former home in the Lysterfield HaiJ being Ed "Scheff'' Sche.fferle (Federation of Victorian Film So-
razed to the ground in a fire. cieties- Life Member)

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