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84. Carnegie Theatre by Ken Thlloch
The theatre is in Woorayl Street, on the north side of the Carnegie Railway Station and is known as the Carnegie Theatre
was a silent movie house for many years and would have closed its doors around 1928 to the best of my knowledge.
My main memory would have been whilst a pupil at the Murrumbeena State School where once a year we held our speech
nights in this very theatre. The purpose of speech night was to reward those who had done well during the year, would
receive a certificate, those who had reached the 6th grade and qualified, would receive the Merit certificate this qualified
one to go to a High school or a Technical school. How many people remember that certificate?
Another memory is of the interior of the theatre. this being the ceiJing construction, it consisted of cross hatch lathing
which meant you could see the tin roof above and when it rained you certainly knew aJI about it, being an old silent bouse
it didn't matter a great deal.
Hoyts Theatre Carnegie - 1935
In 1935 Hoyts took it over and totally remodelled the interior to an Art Deco style this being the popular decor of the
1930's.
The photos submitted with this article are of the exterior and interior of the building and were taken in 1935 when the
theatre reopened.
The interior photo is taken from the dress circle looking towards the proscenium. Notice how spartan the theatre looks.
One has to remember that we were in the middle of the depression and the day of the big om ate picture palace had fallen
by the wayside.
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