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Again in Cohuna the o· Halloran's lost the lease on the local town hall. A temporary permit was granted to build a tin shed
theatre. This still stands today as a car dealership.

In the mid 1940's Frank O'Halloran purchased 2QN. a radio station in Deniliquin (NSW). At the time this proved to be a
bad decision. The scattered population and therefore lower advertising revenues proved to be a problem "people used to
say they liked to listen to 2QN because there were few ads." ( I) O'Halloran tried unsuccessfully to have the licence
transferred to Wangaratta (in north east Victoria) which, at that stage. had no radio station. Frank and a deputation of
interested citizens from Wangaraua met with the Standing Commiltee on Broadcasting at Deniliquin in an effort to prove
the powers that be that Deniliquin did not need or appreciate a radio station whereas Wangaratta most certainly did. There
was also discussion among the Wangaratta people as to whether they would call the station 3NE. the capital of the North
East or 3W. the Voice of the Valleys. However. the Deniliquin city fathers. with hackles rising. ably defended their right
to retain the licence and Frank O'Halloran continued to operate 2QN until its eventual sale in the early fifties.

Swan Hill Regent (Town Hall) Staff c.1937 ·Frank O'Ralloran is Centre Front Row

Photo: Courtesy M(//y Livingston

From the late 1950's and especially during the 60's, the arrival of television in many country areas began to have an effect
on cinema attendances. With the installation of tall antennae towers (some up to 100 feet tall) television reception, of
varying quality, could be picked up from afar in most areas. After the 1956 introduction of television in Melbourne (to
coincide with the Olympic games) broadcasting licences were gradually awarded to country areas such as Ballarat, Bendigo.
Mildura. Repeating stations rook the signals even further afield. This proved to be disastrous for hardtop theatre operators.
For a time Lbe emergence of Drive In theatres eased the problem, especially in the summer time.

Around 1949 O'Halloran bought the Argus Hotel in Lonsdale St .. Melbourne. It was renamed the Elizabeth in honour of
the Queen Elizabeth's impending visit in 1954. After the purchase of Lhe hotel the O'Halloran'li moved to Melbourne
where they continued to operate the film booking for the circuit. Most of the administration for the chain remained in
Swan Hill. Not long after the move to Melbourne Frank's wife, Kathleen, died. Frank later married Madelaine Douglas.
DUling the war period films released through the circuit travelled by train to Deniliquin, then via bus to Balranald and mail
car to Swan Hill, Nyah West and Lake Boga, rail to Kerang and bus to Cohuna Warracknabeal and Nhill (I). These
arrangements changed over the years as the circuit changed and diminished.

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