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Unlike most theatres, entry to the building was not via ornate entrance doors and a stalls foyer but an open recessed area
that ran the width of the building. Poster boards stood in this area. The stage right and left exit doors also opened into this
space. Access to tbe auditorium, and the open-air theatre, was via a vestibule that ran almost the length of the auditorium
down the left-hand side of the building. The vestibule also included a ticket box. Entry to the auditorium was through side
doors w the stalls and via a staircase directly imo the dress circle. There were no foyer spaces for the stalls or the dress
circle.

Western Monarch c.1934
Courtesy of Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society

The auditorium was cavemous and square shaped and. apart from the stage area. the walls were unadorned rendered
plasters. The main ceiling and the under rake ceiling of the circle featured attractively decorated plaster panels. The front
of the circle was also treated in this manner. As the building was mainly built for cinema use the stage facilities for live
performance were modest; the proscenium was narrow and there was no tly tower. As was the case with many large
country theatres the stalls tloor was tlat which allowed the building to be used for a variety of purposes. Films were shown
on a few nights per week with balls. concerts and other entertainments occupying the other nights. The original stage
curtains were maroon velvet and the seats were covered in matching material. A second set of screen curtains was of gold
satin.
Talking films arrived in 1931 when a Raycophone sound system was installed (l) . The theatre remained largely un·
changed until the installation of Cinemascope. The new format screen was placed ~n front of the proscenium opening and
the new full width curtains covered the walls to the left and right of the former stage. including the front emergency exits
to the street.

The projection room was situated towards the left-hand side of the theatre at the rear of the dress circle. The projection
room protruded on a cantilevered timber and cement sheet clad extension from the back of the building to service the open-
air theatre. ll is somewhat of a mystery to understand why the projection room was built off centre to the auditorium screen
but centred on the open air. The projectors were rotated to service the two screens. During the summer season films were
generally shown outside unless the weather was inclement. It would not have been uncommon to start screenings outside
and to quickly turn the projectors and shift the patrons to the auditorium if it rained.
The open-air theatre. set in a bushy location, ran from the back of the theatre to the bank of the Castlereagh River. Battling
mosquitoes would have been a formidable task in the height of summer. Apparently possums also moving around the trees
and overhead wires provided patrons with some unexpected encounters. The open air seated 750 on canvas deck chairs
and timber benches.

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