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Newsreel by Martin & Bannister

Rivoli Opening Soon: The Village Rivoli Cinemas will be re-opening soon after nearly II months of major restoration
and new construction work. The cinema is expected to open early to mid March. The twin cinema closed on 25th April
1999 for the restoration and expansion as an eight screen multiplex.

On Monday 14th February a full page adve1tisment appeared in the Melbourne Age in the 'Today' section. Text in the ad
reads: "Village Rivoli Cinemas return to once again become the premier quality film venue in Australia. With 8 wide
screens, deluxe seats, digital sound and stadium seating, The Rivoli will offer the very best in cinema design and technol-
ogy whilst remaining true to its original Art-Deco chann.

Moonee Ponds Town Hall: A major transformation has taken place on the corner of Mount Alexander and Pascoe Vale
Roads, Moonee Ponds. The essence of this transformation is to preserve and enhance the proud heritage of the old Moo nee
Ponds Town Hall while creating a state-of-the-art facility for the community, pe1forming arts, social events and corporate
activities. This is the first venue to be constructed to the new Arts Victoria benchmarking as well as being a project of best
practice on 'access for all'.

Drive-Ins Downunder Website: On February 18 1954. an advertisement appeared in the Melbourne Sun: "Opening
tonight at 6:30 Ausn·aJia"s first drive-in theatre". The Skyline in Burwood, a Melbourne suburb. became the first of 295
drive-ins that were built across Australia and changed the way Australians saw movies forever.

Welcome to the Drive-ins Downunder web site - a nibute to the drive-in theatres of Australia and the world. CATHS
member David Kilderry has recently set up a new website dedicated to recording the histories of Australian drive-in
theatres. The site also has information and photos of 'hardtop' cinemas and projection facilities, merchandise (such as
drive-in speakers for sale). links to drive-in and cinema industry websites.
You can visit the site at http://www.ddve-insdownunder.com.au

Capitol Theatre: On Saturday March 4 the Melbourne Capitol Theatre will be hosting an Open Day for the public. Don "t
miss this opportunity to see the magical ·crystal" ceiling with the changing coloured lights. As well. you will be able to see
the restoration work under way and see parts of the original upstairs foyer that has been hidden for many years. Everyone
is welcome and visitors are requested to donate a gold coin to the Working Capitol restoration fund. The Open Day will be
from lOam to 6pm.

Doncaster - Village Cinemas: Village has set new standards for cinema operators world-wide with the unveiling of its
new cinema complex at Westfield Shoppingtown Doncaster in Melbourne. The Doncaster cinemas will feature a 'new
generation· mutiplex, and the luxurious Gold Class Cinemas and Cinema Europa concepts.

Work on the new site begins in the next few months, with the cinema expected to open at Easter 2001. The Doncaster
cinema complex will house: Ten mainstream cinemas all with stadium seating throughout, with improved sightlines, floor
to ceiling- wall to wall screens and plush chairs with double armrests. Multi-format digital sound in every auditorium and
Digital projection capabilities in anticipation of technological changes. There will be two Gold Class cinemas and two
Cinema Europa cinemas. Doncaster will be the third location to house this popular new concept. The new Doncaster
Multiplex will replace the current Village Twin.

Waverley Pinewood: Waverley Cinema reports in their recent Waverley e-mail newsletters that their long awaited theatrette
complex should be in operation by early April, 2000. There are two new 50 seat auditoriums, and their sizing means that
they will be able to screen the more popular films for longer seasons. As with the lat"ger 2 cinemas, comf01t and the latest
theatre technology will be evident in the theatrettes.

The Waverley Cinema was established and has been operated by the Jean family since 1974. Originally a 300 seat single-
screen cinema, the auditorium has since been twinned with the second cinema commencing operation on 7 April 1999.
Both cinemas are equipped with Dolby Digital sound. Cinema One has 187 seats and Cinema Two bas 68 seats. The
Waverley has also announced that they are currently the only cinema in Melbourne that has installed DOLBY DIGITAL
SURROUND EX- an upgraded Dolby Digital system.

Australian Heritage Commission Appeals for Survival of Heritage Cinemas
Media Release from the Australian Heritage Commission, 21 Jarwmy 2000:

Rural cinemas form an essential part of our heritage. They have become local landmarks that have helped shape our history
and character. The Chairman of the Australian Heritage Commission, Mr. Peter King, called upon the big film distributors

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