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The young patrons filed in an orderly manner through the copy of the Screen News having been pre-numbered - a
foyer into the mysterious Lnterior. Once through the glass raffle in disguise). He announced a few binhdays to CCC
mirrored doors I entered a smaller carpeted foyer. l faced a members and presented badges. Einally he injected excite-
set of carpeted stairs leading to the lounge and dress circle, ment as he detailed programs for the coming weeks just to
roped off for the matinee. Along one side wall of the inner get us all motivated. And just to make sure that we all
foyer was the confectionery counter operated by Bert Mor- came back next week the cinema then screened not one.
ris, who always wore a green cardigan and thick framed but two more serials. Then it was time to go home. We left
glasses. Some of the small patrons stopped to purchase their in the same orderly way we arrived, but tl1is time by the
initial supply of sweets from Bert and his helpers: most of side doors.
us filed forward to jovial smiling Head Usher, Harold Lilly.
who guarded the door to the auditorium and performed the 1 met Ernie Carr a few days later. He also went to the Tech.
ritual of tearing tickets in half. Once through the door, into I became a regular at the Saturday Matinee and used to
that seemingly huge auditorium, we were greeted by two admire Ernie and that uniform. He was obviously very popu-
more ushers who directed the young patrons either to the lar. I was too young to appreciate the meaning of power but
front or centre stalls (carefully roped off to minimise de- I realised that he bad a great job because he wore a uni-
fections). form, was very popular with his peers, and saw movies for
free.
How different this was to the Mayfair Dandenong where 1
had been weaned 0111 Saturday matinees. The Mayfair Several months passed when one day Ernie casually told
seemed to have only one employee, Mr Spinks. He stood at me that he was quitting the job at the Cinema to move on
the door, shirtsleeves rolled up, more interested in collect- to better things- delivering groceries. That Thursday, af-
ing the sixpences than curbing the unsupervised chaos in- ter school. r found my way into the Cinema through the
side which never subsided until the lights went out. It then open side door. Luck was with me because Ma~1ager
became an excited ear piercing mixture of whistles, screams Waldron was in his office dressed not in a dinner suit but
and cheers as the clll-rains parted and the show began. I instead an open neck shirt and slacks. He looked very dif-
can't recall any supervision at the Mayfair and suspect that ferent without his dinner suit; he was working at a desk
Mr Spinks had by then become the Projectionist. In con- covered with papers and stills. T asked for the job- my first
trast the Cinema seemed to be extremely well staffed and ever work application -verbally- without Mum knowing.
supervised. The Cinema was class. It had style. It was or-
•·can you start tonight? Ernie can show you the ropes. Be
ganised.
here at 6.30. The pay is seven shillings and sixpence a
The seats were filled orderly and smoothly. one row at a week plus threepence for each dozen Screen News you sell.
time. The numbers grew rapidly. The stage curtains were You keep any tips. Do you have any long grey pants?''
already open and I wondered why- could they be broken Manager, Mr W. was offering me the job.
(later [discovered why). The ceiling and stage lights cast
That night J commenced work as a casual employee of Hoyts
an odd mix of reddish and dirty grey shadows on the screen.
Theatres Limited. Harry Archibald instantly adopted me.
There was music playing. Two lolly boys roamed the aisles
selling their wares. "Follow me lad! We'll get you set up. Ernie can do the
handover later". We walked into the blackened auditorium
The lights dimmed and for the first time J saw the Hoyts down the side aisle all U1e way to the stage. The only light
logo and heard the famous signatw·e fanfare. Magic stuff. came from the exit signs. He led me through a door beside
But something was very different- the show started with the stage, up some steps. In dim light l realised that I was
the feature movie whereas at the Mayfai1· we always had walking across the stage behind the huge screen. There
ca1toons, Pete Smith's, James A Fitzpatrick's and a serial were two dressing rooms. Harry guided me into the fu·st
before interval. Here at the Cinema the program was re- one. turned on the lights and rhrew open a cupboard. He
versed. And another surprise occurred. After interval. and pointed to the array of coats and jackets. "See if you can
after three cartoons and a serial, the lights came on. A man find one that is clean and tl1at fits? The page-boy ones are
wearing a dinner ~uit strode on to the stage with a stand at the end." I was small for my age and the jackets were
microphone and suddenly words were projected on the mostly too large but somehow we found one that looked
screen behind him. "AU together'·. he said. We all began reasonable. 1 looked at myself in the dressing miJTor and
singing: felt proud. The peaked cap fitted well and I looked pretty
good. but inside f was as nervous as hell. 1 couldn't believe
Here we are again, Happy as can be, All good friends, And that this was happening. At home I would have been set-
members of CCC tled by the radio with the family listening to Martin's Cor-
ner or Dad and Dave. Lnstead I was wide-awake about to
Excitement's in t!ze ail; Greetings evei)'One, We're at Hoyts, learn a whole new way of life.
And ready for lots offim. Etc., Etc.
Harry took me on a tour of inspections and introductions.
The roof afmost lifted off. The conductor turned out to be By now the ushers were aniving (all male as I recall). Each
the Manager, Mr Rex (?) Waldron. who proceeded with a collected a torch from the cupboard in Mr W's office. Mrs
weekly ritual called the Childrens' Cinema Club. He drew Harris sitt.ing at a small table smiled at me as she checked
some lucky numbers for free tickets for next week (each the ticket numbers from the various coloured rolls and en-

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