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Interior of Hoyts Cinema- Richmond c. 'i1938

duty was the drawing of the lucky numbers which Mr W was tension, nervousness. or excitement I never quire
did in his office before interval. He gave the numbers to worked out. Perhaps it was the prospect of a Full House
Ernie at interval. '·Come on". said Ernie to me. We raced and the strategies in place to prevent overselling in the
across the foyer to the door which Jed to the stairs to the bio unnumbered stalls - perhaps because for the many of the
box. Ernie handed the numbers to Mr Harris who immedi- patrons it was their weekly highlight - a night out, the
ately wrote them with a special pen onto a glass slide to be opportunity to dress up and become part of a make believe
projected during Mr w·s on-stage presentation. During the world of enjoyment .. On this my first Saturday I discov-
CCC stage segment my job was to stand at the stage door ered that the sales of Screen News and the tipping were
and to assemble the winners when they were called to the both high. This was the final night that Ernie was with me.
front complete with matching lucky numbers and to help As from Monday I was it- Page Boy at the Cinema.
distribute birthday badges.
Monday came and went without drama. Harry hovered
Harry didn't bother to use the curtains at the matinee. The around and gave me encouragement and advice. Monday
reason was now obvious to me. A screen was in fuU view was a quiet night. The fLrst night of the three night mid-
before during and after the program. After the matinee fin- week program. The program comprised some B grade and
ished and the last of the mini-patrons had fled through repeats or a longer movie with shmts. Monday was also
side doors it was all hands on deck. Ushers, jackets and one of the nights when, before the front doors opened, Harry
ties removed, became cleaners and the stalls were soon freed changed the displays in the display windows lining both
of lolly wrappings, unloved screen news and sundry items sides of the foyer. On Mondays the program for the previ-
of lost paraphernalia. Page boys cleaned foyers, tloors, ash ous Thursday, Friday, Saturday was removed and the space
trays, toilets and front footpaths. Harry gave the brass fit- updated. It was always possible for browsing patrons to
tings a polish with BrctSSo. look up to two weeks ahead. Harry carried a box filled with
coloured paper, pins and stickers. He would unroll posters
Then it was time for tea. We sat around on the comfortable and spread out the stills on the floor, then map out the
lounge settees in the upper foyer. Bert had an electric wa- display. My job was to hand him rhe items. When finished,
ter heater. Hoyts provided the cups, tea and milk. We ate he would stand back and admire his effo1t. The process
meals of sandwiches, cakes or fish and chips and ham- was repeated for the other change on program on Thurs-
burgers purchased from across Bridge Road. days.

This was my frrst of many Saturday nights to fo!Jow. I be- Harry also had another task. Twice a week he drove his
came aware that Saturday night at the Cinema was some- little red van to the prime advertising spots around Rich-
thing special to both staff and patrons alike. Whether it mond and complete with ladder, brush and paste, pasted

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