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98. MANLY AT THE MOVIES by lan Hanson

Noted for its famous beaches, the Sydney suburb of Manly never materialised and it remained somewhat of an eye-
was to rise to prominence in the early 19th century as a sore. High property values no doubt contributed to its de-
popular holjday resort. mise.

Henry Gilbert Smith (1802- 1886), a successful merchant The Smythe family were the people mainly responsible
and banker, earned the title of "the father of Manly" be- for building up the picture theatre business in Manly. Since
cause of his effotts to develop it as a seaside resort. Gilbert the silent days they had owned the Arcadia theatre and in
came to Australia in 1827 and moved to Manly in the 1923 built the much larger Rialto theatre on The Corso
1850's. (1) and finally constructed the Embassy theatre on The Es-
planade.
By I 892 the population of the Manly Municipality had
reached 3,200 persons, (2) but by 19 I 2 this figLLre had Orber exhibitors also controlled cinemas in the area for
climbed to 10,465. This figure trebled during holiday times many years, ultimately being swallowed up by the three
and at weekends. Most of the permanent population I ived major circuits of the 1950's. These being Hoyts, Greater
in housing facing the ocean beach and moved northwards Union and M.G.M. theatres. Manly was perhaps a most
to a lagoon at North Manly. Guest houses and Hotels pro- interesting situation for movie exhjbition as up to 4 thea-
vided acconunodation for holiday makers whilst entertain- tres were operating until 1990, but remained opened until
ment was catered for by various travelling carnivals that 1980. This was despite the inroads of television.
visited the area.
Wise's Post Office Directory of 1916 gives some idea of
In addition to the itinerant carnivals, permanent picture the competition in Manly in those years. In addition to the
shows were being established at this period. Amongst the Arcadia, there was also located in the same street the Pal-
first of these was the Manly Picture Pavilion. Established ace Theatre and the Britannia Theatre in Sydney Road.
1910 (circa) the Manly Picture Pavilion was once located Pictures were also shown at the Victoria Hall in The Corso.
in the park, a mere few meters from the ocean beach, just
near 'the Corso. A report in 1912 appeared in a trade jour- The survival and economic success of these shows clearly
nal, "Photoplay" about an amusing incident which took depended on the large weekend and holiday patronage that
place at the Picture Pavilion. The report reads as follows:" frequented the area. Manly itself, being somewhat isolated
PICTURE SHOW FLOODED! (20/7/1912). Last night the from Sydney depended on the only practical means of trans-
seas came up on the ocean beach at Manly in an alarming port the ubiquitous Manly Ferry. The feiTy service having
fashion, beating the record of the Maitland gale. The waves started in the 1840's was a vital link to the suburb. The
washed up right over the reserve facing The Corso, and cinemas utilised the ferry for the cartage of supplies such
depositing rubbish all about the place. At the Picture Pa- as the films and other commodities. Up until about 1924,
vilion, which is situated on the reserve, consternation arose there was no direct road link to the area from Sydney.
amongst the audience when a big wave washed in amongst
the orchestra. The orchestra men dropped their instruments During the early 1920's the population of permanent resi-
in alarm, and there was movement to clean out the build- dents had risen to 18,507 by 1921.( 4) The then existing
ing, but the inundation was not repeated". cinemas could not cope with the rising admissions. The
Exhibitor Mr. Smythe lodged an application with the
Needless to say after this calamjty it was decided to bujld N.S. W. Chief Secretary to obtain a license for a second
another picture theatre further back from the reserve in a and much larger cinema to be built on The Corso. Ap-
street which ran parallel to the beach. This street was called proval being given on 24/8/ 1923 and the architectural finn
North Steyne and at 4 1-43 was cited what was to be Man- of Kaberry and Chard were given the contract to draw the
ly's longest surviving picture theatre building. plans. This new theatre was to be called "RlALTO" and
would replace the Victoria Hall as a picture venue.
The Chief Secretary's Department granted a licence dated
23/ 10/1912 for the opening of this new entettainment venue The Rialto was designed in the typical Kaberry and Chard
which was known as the Arcadia Picture Theatre. The last fashion of the period. A large exterior facing The Corso
renmants of which were demolished in 1999. treated in a ·'Spanish Mission" style, whilst the interior
was perhaps in keeping with "E~glish Tudor". The audi-
The Arcadia theatre had a long and chequered career and torium was on two levels wirb a Dress Circle which con-
finally ended its days as a beachside nightclub. This ven- tained loges vvhich were tiered down both sides of the au-
ture folded about 1988 and the theatre was used as a ware- ditorium towards the stage. The proscenium was flanked
house and closed to the public for many years. There had by coves located either side of the stage. The proscenium
been some talk oftheArcadia (also known as the Century, was rectangular and an orchestra pit being built in front
Metro and finally Silver Screen cinema) reopening as a of the stage apron. The seating capacity was possibly about
cinema, as it still contained its projection equipment and I, 700 at this time. There were few architectural elements
basically had no structural alterations which would have in the auditorium apart from some "Adam" style panels
prevented its planned reopening around 1990, but this plan placed at angles near the ceiling. Wooden beams criss-

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