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Balgowlah theatre (located in tbe adjoining suburb), were 1950 as the Metro Manly, with M.G.M's "Annie Get Your
acquired by Snider and Dean theatres. Snider and Dean Gun" as the opening attraction .. A new film policy com-
were a well established chain of independent theatres op- menced, where day and date fi l m~booking was introduced.
erating in the Sydney suburbs and western districts of This meant that most of the big movies that opened in the
N.S.W. They had been in Manly for many years as the city would now premiere at the same time in Manly. As
owners of a another cinema erected in Belgrave street about well, more sessions were introduced.
500 meters from the Ferry terminal. This cinema was
known as Manly Moderne Theatre and was opeped on
November 8,1935 by Ron Shafto (9). However, by 1936 it
had been sold to Snider and Dean who set about renaming
it as New Manly Theatre. Seating at this location was pro-
vided for 807 persons ( I 0). Mr. Archie Mays was installed
as the theatre manager from the day of the takeover.

The New Manly was designed on intimate lines and was
in the att deco style of decoration. Entered from the street,
the cinema had a very small foyer with staircases either
side leading to a spacious lounge foyer. The auditorium
was almost devoid of any elements apart from the art deco
glass lighting. A focal point was however the treatment of
the proscenium. This was set behind a two tier plaster
frames. Each tier contained pink neon lights. Century auditorium - Before alterations to the Metro
Theatre in 1951. (late John MacCabe Collection)

The Metro at Manly was though, the smallest of their en-
tire circuit around Australia. This high and narrow build-
ing had provision for 668 patrons.

Another real estate transaction occurred in 1951, in re-
spect of the New Manly theatre in Belgrave street. The
new owner was Hoyts Theatres Limited. A gala opening
of this cinema took place on March 22,195 1 with a screen-
ing of"l'll Get By" (II) Hoyts had already taken posses-
sion of the cinema the previous month. Mr. Archie Mays
remained as the theatre manager.
With such stiff competition, Hoyts spent large amounts of
money upgrading the cinema, the most noticeable change
being the large American style marquee on the exterior.
Hoyts also copied Metro by adding extra sessions. ln first
few months the theatre was screening at llam, 2pm, 5pm
and 8pm, identical to first run city houses. Hoyts also in-
troduced day and date booking here as well, but the 4 ses-
sions a day deal became a little ambitious and was dropped.

In the space of a few years the once independently con-
trolled Manly cinemas became dominated by three major
circuits. Hoyts running the now renamed Hoyts Manly,
M.G.M. operating the Metro and Greater Union the own-
ers of the two biggest shows, the Embassy and Rialto.

Dwindling attendances brought about by the introduction
MetJ·o Manly Exterior- Rebuilt from the Arcadia and of television was to see a review of cinema operations by
dating from 1912. (late John MacCabe Collection) Acme-Odeon Kings theatres in 1959. lt was decided to
close the Embassy Theatre on The Esplanade, due to rap-
Snider and Dean received lucrative offers to sell both of idly declining patronage.
its two Manly theatres in 1950. The first successful pur-
chaser was M.G.M. Theatres, who had bought the old Early in 1960, a property valuation was obtained for both
Arcadia theatre (renamed Century in 1948). Extensively the closed Embassy and the Rialto by its owners. The value
refurbished, the Century was reopened on December 22, of the Rialto was far greater than that for the Embassy.

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