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ing shapes for acoustic purposes, the inclusion of"art deco" operated several cinemas throughout Melbourne. Amongst
friezes on the interior walls ofthe Park and elaborate deco- the first shows was the former Hoyts "Crown'' cinema at
ration at the Rivoli theatre at Camberwell is somewhat Richmond, which had been closed since the silent movie
unexplained. It could be stated that both of these theatres era. The theatre was acquired about 1936 and was exten-
were considered special by their owners and given the much sively rebuilt and renamed the "Victoria" theatre.
higher costs of construction, and it may have been requests
from the respective clients to jazz up the designs. This The alterations to the Kinema were quite dramatic. The
may have certainly been the case at the Rivoli, which came original facade lost its ornamentation and leadlights. In
under the ownership and direction of Robert McLeish. its place a simple contemporary plain exterior treated in
the popular Eau-De-Nil colours of the day. TI1e new cin-
The Park was a truly handsome edifice and very comfort- ema was smaller than the original with seating for I ,234
able with padded seating on both levels. A geometric stair- patrons ( 16 ). The focal point of the auditorium were the
case gave access to the dress circle foyer which contained murals painted on the splay walls near the proscenium.
a light standard which reflected onto the ceiling. Furnished Plaster sheeting was used for the walls and a new ceiling,
in a most modem manner this pear shaped room also con- lower than the original, was also installed.
tained a candy bar, known as the South Sea bar. This con-
cept was an idea conceived by George Griffiths Jnr., (Hoyts Whilst the Hoyts Park across the way was enjoying brisk
Victorian Manager). The bar was decorated like a small busi11ess, the Kinema too enjoyed great success which was
makeshift hut one would find in the islands of Fiji. to continue through the war years.

Comfortable Lounge of the Dress Circle Foyer

"'Here parrons are served their drinks in a tropical selling Film product was supplied from M.G.M., Paramount and
with vistas of island and sea. Rain pours on the roof of Universal for the K.inema, whilst the remaining compa-
this bar and deluges over the eaves, ctccompanied by sound nies (Fox, R.K.O., etc.) played at the Park.
effects of thunder amplified through the public address
system in the foyer" (13). Jt is not known exactly as to what projection equipment
was used at the Park originally, but in photographs of the
Towards the end of 1938, the former "Kinema" theatre other Hoyts theatres at this period, it seems tl1at Simplex
was reopened after an extensive rebuild. The architect be- projectors with the latest Western Electric sound repro-
ing R.A. Le P. Terry and the builders were T.R. and L. ducing equipment was installed. Four track magnetic stereo
Cockram (14). The f01mer Hoyts cinema was now under was installed with the introduction of CinemaScope in
the control of the then newly formed Consolidated Thea- 1954.
tres company. Mr. Stan Cherry was appointed as the
Kinema's new theatre manager (15). Mr. Graham Slobom The Kinema for many years used Gaumont-Kalee projec-
was the Managing Director of Consolidated Theatres and tors with Duosonic amplifiers. Similar equipment was also

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