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103. The Star Cinema - Mansfield Cinema by Don Flowers

Film screenings and film-making began in Australia in My involvement in preparation of the premiere was with
1896. After successful beginnings, production dwindled my association with David Johnston, the head projection-
after 1940. For the next 20 years Australian feature pro- ist and technical man employed by Hoyts. David bad the
duction averaged one film a year, but it became steadily responsibility of ensuring that the show went ahead with-
more active after 1965, and from 1969 five to ten features out any problems. A week before the premiere, I went to
were produced each year. Mansfield with David as an observer. The proprietor and
projectionist, was Eddie Revell.
Exhibition of films were first shown in halls, tents, and
former live theatres. Most theatres were built around 1920, A test run was made of the equipment and when evety-
some extremely luxurious. After the advent of television, thing appeared correct we went to nearby Merrijig to see
audiences dwindled and many theatres closed. Not the the film set, which was on private property that no longer
Mansfield Cinema. exists. I took a number of photographs. On the night of
the premiere, the town was )jt up.

Sand was spread on the
road to give it an air of
the period, and locals
were suitably dressed for
the occasion, some had
also taken part in the
filtn. Dignitaries in
eluded the Prime Minis
ter, Malcolm Fraser, and
former Victorian pre
mier, Sir Rupert Hamer.
I did not get an invita
tion. David Johnston
was there on standby on
behalf of Hoyts, and the
show was a success with
no problems encoun
tered.

Today the cun·ent cin
emas proprietors are
Brendan and Melinda
Mansfield is about 160 kilometres notth east ofMelboume. Grant who purchased the property in 1988. The cinema is
The "Star Cinema", now renamed "Mansfield Cinema" is operating from Tuesday to Saturday, and every day except
set in the main street of the town and opened on 4th Sep- Sunday during school holidays.
tember 1937, as "The Regent". The first movie being shown
the next day was "Jungle Princess" starring Ray Milland Acknowledgements: Brendan and Melinda Grant.
and Dorothy Lamour. The Mansfield Historical Society.
Photos: Don Flowers - March 1 982
The cinema has a spacious and attractive interior with seat-
ing for 360. A dual purpose building whereby the front
seating can be moved to facilitate social events being held
there. There is also a stage area. The projectors were. and
still are, Centwy's. The carbon arc lamp houses were re-
placed with Cinemeccanica 1600 watt Xenon lamp houses.
The sound system was replaced with a "Eprad Starlet"
stereo amplifier.

Australia film production as mentioned continues to the
present day. There have been few that have premiered in
Australia before openjng overseas. One such production
"The Man From Snowy River" which was was released by
Hoyts Distribution. The world premiere was held at the
"Star Cinema" Mansfield on 20th March, 1982. Mansfield Store Used In Film. (No longe1· exists)

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