Page 5 - CR31R.pdf

CATHS Central

Victoria branch

Convenor Fred Page reports
From time to time the activities of the
Central Victorian Chapter of CATHS-V
is mentioned at Melbourne meetings.
Some members have asked for more
information on the meetings held most
months in Bendigo.
Meetings are held on the fourth
Thursday of each month except January
and December, and start at 7.30 pm. They The former Royal at Maldon, one of the theatres visited on the CATHS
are held in the Crest Theatrette. What Central Victoria Tour in April 2000. Photo: Kevin Adams.
follows is a summary of events to date.
The inaugural meeting was held in ◆ April: Burlesque, Revue, Vaudeville presented at the Bendigo Regional Arts
February 2000 at which I was the only and the Tivoli Theatres. Centre. I spoke of the theatres of the
CATHS member present. Since then [No May meeting due to New Zealand tour.] area and Charles Murray from the BHS
four new local members have joined ◆ June: San Francisco Fox Theatre spoke of the performers. This event was
CATHS. These members with their and other American picture palaces. sponsored by the City of Greater
partners and friends have raised atten- ◆ July: The British contribution to the Bendigo and CATHS-V.
dance levels to as high as 14. Average invention of cinematography, in particular So ended the first year of CATHS’
attendance is about nine. William Frieze Greenes’ Magic Box. local activities.
The February meeting discussed ◆ August: Comedy — viewing items Themes for our meetings in 2001:
possible local activities and some partici- from past comedy festivals. ◆ In February we celebrated the new
pants assisted with the centrally organ- ◆ September: Probably our most millenium with 2001: A Space
ised tour of Central Victoria in April acclaimed presentation was on the Odyssey.
2000 which attracted 37 attendees. Melbourne Regent and Marriner ◆ March: History of the book and films
For each meeting, agendas, minutes Theatres. This featured the CATHS of Ben Hur and the impact of the films
and reports are forwarded to the videos Regent Nostalgia and The Regent on MGM
CATHS-V Committee. Formal meetings is Melbourne. ◆ April: Andrew Lloyd Webber and
are held in the same month that CATHS ◆ October: Auckland Civic, following his contribution to musical theatre.
holds its Melbourne meetings, and the successful CATHS tour of NZ. ◆ May: With the long overdue release of
informal meetings are held on the other ◆ November: It was announced that Annie Get Your Gun on VHS, the subject
months. Les Miserables would be staged in this month was The Real Annie Oakley.
Each meeting features a particular Bendigo early in 2001. In celebration of ◆ June: The Genius of Chaplin.
theme: this milestone the musical was the topic ◆ July: The Music of George Gershwin.
◆ At the March 2000 meeting discus- for exploration this month. All CATHS members are welcome
sion centred on preserved “picture In a wider field, together with the at the Bendigo meetings and coming
palaces”, the focus in particular being Bendigo Historical Society, a public programs can be accessed on the
on the Sydney State Theatre. lecture Performers and Palaces was CATHS website. For further informa-

Westgarth, West Then it was off to the
premises of Universal Wonder
Preston Rivoli and Pty Ltd, at West Preston, locat-
Northcote Theatre tour ed in the former 1935 Rivoli
Theatre. CATHS Treasurer
On May 19 CATHS held a most inter- Barrie Wraith gave an interest-
esting tour of the Westgarth Theatre, ing talk on the history of the
and of two other former cinema venues Rivoli. Many features of the
in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. former cinema are still intact.
Over 45 people arrived early on the The last venue on the tour
Saturday morning to inspect the 1921- was the Regal Ballroom, the
built Westgarth. Member Cameron Hall former 1912 Northcote Theatre.
outlined the history of the theatre, and Our thanks to our hosts, and to organisers
owner Peter Yiannoudes welcomed us to Cameron Hall and Events Co-ordinator Brian
the Westgarth and talked about his Miller for a very successful tour. ★
involvement with the theatre over the
Above: The Northcote today as the Regal
years. The management also treated us Ballroom. Left.: Opening night of the
to a lovely morning tea, and screening Northcote Theatre in 1912.
of a cartoon and trailers. Photos: Courtesy Kevin Adams Collection.

CINEMARECORD Autumn 2001 5