Page 16 - CR31R.pdf

uring the early 1960s I worked as
an assistant projectionist at Hoyts
DCircle Theatre in North
Essendon. The projectionist was Harry
Gratton (Junior) — now deceased — who
had worked in “the picture business”
from the age of fourteen, having started
as assistant operator at the Empire
Theatre Brunswick, where his father,
Harry Gratton Senior was the manager.
Harry Gratton Snr was an engineer
employed by the Crossley Company of
Manchester in England.
With the construction of the Empire
Theatre, Harry Snr was sent to Melbourne
to oversee the installation of a Crossley
gas turbine generator at the Empire. At
the completion of the installation the
proprietors of the new Empire,
Amalgamated Theatres, offered Harry Snr
the job as manager of the theatre as they
were concerned that if the generator The Metro-Goldwyn-Maye
should fail there would not be anyone
there to repair it and thereby keep the
show running. By Ros
With the formation of Hoyts Pictures,
the Empire came under the Hoyts banner
for a time. Both Harry Snr and son Harry As is so often the way, my interest in He had mentioned the Trackless Train
Jnr continued their employment with the pictures had developed from an early to many people, but no one had ever
Hoyts. Harry Snr went on to manage the age. I was always keen and interested to heard of it; so much so, he sometimes
Kinema Richmond and Merri Theatre learn all about the business and what had wondered if he had not imagined it!
North Fitzroy until his retirement. gone before. In my role as assistant A year or two after Harry told me this
Harry Jnr, on gaining his operator to Harry Jnr once the bulk of the story I came across a short section of
projectionist's licence, worked at the evening’s work had been done I relished 16mm film showing the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayfair Bourke Street, Barkly Footscray, the stories Harry would tell me about his Mayer Trackless Train visiting South
Plaza Essendon, Circle Essendon, early days in the business. One of his Australia circa 1927. On screening this
Trocadero Footscray and finally at the many stories follows… section of film to Harry, he was
Padua Brunswick. His employment in the Harry recalled travelling on the absolutely delighted, for here was visual
industry ceased with the closure of the “Trackless Train” and although he could confirmation of a long forgotten event.
Padua, under the Hoyts banner. The remember the occasion well, he could not The Trackless Train was devised by
Padua was just a short distance further remember many of the details. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a grand scale
along Sydney Road from the Empire. The His recollection was of a steam-type publicity vehicle for their company.
Empire was destroyed by fire on 13 locomotive, but driven by a petrol engine Perhaps the many thousands of feet of
December 1976. giving ten miles to the gallon and towing film shot during the years of the
a Pullman-type Trackless Train tour remain in the MGM
carriage. He archives. The Train would visit cities and
recalled travelling towns — the public could ride on the
on the “Train” Train. The money raised by this promotion
from the Empire would be donated to a local charity.
Theatre, north Setting out from New York on its tour
along Sydney in May 1924, the Trackless Train had
Road to Bell three objects in view:
Street, then west • to give world-wide publicity to its
to Melville Road promotors, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
stopping at other Company;
theatres on the way, • to obtain films of interest from all over
then returning the world; and
along Dawson Street • to carry out useful propaganda work in
to the Empire. the countries visited.

16 Spring 2001 CINEMARECORD