Page 16 - CR31R.pdf

Ararat:

Lyceum/Paramount

By Gerry Kennedy

ilms have been screened at a variety of locations in Great attention was paid to the colour themes in
Ararat including the Ararat Town Hall, Alexandria decorating the hall which also featured an ornate pressed
F Hall (now the Drill Hall), The Protestant Hall metal ceiling.
(Lyceum / Paramount), and The Midland Theatre (Astor). At this time it was claimed that the hall seated nearly
In 1895 the Ararat Loyal Orange Lodge applied to the 1000 including 150 in the balcony. The balcony seats were
Health Department (1) to build a hall in a multi staged leather covered theatre chairs.
construction. The hall was to be known as "Protestant Hall" The grand opening of the Lyceum Theatre took place on
and it was opened on 18 December, 1895. The rectangular 15 June 1912. The star attraction of the night was the
hall was situated in Queen St. at the corner of High St and screening of "The Lion's Gratitude".
was of timber, steel and brick construction. It was entered via
In 1919 the lease holder, Grampians Amusements Pty.
a central front doorway that led into a foyer which occupied
Ltd., made improvements to the bio cabin which had been
the full width of the building. The auditorium was 18.6m x
built over the short hallway between the foyer and the
12m (64' x 40') with a stage area of 8.4m x 12m (28' 40'
auditorium.
wide). A kitchen space and dressing rooms were also
In 1921 the annual registration of the Lyceum recorded a
included on the right hand side of the stage.
total of 610 seats (250 Pit, 250 Stalls, 110 Balcony). The
In October, 1911 a Mr. E Stephenson leased the building
tenant at this time was H L Brent.
to run a theatre and a biograph hall. The hall was
The bio cabin was a source of constant concern to the
subsequently sold to a local group of investors and the name
Health Department which eventually led to the temporary
of the building was changed to Empire Hall .
(2)
closing of the building when the lessee failed to undertake
Around May, 1912 E Stephenson, and his business
various repairs.
partners commenced an extensive program of alteration and
In 1923 the Lyceum was reopened for dances; but films
furnishing to transform the "...barn like structure [in]to an
could not be shown because of continued deficiencies in the
ornate and modern theatre" . The roof of the building was
(2)
bio cabin and the use of loose chairs in the hall. At this time,
raised by adding 3 feet to the height of the walls. A high
films continued to be screened in the nearby Ararat Town
scenery loft was built over the stage; a balcony, accessed
Hall.
from each side of the auditorium, was also constructed. At
the rear of the balcony "... a fire proof room for the operator In 1931 the lease was dropped and the trustees of the
and his lantern when picture shows are given"(2). Two ticket Lyceum applied to for permission to run concerts and screen
boxes, one for the gallery and one for the stalls, were films, but film exhibition was still disallowed by the Health
constructed in the foyer. Department.
16 2002 CINEMARECORD