Page 19 - CR31R.pdf

Then there was the music – I had (near comical) mishaps occurred on
played piano since prep grade, taking the way back from accepting the job.
some lessons, but mainly learning to This trip seemed to be an omen, and
play “by ear”. Whilst in Wangaratta, I I knew why, when the very next day I
began playing “dinner music” in local received a call from George Florence at
Restaurants, and eventually formed my St.Kilda’s wonderful Astor Theatre –
own 5-piece “Moonlight Dance Band” to come and work there!… Nice to be
which appeared throughout the region. Skyline Picture Gardens, Wangaratta wanted, but what to do? Both were
In winter, I kept the locals plum jobs… but I thought, “if there’s
entertained indoors by operating the one theatre I’d love to work in – it’s the
wonderfully nostalgic Workshop Astor!” So an apologetic letter to The
Picture Show, which I set up in a Entrance, soon saw me very happily
local hall – old-fashioned value like installed as the theatre’s full-time
the “good old days” – Top Movies! Projectionist (and resident Pianist!)
Cartoons! Lucky Prizes! As well as With a nightly “change of program”
Moonlight Dance Band this, I still had the newspaper, piano to carry up the “steepest stairway to
work and the band – and I did a stint heaven” and then make-up and break-
Despite being profitable to the as a Teacher of Film Studies at the down every night, 6 days a week, it
very end, the Drive-In was owned by Wangaratta College of Tafe. was certainly a heavy workload – and
property developers, and we were about to get worse!
When the Wangaratta Cinema
forced to close in October 1993, so I
Centre 3 finally opened, I juggled all of
then became instrumental in planning
these other interests with my full-time
for a new Cinema in the town centre.
position there as Head Projectionist.
This proved to take a lot longer than
This continued until late 1996 when I
expected though! When the Drive-In
gave it all away to shift to Swan Hill
closed, I just HAD to keep showing
(V) as Manager/Operator of the new
pictures, so I built the Skyline
Oasis Twin Cinema (former Regent). I
Picture Gardens at the back of my
had a one-year contract to set up and Astor Theatre, St.Kilda
property in Wangaratta which started
operate the business – and they made
out as a hobby and sort of turned into
me an offer “too good to refuse”! After numerous requests, in late
a business! 2000, I returned (part-time) to
Oasis Cinema, Swan Hill
Projection at Melbourne Imax, whilst
still doing my 6 nights at The Astor.
More recently, in March 2001, I did a
bit of a “swap” and went back to full-
time at Imax doing both Projection and
Management shifts. Since then, I have
remained full-time at Imax, but still
After a year in Swan Hill it was also do 3 shifts each week at The Astor
Skyline Picture Gardens, Wangaratta
back to Melbourne for a dose of “new – an extremely busy schedule!
The Picture Gardens was
technology” and special training, as a
something really special - in a fully
“15/70mm large format” projectionist
enclosed and landscaped setting, it
at the new multi-million dollar
seated 70 people and featured a
Melbourne Imax Cinema in Carlton.
stepped, undercover “dress-circle”;
This was a great experience, but I
Foyer and Candy-Bar; toilets; barbecue
longed to show “real movies” in a
area; a huge permanent steel screen
more traditional setting, and in late
and a fully equipped bio-box with both
1998 I was offered the position of
16mm and 35mm projectors! There Melbourne Imax Cinema
Manager/Operator at The Entrance
were hundreds of coloured festoon,
Cinema Centre in New South Wales. Having clocked up over 20 years in
flood and bud lights all on dimmers,
Fate was to steer my course here the cinema industry, I was very proud
and we screened two new release and
though, as a ridiculous number of to become a member of The Society
retro programs each week. Of Australian Cinema Pioneers in
2001. Looking back, I suppose I’ve
had a fairly interesting life and have
certainly been very lucky to have been
able to make a career out of something
I love doing. I certainly hope the next
20 will be as interesting!
…I somehow think they will.
Please tell us YOUR story - write today!
Skyline Drive-In, Wangaratta
Photopraphs by: Kevin Adams.
CINEMARECORD 2002 19