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The former Returned Soldiers Pictures. Photo by: Kevin Adams.
The partnership was dissolved in heard was the hum of the generator
1939, but Doug Burns continued on mounted on the back of Rod Quinn’s
with the lease. truck which was used to power the
In 1944 the Soldiers Hall was two Bevan incandescent projectors.
packed out for 2 consecutive nights When the show was over, the team
for the Great Spectacular motion would sleep on the floor of the hall
picture “Gone With The Wind”. As before setting off again next day- only
there was no heating in the hall, to return in two weeks time with
overcoats and grey blankets were another program. Rod Quinn was also
necessary precautions against to feature further in the history of
Mansfield’s cold winter nights. Cinema in Mansfield
Doug Burns continued to show THE REGENT THEATRE
films and hold dances there until 1946
The Regent Theatre was built at
when he moved to Seymour to operate
117 High Street Mansfield in 1930.
the Town Hall Pictures, although he
Developed by a local syndicate headed
would later have further involvement
by Rod Quinn, along with Joshua
in Mansfield’s cinema history.
Revell (a butcher shop proprietor) and
John Bulmer, Eric Cole and Ron
Harvey Graves (a local farmer).
Dale took over from Doug Burns with
Building of the Regent was carried
John Bulmer being the lessee, and
out by Jack Thompson, Albert
they continued for a short time before
Cleeland, Jim Wilson and Fred
closing down in November 1948 as by
Lochart, with the front of the theatre
now they had strong competition from
being constructed in brick and the
the nearby Regent Theatre. Mansfield
remainder in fibro sheeting.
simply could not support 2 theatres
picture show out of Mansfield with a
any longer. Located behind the screen and
circuit ranging far and wide to
In 1904 the Masonic Lodge had embrace one-night shows at the small
built their hall and temple two doors communities of Woods Point;
from the Public Hall and in 1952 the Jamieson; Gaffneys Creek; Kevington;
Lodge and the R.S.L. decided to Whitfield; Violet Town; Bonnie Doon;
exchange buildings. Merton; Yarck and Sugarloaf (Eildon)
A Masonic Temple and Refectory Weir. Each trip took two weeks to
were then constructed as a shell inside complete.
what was originally the auditorium of Rod Quinn and his projectionist,
the old Returned Soldiers Pictures. Ron Dale, would project the current
The former theatre continues in this film through the local hall’s open
use today and many of its cinematic window and onto the opposite wall.
remnants are readily visible, including The audience, largely starved of
the entrance foyer, projection ports outside entertainment, would sit
and the bricked-up proscenium arch. enthralled for hours - often on hard,
backless, wooden benches.
QUINNS TRAVELLING PICTURE
SHOW. Ron Dale remembers that “the
only thing that was silent was the
Rod Quinn came to Mansfield in
film” which flickered through the
1935 and ran a motor garage selling Interior of Returned Soldiers Pictures.
smokey haze. The only sound to be
Austin cars. He developed a travelling Photo by: Kevin Adams.
CINEMARECORD 2002 21