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Caths-V onTour

‘ EAST of EDEN WEEKEND
’

On the weekend of October 6 & 7, It was delightful to commence the
2001, a large motorcade of CATHS tour in Cinema One, the original
enthusiasts took to the hills to visit the theatre, which retains some lovely art
cinemas of the Yarra Valley, Dandenongs deco flourishes. Its warm ambience got
and Outer East of Melbourne. the day off to a great start.
The tour was organized by keen En route to our second inspection,
cinema historian, Brian Mier, with the we stopped to view the exterior of the
aim of exploring a range of cinema former Tecoma Theatre, which now
venues close to Melbourne and seeing houses a retail outlet and Veterinary Village 4, Boronia
how they are used now. Apart from the surgery.
When Village later closed the
social aspect, it was hoped to On arrival in Boronia, there was
encourage members to become time for a quick coffee break before a theatre, it sat unused until re-opened
enthusiastic about undertaking research look through the modern Village 4 by Century Cinemas, who had also re-
and documenting theatre history. Cinema’s. This had opened in 1979 as opened the shuttered Cranbourne 4.
The two auditoriums were divided in
the Village Twin, and was built on the
half to create the four intimate
site of the earlier Electra Theatre.
cinemas currently in use, and Village
The Electra was another early fibro
resumed control in 1998.
and brick cinema, constructed on land
owned by Mr. Charles Spalding of Following a lunch stop in
Ferntree Gully – who had built the Sassafras-Olinda, we visited the
Loyalty Theatre alongside his bakery historic Olinda Public Hall. Built in
there in 1939. 1913, the wooden hall is still used
extensively by the local community
Cameo Cinema Complex, Belgrave and today, retains its bio-box, although
The tour started with an inspection the access stairs have been removed
of the Cameo Cinema Complex at for safety reasons. From a cinematic
Belgrave. Currently operated by point of view, its main claim to fame is
Palace Cinemas, the Cameo had first as the birthplace of the famous
opened in 1935. The theatre has Melbourne International Film
survived the ravages of both the Festival which was held there over the
television and video age, and in 1986 Australia Day long weekend in 1952.
Electra Theatre, Boronia
became a “twin” with an additional
small auditiorium constructed With the advent of television, The
alongside the orginal, which has Electra fell on hard times, and was
remained intact. More recently, it eventually replaced with the new
became a triple complex with another Village Twin which was located on the
small cinema added alongside the first floor of the new shopping arcade
existing twin. built on the site.

Olinda Hall
It was still early on Saturday
afternoon when we departed for
Warburton where the Moviehouse,(a
purpose-built cinema which traded as
The Civic) still screens regularly, but
has now been incorporated into an
enlarged Upper Yarra Civic Arts
Centre.
It sits alongside the town’s original
picture-show, the Mechanics Institute,
which traded as the Mecca Theatre.
Sadly the old weatherboard building is
Original auditorium, Cameo Belgrave derelict and has been condemned.

26 2002 CINEMARECORD