Page 23 - CR31R.pdf

June 1930 with MGM’s “The Last of
Mrs. Cheney” starring Norma Shearer.
Admission was 2/2 (22 cents) and 2/6
(25 cents).
The theatre thrived and by 1934
underwent extensive renovations which
involved remodelling the front of the
theatre to include a new foyer, a
cantilever veranda, sweet shop and
new stairs to the dress circle. At the
same time sound equipment was
updated to the Western Electric
Mirrorphonic system.
Also at this time, the owners
purchased the old Tivoli and conducted
screenings there on Friday nights, a
practice that continued until 1939.
(Was the superseded Paramount
equipment installed there?) Paramount Auditorium
A year later, in 1935, the operators
purchased the Paramount from owner
CinemaScope in 1954. This involved The old outdoor toilets at the back
Joe Currell and the partnership became
widening the proscenium and fitting were closed and new ones installed at
Wearne and Rowan.
new burgundy velvet curtains; the the front of the theatre.
Minor renovations were made to
installation of a new screen; new dress The business sailed on profitably
the theatre after World War 2 and still
circle seats; new auditorium lighting until television arrived in the district in
more after the introduction of
and stair carpets. 1962. In order to counteract this
medium to some extent, the proprietors
- still Wearne and Rowan - opened the
River-Vu Drive-In Theatre, which
survived until the 1980’s under the
management of Brian Wearne.

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