Page 8 - CR31R.pdf

Pre ‘CinemaScope’ Screen

The Ozone opened on 15 December, Department over the use of portable scenery was not used).
1938 screening “The Drum”. seats in some of its theatres and the In 1955 the theatre management
In 1939 the owners applied to have apparent lack of sufficient qualified was again chastised for not applying
two additional rows of seats placed in staff in projection rooms. for approval to install new Gaumont
the front stalls and some extra seats In 1951 the theatre management Kalee projectors for CinemaScope
along the sidewalls. This was was taken to task for allowing a presentations. In 1957 the local
approved. The seating capacity was production of “The Merry Widow” to council wanted the installation of
gradually changed over the years to be staged (by the Red Cliffs Musical additional toilets for ladies in both the
reflect demand: Society) without Health Department upstairs and downstairs facilities.
1939 1943 1950 approval. Over the years the Ozone It is not known when the Hoyts
Stalls 842 856 919 management obtained Health neon was fitted to the top of the front
Department approval for the use of the parapet, however it could be assumed
Dress Circle 537 545 546
theatre as a concert venue (as long as that this occurred very soon after
Crying Room 11 11 11
TOTAL 1390 1412 1476
In correspondence of 1947 the
Watermans had changed the company
name to Murray River Theatres
Pty. Ltd. (Incorporated in South
Australia). In 1948 the Ozone applied
to the Health Department to use the
theatre for a stage production and they
wanted to use portable stage lights and
other equipment (previously used in
the Majestic, Adelaide). The request
was denied.
Mr. Thuohy was the signatory on
letters to the Health Department from
1949, as a director of the local circuit
of Murray River Theatres in the
Sunraysia district. The circuit came
under some criticism from the Health
8 2002 CINEMARECORD