Page 28 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Marvellous Memories

YOUR PERSONAL MEMORIES & REMINISCENCES OF AUSTRALIAN THEATRES

The Potted sounded in the foyer. The Conductor the ‘bungers’ in particular. Sadly one
Palm raced into the foyer to find a potted experiment went awry down on the
Incident palm had been blown out of its pot by beach and Monkey suffered a serious
★ From a ‘bunger’, not an ordinary ‘bunger’ disfigurement to his left hand.
Kevin but a giant - a Monkey specialty! The Conductor went on to keep
Brandum, The Conductor bounded in to the peace at the Mordialloc Regent for
Rosebud cinema. His powerful torch swept the some years. And Monkey – he
Victoria: back rows, illuminating Monkey. Like disappeared from the district.
Once upon a time in a cinema not a rabbit caught in the glare of a car’s Comparative peace returned to the
far away (Mordialloc Regent, actually) headlights, Monkey was momentarily Regent and practical jokes became a
there worked a conscientious, blinded, but recovering quickly he rarity. The un-potted palm was re-
meticulously dressed chief usher. This bolted for the aisle. potted and re-stood in the foyer to
usher always wore a dark suit, white The sight of Monkey being pursued become a horticultural delight as time
shirt, bow tie and highly polished black by the Conductor up and down the went by, the occasional cigarette
shoes. His hair was carefully parted and aisles of the Regent was more stubbed into its sandy base the only
his steel rimmed glasses glinted as he hilarious than The Long, Long Trailer transgression.
patrolled the aisles of the darkened on the screen. When finally
cinema. It was said he could pinpoint a cornered in the toilets.
face in the stalls at forty paces with is Monkey denied all
powerful torch – and he had a volatile knowledge of the explosion.
disposition. “I was,” he said, just
The Conductor, as he was known, enjoying the show”. Ah. but
was constantly at war with a bunch of which show - that was the
high spirited, mischievous lads who question.
patronised the cinema. One lad, a rascal Anyhow, Monkey was
nicknamed Monkey had a predilection given the benefit of the
for fireworks, giant ‘bungers’ with long doubt. But old habits die
fuses (the long fuses allowed the culprit hard, at least as far as
time to escape!) Monkey was concerned. He
On this particular night the cinema persisted with his
was peaceful enough, perhaps too experiments with crackers,
Scene of the exploding palm; The Mordialloc Regent
peaceful, when a loud explosion

The Cinema And Theatre Historical Society Victoria is proud to have
The Sun Theatre Yarraville as our major sponsor. Many thanks to member
Mr Michael Smith, the owner of the Sun Theatre, for providing the venue
for CATHS meetings and events.

The Sun Theatre is the home of The Sun Film Society and MGS Infa Set.This unique cinema
offers comforts for all to enjoy in delightful art deco surroundings and is available for hire.
In conjunction with the Sun Film Society, the Sun Theatre offers you a wide selection of films.
For program and venue hire inquiries, contact Theatre Manager Ms PinaVirtuoso
◆
on Tel: 9362 0999 ◆ Fax: 9362 0338 Website: www.suntheatre.com.au
Email: sun@mgsgroup.com

8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville 3013

28 2002 CINEMARECORD