Page 24 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Lawrence Brothers

Talkies

Alf Lawrence Remembers

worked with (older brother) Jim a partner. Jossie
I sometimes as an assistant wasn't interested,
operator when he was at Port he couldn't see Youthful entrepreneurs: Alf and Joss Lawrence
Melbourne. It was all silent movies the sense in it.
then. Jim would go there on his motor So I just kept on working for Jim at money as Jossie had put in to start the
bike and Jossie or I would go too, on the Athenaeum. business. Mum put up some money
the back of his motor bike. We'd give Mum must have done some heavy too so that my share would be equal to
him a hand to run the show, that's how thinking about all this, because a few Jossie's.
I first got a taste of the theatre weeks later she asked me if I was still I was twenty five years old when we
business. interested in Jossie coming in with me. started the business in 1932. Jossie was
Jossie got sick round about 1922. I was and Mum was pleased. Although still sleeping in the plaster cast. The
He would come home from work and Jossie's health was improving, he doctor said it would be beneficial for
slump over the table to rest. Jossie had would never be able to return to his old him to sleep outside. Just at that time
contracted T.B. of the spine and spent job. I think Mum talked him into the tramways were selling the 'dummy'
three years on his back in a plaster joining me in this venture.At the last coaches of cable trams, so Dad bought
cast. He was not in hospital, Mum had minute I got jelly feet. I went around one. It came on a big lorry. We knocked
a bed for him on the verandah and she to see Jim, I had to talk to someone some of the insides out of it and our
looked after him. about it. "What'll I do? We can buy a beds were set up in there. I think it
During the Depression I lost my plant from R.C.A." All he said was, would have been Mum's idea for me to
job. I was a sixth year improver "If that's what you want to do, don't be out there too. If something went
mechanic, I couldn't get work, I tried muck about, go ahead and do it.” The wrong I could wake them up. I fancy
all over the place. next day I went straight to the bank on that's why I was out there.
Jim, who was now at the my single seater Harley Davidson, Well, it took us a while to get
Athenaeum in charge of the projection took out all my money, then going. Old Bob Scorgie bet me
room said to me one day "How would raced around to pay the deposit a new hat we'd be broke within
you like to get in as an assistant?" on the plant. six months. I simply went
"Right, that'll do me." So I gave I did all the organizing: a ahead. I tell you what, I didn't
notice and went to my first real job in motor-bike trip around Gippsland know anything about running a
the picture business. to set up the circuit, and buying business, nothing at all.
more equipment. By selling Some good men put us on
I was always listening to the men
everything I owned, my motor- the right track. Harry
in the theatre business talking about
bike, billiard table and canoe, I Bryer was a
the money that could be made by
was able to raise almost as much
somebody setting up to run their own
show if a suitable location could be
found. One Sunday night Harry Bryer
came around for tea. At this time he
was working as a machine inspector
for the Film Renter's Association. His
job was to check projection equipment
all over Victoria to make sure none of
it was damaging the film. This night
he was telling us of some new sound
projection equipment – Photophone
which was imported by RCA (Radio
Corporation of America.) He said this
stuff was wonderful. He also spoke of
opportunities for a touring circuit in
Gippsland.
I thought about this and became
enthusiastic. I visited R.C.A., saw the
equipment and became even more
keen, but found that I didn't have
enough money to set up on my own. I With image, sound, and product from three distributors
asked Jossie if he wanted to come in as assured, a proud Alf Lawrence was ready for the road.

24 2002 CINEMARECORD