Page 11 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Ray Ryan Remembers

he Armadale Picture Theatre was Patrons also went across the road to
Tthe first picture theatre I visited as the lolly shop opposite. I never went
a child in the thirties. Located on the upstairs to the lounge or circle. My
southern side of High Street between older sister Lorraine explained to me
Kooyong Road and the railway bridge, that we couldn’t afford it. Two regular
it is now the show room for Sothebys, patrons of the front stalls every
the Fine Art auctioneers. The theatre Saturday night were an elderly couple.
was perfectly positioned for public Harry and Florrie had favourite seats.
transport - the Glen Iris tram past the For devilment the local lads used to
door, Armadale station immediately hurry down and sit in their seats. On
behind and the Kooyong Road bus finding them occupied Florrie would
service 150 yards east. For all of its say, “Harry, tell them to go to buggery”.
life it never had a rival along the full Once a year the nearby Armadale
length of High Street. State School Mothers and Fathers
The Armadale was one of a few Committee would hold a fund raising
theatres to have a sliding section of night at the theatre. The school band
roof. I remember the roof opening on a would play items before and during the
very hot evening. Only in recent years interval.
was the sliding section replaced by
corrugated iron, the mechanism that
operated it left hanging from the
rear wall.
The theatre had built-in shops
either side of the entrance.
The one on the right
sold sweets and
drinks while the
other was
closed in
my time.

Top: A reconstruction of the first revue cover. Above: Actual program remnant. Note artist 14. Two small dressing rooms were built
in 1940. An internal Health Department comment was that the dressing room space will be adequate because although 30 acts are
billed, a performer may appear up to five times under a different name.
Source: Public Records Office/Melb. Archives Centre.

CINEMARECORD 2002 11