Page 21 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Prime Minister Robert Gordon Fadden, then returned to the stage and
Menzies would learn of Britain’s informed the audience of Britain’s
fateful declaration. declaration of war.
The exact sequence of events that No story from the screen was ever
evening is uncertain. The Canterbury going to match the drama of that first
Courier reported that Mr. Menzies was night. The inaugural program is not
in attendance on the opening night of known. The theatre first advertised in
the Surrey and that he informed the the Independent Theatres column three
audience of the declaration of war months later on Saturday 2 December
before returning to the city for his 1939. The film was The Citadel with
official radio broadcast. Robert Donat.
Part-owner and Manager of the The theatre settled into years of
Surrey, Bob Mitchell, told the story profitable, uneventful running. In June
with more flair. Mitchell claimed that 1941, the Department of Public Health
Monday morning’s news. The Surrey
the telephone rang during the Prime approved changes that involved taking
audience heard it first hand.
Minister’s speech and that he over one of the shops and making it
Source: The Argus 4 September
(Mitchell) answered it in the foyer. The into a lolly shop with foyer access. The
1939
unidentified caller asked to speak to local branch of the Red Cross used the
Mr. Menzies. Mitchell told him that Surrey as venue for at least one
Seating was arranged in the
this was not possible as the Prime Sunday afternoon fund-raiser for
conventional tri-segment pattern.
Minister was in the midst of a Prisoners-of-War. Billed as Live Wire
Dimensions of the stage were 35 feet
captivating speech. “You tell him it is Entertainment, the show was compered
by 9 ft. 6 inches. Access to the biobox
Arthur Fadden on the phone. I think he by 3DB’s Dick Cranbourne on 1
and re-wind room was via a steep
will want to answer,” came the August 1943. Power restrictions meant
staircase in the managers office. A
staccato response. Mitchell maintained that the heating bars of the Hecla
gangway (right side) to a ladder was an
that he held his nerve and calmly Coal-A-Glow radiator in the foyer
emergency exit from the box. Ladies
advised Mr. Fadden that he was not could not be used yet patrons
conveniences were situated at the rear
about to interrupt a speech by the invariably made their way to the fake
of the auditorium. Gentleman had to
nation’s pre-eminent dignitary for ‘coals’ lit by a red globe.
saunter to a door left side of the stage.
anyone! Various minor improvements
On 3rd September 1939, Britain’s
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain According to Bob Mitchell, Arthur continued during the forties propelled
declared war against Germany in Fadden (Deputy PM and Treasurer) by health and safety considerations. In
response to the German invasion of had to bide his time until the PM had 1947 foyer space for prams was
Poland. The fledgling Surrey Theatre completed his address. Mr. Menzies approved. In 1949, locks to the
was to be the venue within which duly came to the phone, conferred with projection room were altered to enable

Foyer view looking to Union Road. Access to the sweet shop from the foyer was an improvement made in 1941.
Source: State Library of Victoria, Picture Collection
CINEMARECORD 2002 21