Page 27 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

The programs we received were for
us alone, we did not share with any
other theatre. An exception was for A
Queen is Crowned (1953) when we
switched with the Civic Ashburton
(also a Selleck house.) In this way we
got the film earlier while it was
topical. We even ran an intermediate
session on the Saturday.
I had the opportunity of learning a
little, but only a little, of the work
entailed in putting on a stage show.
The Australian Theatre Movement
booked the hall on several occasions in
1948, and I was rostered for duty
connected with lighting and curtains.
Arcs with motor feed were a big
step forward for us. The old screen
was also replaced. It had been painted
at some time and the sound holes were
clogged except where they had been
pricked clean in front of the speaker.
Rips in the back were held together by
gummed paper. What a mess! The
good second hand screen ‘floated’ 600
mm out from the black drapes. It all
hung from door tracks, the speaker box
as well, and was positioned by pulling
ropes. I remember re-wiring the
projectors while the show was in
progress - fitting the work into 16 or
17 minutes at a time while the other
projector was running -and pulling
new wiring through the steel conduit
by the old wires, on the main sound
run from the projection room, over the Top: Entrance and external
top of the auditorium to the back of the stairs to bio box. A new front
stage, without a hiccup in the show. was added in 1960. See photo
The Selleck and Ward group had CinemaRecord 23.
intended to build a new theatre in the Centre: Ticket window and
main street but post-war restrictions on auditorium entrance. The
theatre construction put this idea on Coming Attractions in 1952
hold. In 1954 the shares were sold to were Pat and Mike (Tracy and
Roy Farmer of Sandringham. He later Hepburn) and The Woman in
closed the show and took all the Question (Jean Kent). Next
equipment to the hall at Boronia. Week was a re-issue of Virginia
Maurie Isaac set things going again (1941) with Madeleine Carroll
with 35mm film, first under the name and Fred MacMurray.
Argosy and then as the Capri. I Prams are not to be left in the
worked for Maurie there during the lobby and bookings can be
seventies and rounded out a long made at Kemp’s Milk Bar four
association with the theatre. ★ doors down.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Argosy galleon was copied from a Left: The stage from the bio
slide provided by Mr. Ken Tulloch for box. The orchestra pit was a
his article in CinemaRecord 23. The reminder of the multi- purpose
photos were supplied by Mr. Mel origins of the hall.
Elliott.

CINEMARECORD 2002 27