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The program proceeded with the longer-run policy in April 1938. The
State’s own newsreel, Lanterman’s new era got away to a happy start with
organ novelty ‘Sense and Nonsense’, Deanna Durbin in 100 Men and a Girl
the Buster Keaton comedy The supported by a stage presentation
Cameraman, then the first edition of featuring Bert Howell and the State
the stage entertainment. For this the Orchestra plus a Tivoli stage act.
orchestra was joined by the permanent By 1961 television had made
ballet of ten dancers, the chorus, and serious inroads into the movies’
Deno and Rochelle in their ‘World traditional audiences. Very large
Famous Apache Dance.’ The stage cinemas were no longer needed so
production was by O.G. Perry and Greater Union boldly twinned the
Jennie Brenan created the dances. State, the first conversion of this type
Table Talk declared Deno and Rochelle in the world. The stalls, with their side
to be the highlight of the night. walls brought inward and the
After interval came the feature proscenium and stage left intact,
film, Clara Bow in Paramount’s The became the Forum. The circle, also
Fleet’s In – not one of her best, but with the walls moved inward and the
sufficient for the occasion. To finish screen placed just forward of a new
came the Exit March, ‘The Spirit of wall built from the circle line to the
As the lights dimmed on that long- Melbourne’, written by Rosebrook and ceiling, became the Rapallo. The
ago first night, the packed house ‘dedicated to the patrons of the State.’ architects for the alterations, Cowper,
cheered the appearance of the 30- The Fleet’s In was silent. It wasn’t Murphy and Associates, retained the
member State orchestra under the long before the State was wired for style and fabric of the original theatre.
direction of the American Leon sound. On 6 April 1929 the theatre The Forum opened at Easter 1962
Rosebrook. The overture was presented ‘the initial 100 percent All- with Flower Drum Song; the Rapallo
Tchaikovsky’s ‘Marche Slav’ for Talkie production’ The Doctor’s 18 months later, with Charade.
which the orchestra was supplemented Secret. Two weeks later patrons could In 1981 the theatres were
by the mighty Wurlitzer with Frank see and hear Rin-Tin-Tin in Land of refurbished and re-opened as Forum I
Lanterman – also brought from the the Silver Fox. and Forum II. Even this was not
U.S.A. for the occasion – and During those first years the films enough to revive the fortunes of a
Australian organist Renee Lees at the and stage presentations changed theatre in a now unfashionable part of
smaller console. weekly. The State switched to a town. Bourke Street and environs was

Arnold Coleman (pictured) replaced Frank Lanterman as senior organist. The theatre Wurlitzer was featured in a weekly radio program
broadcast by 3LO. A small microphone can be seen top left.

26 2003 CINEMARECORD