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FR OM NITRA TE T O TELEVISION T O R OCKY HORR OR
By Ian Hanson

Those readers on the wrong side of enclosures. One of these picture The improved comfort and protection
forty, may recall the local television gardens was built in the suburb of from the elements was to signal the end
shows produced by HSV-7 in the early Fitzroy (at the corner of George and of open-air shows. Both the Fitzroy and
1960’s. Two remain etched in my mind: Johnston Streets) and another at Clifton Clifton Hill picture gardens closed
Sunnyside Up and Video Village hosted Hill (at the old Clifton Hill cable tram within the next few years.
by Danny Webb. These and many terminus in Queens Parade, near the The new theatre had an uneventful
others were produced in the HSV-7 site of the later Clifton theatre.) life but one situation did force the
teletheatre in Johnson Street Fitzroy, in Health Department to review their rules
premises better known as Hoyts Regent regarding lavatory space. In 1920 a
theatre. Television programs continued complaint was received from Moran
to be produced from the old theatre and Cato, the general store which
until the early 1970’s. backed on to the theatre. As a result of
The site of this activity has had long theatre patrons using the Moran and
links with the entertainment industry: Cato wall as a urinal, porous brickwork
motion picture exhibition, vaudeville, had done the rest and made their
the narrative stage musical and of storage basement un-useable. A plain-
course television. The Johnston Street clothes policeman was sent to watch for
address goes back to the halcyon days offenders and 20 summonses were
when moving pictures were in their Griffiths and Wests’ employed the issued. In court the magistrate
infancy. Back to the days when Fitzroy architect William Rain of Collins Street dismissed the charges of indecent
had gas lit streets and cable trams were Coburg to design their first hard top behaviour, on the grounds that the
the main form of street transport. cinema. The new, purpose built theatre’s conveniences were inadequate
Following the successful premises was to be erected in Johnston and “the calling must be obeyed.” This
demonstration of projected movies at Street, Fitzroy and was to be called the case was something of a turning point
the old Melbourne Opera House in Solway. The plan showed two lock-up for public building regulations. A
1896, the popularity of further shops with the entrance to the theatre comment on the Health file reads,
screenings confirmed the business located between them in a typical ‘Proposals for large picture theatres are
possibilities for this novelty. Within ten Edwardian style. The auditorium was to before the Board now with remarkable
years several small circuits screening be 80 feet in length (24m) and 57 feet frequency, and from time to time show
films in halls or outdoors had appeared wide (17m) on two levels, for a total such a tendency to monopolise the land
in the suburbs of Melbourne and in seating capacity of 1108 (reduced from for seating accomodation and leave
other cities. a first proposal for 1375 persons). The insufficient or unsuitable areas for the
One of the earliest enterprises was bio-box was to be located in the rear of necessary sanitary offices that this
Griffiths and Wests’ Photoplays, the dress circle. Board, in the public interest, (has to
established in about 1907. The first The Solway opened in September enforce stricter rules.)’
shows were fenced off, open-air 1911 and was an immediate success.

18 2004 CINEMARECORD