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THE TOWN HALL AS CINEMA
Clifford Theatres made a specialty
of negotiating with councils to build
town halls that would meld cinema
specifications and civic requirements.
One incentive for a council was the
guarantee of a long-term lease,
ensuring regular use of the building.
Some prime examples were:
Semaphore Town Hall.
Built as the Semaphore Institute in
1884, it was re-built as an Ozone for
the Waterman circuit in 1929 on two
levels to seat 1,100. The foyer is now a
restaurant which does not disguise the
original ornate timber work and plaster
decoration. The circle foyer (closed to
the public) is a stunning baronial space
- a decorative fire-place, panelled
timber walls, bevelled mirror doors and
fanlight- all in original condition.
The auditorium at floor level was
converted into a library in 1994,
accessed via a side entrance. The
balcony is in place, but its stepping has
been removed to make useable space
for library administration.
The ‘Regent influence’ is
pronounced; impressive ivory and beige
decor, with beautiful plaster wall grills,
four to each side-wall over windows,
lead the eye to the distinctive arched
proscenium. All in all, an interesting
conversion to achieve a new public asset,
and not beyond restoration as a theatre.
For the Record.
Some walk-pasts were:
Hindmarsh Town Hall
This impressive building once
included a two level D. Clifford Theatre
seating 2,012 people, in a fusion of
palace style with Art Deco. The theatre
section never re-opened after a fire. The
building was enlarged in 2000 to
become the Education Development
Centre, which includes a gallery and
function spaces.

From the top: Semaphore hall 2003. The
library entrance to the former auditorium
is under the portico in the side street.
The original cinema interior, now a library.
Time travel. The plaque on the engine
explains date and the celebration. At this
time the cinema was operating from the
balcony only. Image courtesy Colin Flint.
The former Hindmarsh Town hall (2003)
once housed an impressive cinema.

28 2004 CINEMARECORD