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The Barton Town Hall, seating
1959 on two levels. The tiled overhang
was reminiscent of Hoyts New Malvern
(Melb.)
Norwood Town Hall.
This massive hall, near Hoyts
multiplex, had the cinema interior re-
worked as an 800 seat Arts Centre and
reopened in 1990.
Woodville Town Hall.
One of the Clifford Theatres from
1926 to 1974, seating 1,402 on two
levels.

BIG IS HOW BEAUTIFUL?
Greater Union Megaplex, Marion
(Greater Union) Marion Shopping
Plaza. Thirty screens.
The scale of this enterprise is truly
big league. Opened in 1997 this is the
world’s largest cinema complex and not
surprisingly, it has the world’s largest
projection room - 240 metres in length
- in which the on-duty projectionist zips
around on an electric scooter, and in the
dim light it is hard to see from one end
to the other.
The total seating capacity is 5676.
The complex is visited by 1.4 million
patrons a year, with Boxing Day the
busiest of all. (Remember, Adelaide has ON THE ROAD AGAIN The original projection box) houses
a population of 1.2 m!) Eighty-six staff Victa Twin Cinemas, two Tokawa [Japanese] projectors,
run the place, down from an initial 130. Victor Harbor Eenon Xebex IV light source and
Half of these people are employed five The art deco moderne façade with a Panalogic Digital sound & platters.
days per week. The décor in one theatre central mini-tower is a 1934 rebuild of Cinema Two has Cinemeccanica
is a tribute to Sydney’s State theatre. an earlier theatre - Griffin Pictures (24 machines.
The equipment is Cinemeccanica November, 1923), National Pictures Cinema Two, 284 seats, was a smart
projectors, Xebex Xenon Supersol N (October, 1926) and Waterman’s conversion. It placed the projection
lamps, GUVT Dolby & qsc digital Ozone (from 1928) – severely damaged room under the original lounge and
sound. Seating statistics are: by a fire that started behind the stage. A between two supporting pillars and
20 screens @ 102 seats with extra leg Hoyts theatre from 1951 – 1970, it was used the original proscenium and
room. sold to South Coast Drive-In that year. auditorium, a reverse of the usual
The theatre was then used for holiday procedure. The staff have direct access
2 screens @ 544 seats.
screenings, and live shows on an from this projection room to the foyer
2 screens @ 436 seats.
enlarged stage. It was sold to Victa candy counter.
2 screens @ 202 seats.
Cinemas in 1995, a property in urgent Victa Cinemas show how
4 screens @ 303 seats.
need of repairs. Twinned in 1998 the dedication and hard work can restore a
The conversion of cinemas 17and current owners, Geoff Stott and son property to a first class venue
18 to a large V-Max screen format, to Gavin have expended much thought, appropriate for a famous holiday resort.
seat 1,000 patrons is under money and effort to restore it as a
consideration. Four cinemas, numbers popular venue. Notes on SA Cinema History:
23, 24, 25 and 26, are to be converted
Double-entry doors lead from a * Waterman Bros theatres were
to Gold Class, two @ 66 seats and two
small outer foyer to the ticket and acquired by Hoyts (SA) in 1951.
@ 33 seats, plus kitchen/catering
sweets bar inside. Twin stairs lead ** The D Clifford Theatres were
facilities. acquired by Greater Union Theatres,
directly to the circle area of Cinema
Manager and guide Andrew One, refurbished with 281 seats from upon the death of Dan Clifford in 1947.
McNicol suggested that this remarkable the Piccadilly, North Adelaide. Ivory
experiment was unlikely to be repeated and cream walls complement red
in Australia. Not surprisingly, this curtains and seats and wine toned
Megaplex has depleted patronage at the carpets. The theatre is air conditioned
GU complex in the unfashionable end in summer. Winter heating is supplied
of Rundle Street. by hot water piped to foot-warmers.

CINEMARECORD 2004 29