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CA THS VISIT S

and

by Cameron Hall

The contrast could hardly have been
starker. The Kino - refurbished,
expanded and optimistic and Hoyts
Cinema Centre - once an avant-garde
trailblazer, now sadly in its valedictory
season. That was the scenario for 30-
something CATHS enthusiasts who
attended our first cinema inspections for
the year on Saturday 20 March 2004.
The Kino
Space was allocated for two
cinemas when Collins Place was
inaugurated in the late 1970s. However,
no exhibitor was prepared to take up
the challenge until the Kino first
screened on 17th June 1987. A third
screen was added to the Kino in 1993
and then a fourth screen followed
during the 2002 refurbishment.
The 2002 refurbishment represents
by far the most significant
reconfiguration during the theatre’s
short history. Cinema 3 was reduced
from 120 to 93 seats to allow a fourth
cinema of 67 seats to be introduced.
The two largest auditoriums each seat
220 patrons. Pleasingly, all cinemas can
now be accessed from the one foyer
area that is entered through a new main
entrance. Previously Cinema 3 was
accessed through a separate doorway
from within Collins Place.
The stylish foyer is probably the
highlight of the rejuvenation. Various
combinations of carpet and floor tiles
delineate different spaces. A candy bar,
licensed bar and attractive lounge
spaces are accompanied by floral
displays that accentuate elegance.
Doorways can be opened to connect the
foyer to the Zanzibar Bar venue that
can accommodate up to 400 persons.
The original auditoriums (1 and 2)
have not been left behind either. The
1980s blue and orange designs have
been superseded by more contemporary
brown, grey, green and beige. The
screens have been enlarged, but the
curtains removed in the process.
Images from top:
View of the Kino.Dendy foyer;
Inside one of the two larger cinemas;
Cinemas 1 and 2 are similar in size and appointments.

26 2004 CINEMARECORD