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Metro Nightclub Phee Broadway Theatre Paddle Steamer Festival,
Expected to bring more than $7m Castlemaine Open 3-4 April.
when it was auctioned on 28 May, The refurbishment of the Mechanics The House Full sign went up at
CinemaRecord believes that the Institute, which houses a Library and Fred Page’s Crest in Bendigo where
building was passed in at that price and theatre, has transformed an archaic hall archival and recent paddle steamer
that negotiations were continuing. into a modern performance space. The films were the prelude to the real thing.
Opened in 1911, the building was theatre seats 270 and was packed for Perfect weather enhanced the outdoor
known to generations of Melburnians the opening on 18 June. Funded by Mt. breaks and garden BBQ. The night
as a live theatre or cinema - the Palace, Alexander Shire and the State screening was MGM’s Showboat.
St. James and/or Metro Bourke government, the cost of the new Next day Bendigo turned on more
Street. It became a nightclub in 1987. entrance foyer and stage facilities was of its renowned autumn weather for the
For a history of this building see about $1.4m. Some work on the library drive to Echuca and the Murray River
The Fuller Influence page 10. building is still to be completed. cruise on P.S. Emmylou. The on-board
lunch capped off a fine time.
Croydon Ritz Cinemas Open
The Croydon Ritz Cinemas opened
on 25 March. Initially a seventies
Village/Dendy partnership, it became an
independent, was taken over by Hoyts
and is now independent again.
Manager George Alexiunas has
made big improvements and more are
planned. The original theatre was a
prime example of the bare, brown brick
style so popular in the seventies. Now
red curtains cover the walls, there is a
new candy bar, new carpets and seats
and bigger screens. The projectors are
Kinotron from MGS Services. The
promise of screen curtains is something
for patrons to look forward to.

Capital Bendigo Upgrade
The new theatre season opened with
The new entrance to the Phee Broadway in Mechanics Lane.
style at the Capital Bendigo – a
refurbished interior was as much the
attraction as the play. The first upgrade Royal Daylesford
some 10 years ago accentuated the The Theatre Royal,
plaster detailing. The disadvantage of Castlemaine expanded its
this approach was reflection of light franchise at Easter to the
from the stage to the walls. In this Daylesford Town Hall,
update, supervised by Allom Lovell and which temporarily became
Associates, the interior has been the Royal Daylesford.
darkened at the expense of the Screenings of the
decoration. The walls are now a rich Australian film Loves
Indian Red and the proscenium arch Brother, seemed to be well
and all doors are chocolate. supported. The projector
The changes, funded by a was a Chinese portable,
Commonwealth grant of about $2m, placed in the back stalls,
included a new rake to the floor and with the film fed from a
wider seats. Seating capacity is now platter. Padded conference boards were CATHS at the Rex Charlton
485 persons. Not everyone may be in used as a noise shield around the 22-23 May
agreement about the walls, but the new projector. The screen filled the stage A contingent of forty-three
carpet is a winner. An original William space. members, some making their first
Morris design with bold patterns and Any hope that a film venue in the CATHS trip, descended on the eastern
border, the lush carpet covers the main street could be a permanent Wimmera town of Charlton for a
staircase, through the upstairs foyer and fixture must be on hold now that the weekend of film, fun and laughter.
along the aisles. parent, the Theatre Royal Castlemaine Their hosts were Dennis David and
is again for sale by auction. The sale Steve Walsh, proprietors of the Rex
date is Friday 16 July. cinema. The feature film was the Ben
Stiller and Owen Wilson buddy-cop
story Starsky and Hutch, which was
followed by a legendary country supper
and nostalgia reels.
6 2004 CINEMARECORD