Page 30 - CinemaRecord Cover Section # 45

Tunnel Vision tunnel story came when the Princess
The chance to prove or disprove the
underwent modernisation in the
Some years ago a television eighties. The reconstruction and
documentary reconstructed the details enlargement of the stage area at the
of Custer’s Last Stand. The truth was Princess was the archeological
nothing like the legend. At the opportunity of a lifetime. Alas, no
conclusion, the narrator conceded that tunnel was found.
the public wanted to hold to one image Mrs. Elaine Marriner explained for
– a defiant Errol Flynn in his fringed CinemaRecord the probable origin of
jacket, cool to the end. the story. A former dancer at the two
For a story to become legend, there theatres told how the troupe, after
must be a degree of plausibility, wishful completing their routine at the
thinking or romance in the popular Princess, would descend a staircase,
version. And so it is with the legend of walk under the stage to an exit on the
the tunnel connecting the Princess west side, walk along a covered path
theatre to the Palace/Metro Bourke and in through a rear door to the
Street (or what is now the Metro night Palace. It was dim under the stage and
club). perhaps some people considered it to be
The orientation of the two buildings a tunnel. The exact walkway from the
means that their stage walls almost Princess is now buried beneath
touch. This proximity, and their shared extensions to the theatre.
history of control by the Fuller How close can you go? The east wall of To true believers though, the
Brothers, make an all-weather access the Metro Bourke Street (left) runs excavation work just wasn’t thorough
point seem very logical, a convenient parallel to the west wall of the Princess, enough. Obviously the tunnel still
way to share scenery, props and people. Spring Street. awaits discovery. – I.S.

Separate * Quoted in Australian Melodrama, (80
Years of Popular Theatre), by Eric
Irvin. REEL DEALS
Tables Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1981
(page 104).
KEEPING FILM
By the 1920s, live theatre in the Opposite: Entrance to the Plaza COLLECTORS IN TOUCH
major cities of the world, including ballroom viewed from the basement foyer,
Sydney and Melbourne, was struggling after restoration. ENQUIRIES:
to compete with cinema. It was a tussle Back Cover: Foyer of the Princess MIKE TRICKETT
seemingly lost to talking pictures. theatre. Building magazine ran a similar 25 Fairlie Street
Oscar Asche writing of the London (b&w) photo in the 1920s, to show-off the North Geelong Vic. 3216
theatre scene in 1929 said: alterations by Henry White. Then and now, Phone: AH 03 5278 1986
it’s a stunner.
The cinema and talkie is at present
Fax: 03 5278 3545
in the same position as a well lighted,
Email: filmman@bigpond.net.au
beautifully decorated and appointed
restaurant, where rather inferior food is
served on good china with spotless
napery, glass, and plate.......
The theatre is a rather dilapidated CATHS membership
eating-house, cold and draughty, where
ell-cooked food of the best quality is cards are now being produced by
served on chipped, greasy
crockery......... Security Plastics
What is the situation today? Which
branch of entertainment is serving a For high quality cards for your clubs or society
Babette’s Feast or can say that My
Restaurant Rules? Perhaps much of contact Mike Hayes on (03) 9587 3133.
cinema now is also well prepared food
served in clean, efficient cafeteria
style. - Peter Wolfenden. Special prices for CATHS members.

30 2004 CINEMARECORD