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For South Pacific Hoyts installed
Philips DP70 projectors with Ashcraft
lamp-houses which stayed in service
throughout the 70 mm era. Some
specialists rate this model of projector
as the finest ever made. Later the lamp-
house was downgraded to BTH Supa
lamps and the screen illumination
suffered. The projectors were taken out
in 1974 or 1975 and went to Western
Australia. They were replaced by a pair
of Kalees, still with the BTH lamps.
Clearly the Esquire was on borrowed
time, as was every single screen theatre
in the city.
Hoyts were right in their 1946
assessment; the history of the Esquire
had earned it the right to be called a
theatre of class, personality and style –
not truly luxurious, but with a hint of One of the Philips DP70 projectors installed for South Pacific. The pipe and tap (lower
the richness of the front-rank theatres, right) supplied water for cooling the lamps and the projector gates.
and offering something a little different.
The Esquire, alone among the city REFERENCES At a Glance
theatres, was able to hold on to the old 1. Chapter 2 Showmen by Diane De Luxe
Collins. In ‘A Centenary of Australian
spirit of cinema; sometimes raw, brash,
Cinema.’ 206 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
uneven and funny, - rarely the best
William Heinemann Australia 1995.
show in town, but never the worst - the Built for: Hoyts Pty. Ltd.
2. The Herald, 28 March 1915
style comfortably egalitarian, getting by Architect & William Pitt, Clements
3. Isadore Brodsky. Sydney Takes The
with no fancy stage work; simply Stage Old Sydney Free Press 1963 Builder: Langford
meeting the needs of an often 4. Elisabeth Kumm in National Trust Opened: Friday 28 March 1915
undemanding public, until finally the News December 1994 Seating: Stalls 1,600, Balcony 400
building was merely the support for 5. Table Talk. 5 May 1921 Projectors: Red Pathe
superior technology. ★ 6. The Herald 24 July 1925 First talkie: 13 July 1929 Submarine –
7. Health Department File Jack Holt
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 7882P1/57/207
Many people provided input for this 8. The Herald 5 Nov. to 14 Nov. 1946
article. We are particularly grateful to Esquire
Gil Whelan, the former manager of the ADDITIONAL READING
Esquire for his generous assistance Ross Thorne. Picture Palace Opened: 15 Nov. 1946 Spanish
with photos and information. Architecture in Australia. Sun Academy Main - Paul Henreid
Neil Judge, Rod Hailey, Don Kennedy, series 1976. pp16-17 and plates 2 and Projectors: Century, WE sound,
Phil O’ Kane, Mike Trickett and 3 Peerless arcs
Peter Wolfenden provided technical Ross Thorne. Cinemas of Australia via Seating: Stalls 1,151, Balcony 425
information. USA. Architecture Department CineStage: 30 Oct. 1957 Around the
Alan Windley offered memories which University of Sydney 1981 pp135-136 World in 80 Days
enriched the story. * Internet users: For the story of Projectors: Gaumont Kalee 21
We thank Dr. Ross Thorne for musical accompaniment at the De Westrex sound Mole
permission to use some photographs. Luxe, Google to Encyclopaedia of Richardson arcs.
The Public Records Office was the Australian Theatre Organs: De Luxe First 70mm: 5 Feb.1959 South Pacific
source of the Health Department file. Theatre. Projectors: Philips DP 70
Final seating: Stalls 836, balcony 380
Closed: 31 March 1976
Last films: White Line Fever
Chosen Survivors
Alterations & Bio Box:
Architects: 1927 Albion Walkley
1929 Cedric Ballantyne
1959 R.G. Monsborough
Acoustics, circ1e foyer
1934-36
H.V Taylor, Souilleux &
Overend
Floor rake & toilets 1944
Cowper, Murphy &
Associates
Stage 1957, 1959
R.G. Monsborough

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