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Left: Capitol Melbourne; John Atwell entertains on the organ and right: David Johnston is the accompanist for Kid Stakes.
Images by courtesy of Maurice Austin.

Troubles at Boronia
Knox Council has shut down the
four-screen Regent Cinemas in
Boronia, citing six safety breaches after
an inspection on 18 October 2004.
Manager Dennis McKenna said he
was surprised by the council action.
“They (the council) only need a bit of
building work done. We will launch
again on Boxing Day with a fanfare
event.” (Knox Leader 2 November)
The site has been through a few
incarnations as a film location.
Originally the cement sheet Electra,
the site was rebuilt by Village as a twin
with shops downstairs and the screens
above. Later, Century Cinemas
expanded it to four screens, then
Village took it over again. The building
was empty before re-opening in 2004 The façade of the Lyric theatre in 2004. Some of the original side wall also remains
as the Regent Cinemas. but the foyers and auditorium were demolished to build shops and offices.
Stop Press: A sign on the front
door now advises that the landlord has New Life For the Paramount Shorts
taken possession and the theatre is Wellington (N.Z.) Hoyts Melbourne Central is not
advertised for sale in the window of a Cinema Paramount, the group that due to open now until the second
local real estate office. assumed control of the Paramount quarter of 2005 after extensive fire
theatre in December 2002, has applied damage at the site.
Lyric Bendigo to Go.
for resource consent for a major Readings have opened at West
The National Trust has withdrawn
upgrade of the building. Lakes Adelaide and Rhodes
its objection to a plan by the Bendigo
Bank to demolish the remains of the Built in 1917, the Paramount is Peninsula, Sydney. Both are former
old theatre in Charing Cross to make Wellington's oldest surviving cinema, Andersons developments. Projection
way for a $70m expansion of the bank and possibly now New Zealand’s installations were by Atlab Image and
headquarters. oldest. Sound Technology.
The Paramount architect was Hoyts have taken over operation at
The initial announcement of the
James Bennie, who was again Victoria Gardens, Richmond from the
plan drew community fire, but the fact
contracted for the major upgrade of administrators after a reported rental
that the façade was the only authentic
1926. reduction.
part of the 1914 theatre, weakened any
case for retention. The Paramount was the first Brighton Bay re-opened as four
Public opinion has moved in favor theatre to screen talkies in Wellington screens (two new and two refurbished
of commemorating the existence of the in 1927. It is on the City’s historic cinemas) in time for Christmas 2004.
theatre. The bank has agreed to this, register and with a bit of luck will Further automation of the projection
and a full drawing and photographic make its century. room is planned.
record will be part of the
commemoration.

6 2005 CINEMARECORD