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Opening night on Tuesday 2 April
1957 was a gala charity affair. All
tickets quickly sold at one pound per
car ($2) and the proceeds went to
Legacy. The official opening was
performed by the Shire President,
Councillor S. Phillips. The program
was an English comedy Made in
Heaven with David Tomlinson and
Petula Clark, plus featurettes. The
projection team consisted of Perce
Woodyard and his capable assistant
Fred Sandall. Fred recalls the ‘buzz’ of
the field packed with cars and people,
and those many happy memories
ensured that he was in the audience on
closing night.
For many months the program
Twilight Drive-In, Shepparton commenced with the National Anthem
followed by a ninety-second
by Michael Purden
instructional film:
If this is your first visit to a Drive-in
When a site for the drive-in theatre amps burning rate. The sound system
Theatre, this is how the system
was being considered, Syd McMillan - consisted of a bank of 4x400 watt valve
operates. Put the speaker into the car
one of the two sons of Walter Nathaniel amplifiers (807s) providing power to
and place in a convenient position, the
McMillan, who at the time operated the the 10 rows of in-car speakers, mounted
red knob is your volume control. The
Lyric and Astor cinemas in two to a post. Installation was carried
switch above operates a red light which
Shepparton, the Plaza Kyabram and the out by R.C.A. engineer Ron Haymes.
will call a special attendant to your car.
Memorial Pictures in Benalla - At the rear of the projection room
remembered that the Canadian Hell the standby generating plant was a He will supply you with coffee,
Drivers put on a show in a 13 ac. Thornycroft 6-cylinder diesel double- sandwiches, or any other refreshments
paddock (5.2 ha.) south of the town on decker bus motor, coupled to a 3phase that you may require during the
the Goulburn Valley Highway, past the generator, previously in use at the performance. Do not attempt to
Broken River. He also recalled that Ardmona cannery. disconnect or interfere with your
during the devastating floods of the An innovative feature in its day was speaker, as a red light will flick on our
1950s, that piece of land stayed high a switch on the front of the speaker. control panel indicating the car
and dry. So the land was purchased Give it a flick and a light on the top of concerned. At the conclusion of the
from Mr. Jim Trevaskis at 500 pounds the speaker poles junction box alerted a performance before driving away, place
per acre ($2,470 per ha.), and an concession boy to come to the car, take your speaker on the stand, drive
announcement regarding the building of the order and bring back something to forward and to the left, which leads to
a drive-in for Shepparton was made in eat or drink. The cafeteria building was the exit. Good evening ladies and
September of 1956. set further back, and was leased at the gentlemen girls and boys, we trust you
The design included spaces for 400 time by V.G. Pinner. will enjoy the show, and make full use
cars (later increased to 635 cars). The of our amenities.
Twilight Drive-In’s first manager
screen size was 80 ft. wide by 61ft. high,
was Eddie O`Donnell who had been
with a picture area of 80ft. x 37ft.
manager of the Plaza Kyabram.
(24.4m. x 11.3 m.), considered at the
Carhops Jack Tuckett and Bob Heath
time to be one of the largest in Australia.
were on duty from opening night and
The projection room was a separate
retired after 26 years of service. After
building to the cafeteria with a distance
about eighteen months the drive-in was
to the screen of 320ft. (98m.) The
so popular that an extra row of 84
projection equipment was from R.C.A.,
speakers were added to the rear,
with Super Standard projection heads
bringing the total to 635 cars.
made by Fitton of The Standard
Funny incidents over the years
Projector Company of Edwardstown
include:
South Australia, fitted onto R.C.A.
sound-heads. Super Standard projectors An irate gentleman arrived at the
were used in most early drive-ins, and ticket box in a taxi, and explained that
gave many years of service. The carbon when he arrived home, his kids told
arc lamps were B.T.H. (British Top: The site in the late 1960s. him that mum had gone to the drive-in
Thompson Houston) of Rugby, Above: An original RCA speaker. The with his best mate. He insisted that he
England. Carbon rods were 10mm switch was to signal for service from the wanted to go for a walk to find them.
positive, and 8mm negative, set at 110 concessions counter. He was refused entry and a message
was sent over the intercom to the
14 2005 CINEMARECORD