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at the stage where we also had to act as
nursemaids! However, you would be
surprised at the way this service is
received and appreciated.
On the opposite side of the rear of
the theater they have a similar room
with about 12 seats which they set
aside for private parties. People having
a dinner party at home, and wanting to
make a film show part of the evening’s
entertainment, can reserve this entire
room for the performance. In this way
they have the pleasure of having their
own crowd together - separate and apart
from the rest of the audience. Should
they have had a little too much to drink,
they, in no way, either by conversation
or actions, disturb the rest of the people
in the theater. This is a popular custom
that might well be incorporated in our
plans throughout this country. The only
addition that might be added would be
to create a private lavatory within the
confines of this room.
Generally throughout Australia you
will find that many theaters are entered
on the mezzanine, or as they call it, the
dress-circle floor. To get to the stalls
(which is the orchestra in our language)
you must go down a flight of stairs. To
get to the balcony you must walk up a
flight of stairs. From this you will see
they try to prevent the people using the
better-class and more-expensive seats
from having to climb stairs.
Most performances throughout
Australia have reserved seats. They run
three shows a day - matinee, 3:30, next
show at 6:30, and the last show at 9
o'clock. Most theaters have usherettes.
The girls are attractive and very well
gowned. Their dresses, shoes, and
stockings are supplied by the
management and are in exceptionally
good taste.
In short, and apart from the fact that The Civic Rundle Street (top), built as the Wondergraph, was the first home of
they have usherettes instead of ushers, Paramount Pictures in Adelaide. By the time of Clement Crystal's visit, Paramount had
it is very difficult to be in many of the moved to the Majestic (above).
typical Australian houses and not
believe that one is actually in Chicago, ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Kansa City, Toledo, or Atlanta. The This paper appeared in the Journal
spirit and operation of the American of the Society of Motion Picture
motion picture theater has reached there Engineers April 1948, Volume 50.
more completely than it has any other CATHS member Gordon Evans, who is
place in the world. also a member of the Society, located
(The paper then discusses the article. It is reprinted by permission
Paramount's involvement with new of the SMPTE.
theatre construction in Cairo, Egypt and
Lima, Peru.)

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