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Across the top: The unique tripartite stage setting:
(left) backdrop for the band; (above) on the turn;
(right) ready for films.
The first show, simultaneous with the Below: The futuristic ticket box.
Regent Collins Street, was Call Me (This image courtesy of Ross Thorne.)
Madam, followed by Snows of
Kilamanjaro, The White Witch Doctor,
and then one with the Plaza - Titanic.
April of 1954 saw the Padua become
the third installation of Cinemascope in
Victoria - after Regent City and Regent,
South Yarra. The stage and proscenium
proportions were not conducive to
housing the new format, so the screen
was not large, but the stereophonic sound
system was one of the best, thanks to the
acoustics of the auditorium.
Unfortunately CinemaScope meant
the end of the revolving stage and the
classy house presentations.
The Padua also lost its Simultaneous
with City status, as did some other
theatres. The Regent South Yarra
replaced the Windsor, and Barkly
Someone showed a bit of imagination The theatre then began screening Greek
Footscray replaced the Trocadero.
in 1956 when the streamlined ticket box films, until it burned down (twice).
The Broadway Camberwell
in the centre of the foyer - often I would like to acknowledge Mr.
retained its elevated position in this
described as a futuristic speed boat - was Bill Burr, who was Padua manager
new hierarchy, and the Regent
allowed to double as a whale, for a foyer during my pageboy days, the late Mr.
Thornbury was added to the list.
display for Moby Dick. Keith Calder, a projectionist and dear
Some of these theatres had larger
The ticket box eventually made way friend, who taught me everything about
screens than the Padua, and in the first
for a candy bar. It was purchased by the style in film presentation. I was later
wave of conversions it was rare for
City of Nunawading, which means that his assistant in the projection box at
Hoyts to bring a screen forward of the
it might still exist, either in a public Hoyts Victory St. Kilda.
proscenium.
building, or if its been moved again, in Mr. Jack Wran was manager during
My career in the projection box at someone’s house. my projection days at the Padua.
Padua commenced in September 1954.
The candy shops on both sides of Standing in the foyer as pageboy
In early 1956 the theatre underwent
the main entrance doors, and the tray one night, the circuit supervisor, Alan
renovation, when all original light
boys were operated by the Shaw family. McDowell, approached me and said,
fittings were replaced by what Hoyts
In 1956 Hoyts took control of this “Boy! Pages do not chew gum in the
had determined would be the new
sideline. This was when they replaced foyer of Padua!” ★
standard ceiling fitting - a plaster frame
the ticket box with a candy bar.
supporting upturned globes - and the For more about this distinctive
Hoyts closed the Padua, but all was
auditorium walls were given the white- theatre see Cinemas of Australia via
not lost. With new owners, and a name
wash treatment. USA, by Ross Thorne, pages 246 -248.
change to Metropolitan it re-opened
While the Padua was still a very Brunswick Padua by Les Tod, Kino
with Cecil B. DeMille’s, The Ten
nice theatre, I personally felt it had lost No.32.
Commandments, spoken in Italian.
character and style.
22 2006 CINEMARECORD