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Village Rowville claimed to be The 1970s saw the introduction of Massive complexes were built in the
amongst the first in Australia to offer 'R' certificate films and drive-ins found CBDs of Australia. These cinemas
espresso coffee and open their café that sex and violence meant big business. boasted Dolby stereo sound, plush seats
during the day. Whilst films like Alvin Purple and The and carpets, air-conditioning and
Panoramic Dandenong had a walk- Case of the Smiling Stiffs may have been heating, features lacking in the drive-in.
in section for viewers without cars and popular, this genre alienated much of the Most drive-ins, whilst well kept,
an adjoining special fish grill bar. bread and butter family trade. were now over 20 years old, were
The credit squeeze of the 1960s Families returned during holiday single screen locations and could offer
slowed expansion, but by the mid- times, especially for Disney films and only one session per night, especially
1960s another building boom was on. blockbusters like Grease and Star Wars, following the introduction of daylight
This second generation of drive-ins but for the rest of the year adult fare saving.
displayed a more substantial presence. reigned. They came in their Chargers Drive-ins, whilst past their glory
Buildings were mostly of brick and Toranas, panel vans and utes, drank days, performed reasonably well into
construction in contrast to the often and generally hung out. The drive-in the early 1980s, but storm clouds were
fibro sheet boom-town appearance of was the place to go. ahead. The introduction of the VCR
those rushed to completion to the same Australia by the late 1970s boasted turned the world of the drive-in
sets of RCA turn-key plans of 10 years over 330 drive-ins, with ownership operator upside down. Unlike many of
before. dominated by Village, Hoyts and their hardtop counterparts, drive-ins
Hoyts in this period built perhaps Greater Union, through steady relied on second release product for
Australia's most beautiful drive-ins. construction and acquisition of much of their programming. Often, a
Prominent architects like Sir Roy competing independents during the film ten years old could be relied upon
Grounds, Trevor Evans and Peter previous 20 years. as a support or a filler, when new films
Muller utilised modern designs and By this time new twin hardtop failed or were unavailable.
materials to create significant designs at cinemas and conversions to twin were Drive-ins were still on a one week
Bulleen, Wantirna, and Tamworth and appearing throughout the suburbs and turnaround, and this churned through
later at Altona. major country centres. product faster than it could be

Hoyts Bulleen - later renamed Hoyts Doncaster - was a beautiful site that never quite lived up to expectations. It finished its days
running two night per week.

12 2007 CINEMARECORD