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Best Seat In James McEwan & Co., the big hardware Swap Meet
supplier and merged the two companies.
The House contract for new seats as part of the Success
McLean Bros. & Rigg won the

refurbishment of the Theatre Royal,
When former cinema manager and Bourke Street in 1885. Although there is The CATHS Swap Meet held in the
projectionist Mel Elliott was helping a no proof, the quality of the workmanship scout hall opposite the Seddon train
friend do a backyard clean up and saw suggests that this seat was one of them. station (one stop north of Yarraville) is
a broken seat, he instinctively knew he The Theatre Royal was probably an annual institution. This year it was
was in the right place at the right time. Melbourne’s most popular playhouse at held on Sunday 29 July.
The seat was destined for the tip, but the beginning of the 20th century.
Mel had other ideas. After weeks of work, Mel presented
Mel took the cast iron seat home for the fully restored seat to CATHS at the
close examination. It was in two pieces. Sun Yarraville on 24 June. In gleaming
The lugs to support the tipping action gold with red upholstery it is to go on
were broken, but a little welding could permanent display at the Prahran
fix this. He stripped away the seat Mechanics Institute, as soon as the
covering and found a different fabric, windows there have been tinted for UV
possibly the original. This could be light protection. In a sense the chair has
duplicated. come full circle: Thomas Luxton was
also an early Chairman of the
Prahran Mechanics Institute. Secretary Mike surveys what’s on offer.
The seat is heavy - more Members have an hour to set up
than 20kg. No wonder those old their stands, eye off each others
theatres had a forest of posts to merchandise and make on the spot sales
support the balconies! ★ before the doors are opened to the
public and bargain madness ensues.
Or that is what everyone selling
hopes for. On display are projectors,
splicers, rewind benches, 16mm
features, shorts, books, videos and
DVDS, all manner of cinema and
theatre paraphanalia. At the end of the
day most buyers and sellers seem to go
home happy.
Attendance was up on the previous
year. A confusion of tables, a mingling
throng and plenty of noise will always
be ingredients for success.
It’s all over in a few hours. The final
excitement is the auction. Secretary
Clockwise from left:
Mel Elliott presents the chair Mike works the room as auctioneer,
to CATHS at the Sun; knocking down the unsold items to the
highest bidder, many without a reserve.
A plaque explains the chair’s
history; There’s one last chance to bring
home something new: stall holders can
The Theatre Royal 1872.
An elaborate verandah was do a true swap. “Can I have this if you
added later. take that?”
The meeting turned a small profit for
CATHS. Who could ask for more? ★

After stripping layers of paint from
the frame Mel found that it was
originally gold.
He also uncovered the manufacturer’s
name - McLean Bros. & Rigg. An
internet search showed that the firm were
big in the theatre seat business. A later
owner, Thomas Luxton then bought

CINEMARECORD 2007 11