Page 6 - cr58

For its part, the Piccadilly was re- Of interest to CATHS’ visitors on Roadshow Film Distributors was
modelled in 1982 to accommodate two the 2005 tour: Christchurch born in the 1960s, with Greater Union
additional smaller theatres. Between businessman David Henderson is taking a one third holding in the
them, half a dozen recent release reported to have sold the Odeon company.
movies can be seen on any given day. building to an Australian property A circuit of city cinemas was
Cinemagoers prepared to do a little developer who intends to continue the acquired in Melbourne - City Cinemas -
legwork have another option - the art- conversion back to a theatre. to avoid confusion with the drive-ins.
house Cinema Paradiso in the They included the Roma and East End
Northbridge entertainment and dining Reporting by: Steve Maggs Qld., (Bourke Street), Capitol and Swanston
precinct. This stylish venue is a Ian Hanson NSW, David Kilderry (Swanston Street) and Australia
member of the Luna Palace Theatres and Brian Hunt Vic., Ray Peck Tas., (Collins Street) - all prime locations.
stable. Colin Flint SA, Peter Jackson WA Similar outlets were acquired or built in
and David Lascelles and Tony
Suburban Perth is still home to half other capital cities. Roadshow was now
Froude NZ.
a dozen grand deco theatres, most of the Australian outlet for Warner Bros.
them now two-screens. They include product.
the popular Astor in Mount Lawley, the Village City Centre Bourke Street
Windsor in Nedlands, Cygnet at OBITUARIES Melbourne and Village Cinema City in
Como, the Luna (formerly New Roc Kirby George Street Sydney became the
Oxford) at Leederville, Regal Subiaco The founder flagships of a circuit that grew to be the
(now mainly live theatre) and the of Village largest in those cities.
Camelot outdoor at Mosman Park. Roadshow Village Knox City (1988) was the
Corporation, Roc
NEW ZEALAND company’s first multiplex - ten screens
Kirby died at the - built in association with Greater
New Zealand’s Motion Picture
age of 89 on Union/Warners. Over the next 15 years
Distributors Association reports that
Friday 25 Village expanded to be the largest
box office trade for November 2007
January. cinema group outside North America,
was the worst month since 1967.
When Roc’s with screens in some 20 countries.
Christmas and New Year was also a
father George
disaster. Despite this gloom some Roc, along with Graham Burke and
moved the family
venues prosper, some turn to alternative later sons John and Robert, continued
from a South-
uses in the ‘off’ hours while others fade the growth. The Village video arm
Gippsland farm
away. Some examples: became Australia’s largest distributor,
in the 1920s to while radio network Austereo
Still in expansion mode, Reading
settle in Geelong, taking a lease on the dominates the commercial FM market.
are looking at taking over the
closed Wintergarden theatre changed Their theme parks include Sea World,
Downtown, Palmerston North. This is
their lives. After early struggles the Movie World and Outback Adventure.
the only cinema in a vast area and a
family grew a small circuit of cinemas -
location important to distributors. Village entered film production in
Kirby Theatres - mostly on
In Hastings, the former State, Melbourne’s outskirts. the 1970s. They had an immediate hit
which houses the city’s only multiplex with Alvin Purple. A production
After war service Roc played a
(four-screens), is for sale. Reading is partnership with Warner Bros. and
large part in the company. In the 1950s
tipped to buy the building. others is now the lynch pin of the
he took a chance. Company company’s entertainment and media
Lighthouse Cinema Petone is to accountants Bill Spencer and Ted
get a third screen, but the troubled Alexander suggested building a drive- businesses. Hits include The Matrix
Lighthouse Upper Hutt was heading in. It turned out to be a complicated trilogy, Oceans 13, Happy Feet and I
for a mortgagee sale. Film supply and expensive move, but in December Am Legend.
problems and opening of the Ascot 1954 Village Croydon opened its Roc stayed involved to the end,
(four-screens) have taken a toll. gates, only 11 months after the debut of maintaining his office at the Village
Wellington’s Paramount, a large Australia’s first drive-in, Skyline Centre Bourke Street, even after the
auditorium, is leased to a church group Burwood. exhibition arm had relocated to South
Yarra.
on Sunday mornings. ‘Village’ was a name in keeping
SkyCity ten-screen will open with other businesses in Croydon: Roc leaves wife Beatrice and sons
March 2008 at Westfield Mall on Village Baker, Village Grocer etc. Thus Robert and John. He married Beatrice
while on leave in 1942. They worked
Albany’s North Shore. Village Drive-in Theatres was born.
hand in hand on every Village venture,
More boutique cinema and cafes are Croydon was followed by Rowville, true partners for 65 years. Roc
opening. Latest is Lizzy B’s at Kaiapoi, Essendon, Sunshine, Brooklyn and (Roscoe) Kirby changed the face of
a two-screen DVD operation. Reservoir until everyone in Melbourne entertainment in Australia. He was
For sale in Methven: boutique two- lived near a Village (or Hoyts) version. Australia’s last great cinema
screen (16 and 33 seats) cinema in Village had around 40 drive-in screens entrepreneur. - David Kilderry
central location, three years old. under their control by the 1970s.
Offered as a going concern. Methven is
close to the Mt Hutt snowfields. Asking
price is $80,000.

6 2008 CINEMARECORD