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Norma Drinan In CR56 Letters p.4 the address of NSW: Wayne Hammond.
In some circles Norma Drinan was contributor Stephen Jones was given as Vic.: John Acott, Helen Chappel,
a Melbourne icon, first as head Hobart. Stephen lives in Geelong. Brian Collinson, Keith Davies,
usherette at the Metro Bourke Street, New Members Paul Davies, Lex De Vries,
and then, when MGM sold their
The CinemaRecord team belatedly Bruce Jurgens* John Koutsoumis,
theatres, at the Bercy and Forum. She
but warmly welcomes the members Mark Heylbut, Marjorie Leighton,
was virtually sold with the furniture by
who joined in 2007. The benefit of a Tatiana Mauri, Bryan Putt,
Metro, who requested GU to retain her
CATHS’ Queensland chapter can be
services. Her iconic stature however, Trevor Rasmussen, William Solomon*
seen in the number of sign -ups from
came about for the wrong reasons. SA: Marty Smith,
there.
Miss Drinan (as she was always International:
Queensland: Harry Barker,
called) was an Australian product of the Marc Zimmermann, Malta
Bert Clements, Regis Danillon,
Hollywood of the thirties to early * A rejoined member
Gale Dalgleish-Barker, Peter Ney,
fifties. This was when floor staff were
chosen for their dress sense, Carole Petersen, Ron Wakenshaw,
deportment and personality. Norma had Arthur Walker, Peter Wickerson,
them all! Sylvia Yates.
Larger and more eye-catching
hairstyles began to appear on booking
clerks and usherettes and Miss Drinan The New: Cineplex Victoria Point Qld.
went well beyond the best of them.
These comments are not in any way
meant to denigrate this wonderful lady,
for I loved her dearly.
Norma’s hair became an object of
hilarity, mostly behind her back,
although not always. MGM moved her
into the box office (which some say had
to be extended to accommodate her
hair), and I have many stories of her
encounters with visiting stars who, like
Gloria Swanson when appearing on
Michael Parkinson with Dame Edna,
could not believe that they were face to
face with someone who knew more
than them about dressing to the hilt. The Old Renewed: Warburton Mechanics Vic.
Interestingly, Norma made sure she was
never photographed.
It was to the credit of both MGM
and GU, that she was (mostly) regarded
with affection. In retirement, she lived
in a terrace house in North Fitzroy with
her sister, who pre-deceased her. The
sad thing was, so I am told, that no one
attended her funeral. This distressed
me, as I certainly would have paid my
respects, had I known.
- Maurice Scott
Maurice was manager of the Metro The Forgotten: Hoyts Cinema City WA
Collins Street and Metro Bourke
Street when they were MGM theatres.
Corrections
Peter Broome identified the 20th
Century Fox representative in the
Capitol staff photo (CR57 p.15). He
was long-time Victorian manager
Arthur Jepson.
In CR 57 p.8 two names were
scrambled. The Manager of the Oatmill
Cinema Mt Gambier is Teena Wastell
and the owner is Shane Fulwood.
Image: Peter Jackson

CINEMARECORD 2008 7