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Vale
Vale

Erwin Rado
Erwin Rado

Theatre
Theatre

By Ross King

Within days of the news that
Melbourne’s iconic Astor had been
saved, another much-loved venue
dimmed its lights for the last time.
The Erwin Rado Theatre was
situated on the ground floor at 211
Johnston Street, Fitzroy, in a formerly
unused section of the offices for the
Melbourne International Film Festival
(MIFF), which relocated there in 1992.
The immediate area surrounding the
‘Rado’ was once home to Fitzroy’s
earliest cinemas - the Star/Lyric, a few
doors further along Johnston Street (the
building is still standing), and the
Fitzroy Picture Gardens opposite.
CATHS member Ross Campbell,
who has had a long association with the
MIFF, saw possibilities in this ground
floor area, previously a workroom of Top: With a decor which
the ADA Swimwear Company. matched mood and
The MIFF had earmarked the space purpose the Rado was
for a screening room, and some basic sometimes compared to
work had been done, including a Parisienne boutique
construction of a partitioned and raised cinema.
platform at one end. Built of concrete Left: I am a camera.
and brick, the acoustics were Manager/operator Ross
deplorable. Cambell amidst a
Ross suggested to the Film Festival pictorial record of films,
Executive Director, Tait Brady, that screen, and Rado
with volunteer help the area could be identities.
made into a useful preview cinema. As
Photos: Theatre sign -
is usually the case, there were no funds
Ross King; Interiors
available for this. Not to be deterred,
(here and p.9) – Ross
Ross approached the many friends of
Campbell
the Melbourne Film Festival, including
politicians, film directors and other
industry luminaries whose careers had
been stimulated by the Festival, seeking
a donation of $100 each.
The response was good, which
allowed for the purchase of building
materials. With volunteer labour and
the expertise of a builder friend, the
theatre began to take shape. Mattresses
affixed to the hard brick walls and
placed out of sight behind heavy red
drapes, made a good acoustical
environment.

8 2008 CINEMARECORD