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Then in the late 60s I went back to
Hoyts. Every Saturday afternoon after
closing the paint shop where I worked I
would wind-down the week by going to
enjoy the matinee. Upstairs was the
only section open now, run by a
skeleton staff. I would sit in the lounge
with perhaps a dozen people around me.
Now it was mainly Columbia and
Universal films I remember: Midnight
Lace, Mirage, Blindfold, Major Dundee,
Barabbas and Lawrence of Arabia.
With its perfect acoustics and
sightlines and comfortable seating, the
building would have made a great Civic
theatre. It went dark slyly, advertising
that it would close for four days for a
Rotary conference, but it never
reopened. Instead it became
commercial storage space.
For some perverse reason the
exterior at night was spotlit, as if this
might make people forget that the town
had lost something special, letting them
pretend. The truth was, it looked eerie,
a ghost building.
Sometimes I would stand across the
street and look up at this still imposing
and proud structure and feel a pang of
regret and loss for a world gone forever.
I left Albury to live in Melbourne.
While away the building was gutted by
fire. Its replacement was a nondescript
retail outlet with the ironic name
Spotlight. But every time I pass, I see
Hoyts and that beckoning sign with its
running lights. ★
Photo: Maurice Scott
Above and right: Promotion for Can Can (c.1961); the cheapie Rock Around The Clock
Images - Architects sketches for the
(c.1956) probably sold just as many tickets.
opening souvenir program, promotion
for Can Can and foyer view - the
author’s collection.

20 2008 CINEMARECORD