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Working a theme: Albury (far left) has the first thrusting façade; for Padua Brunswick it is curved; finally the Ozone Mildura has
two curved towers.

Furthermore, utilisation of these consequence of observations made on a distinctive waterfall Hoyts neon that
modernist styles was viewed as a study tour of modern cinema in Britain. bisected the upper half of the tower
positive rejection of the extravagant Leading Australian architects of the block.
excesses that had preceded the bust, time travelled extensively, bringing Further vertical contrast was
while also reflecting the contemporary back ideas and concepts they observed, provided by three incised bands either
designs increasingly depicted on- including many from Europe, side of this sign, the bands extending
screen. In addition, the need for particularly from the Bauhaus from the first floor to an uppermost
smaller, neighbourhood venues to movement. As a consequence, while horizontal. Within these bands narrow
replace the no-longer economically Australia has a rather eclectic mix of strip windows provided natural light to
viable Palaces sat comfortable with the interwar architectural styles, Bauhaus the upper foyer. Other windows were at
latest design trends. and American Streamline influences the outmost corners of the facia below
In Albury, Hoyts’ new 1164-seat seem to predominate. the first and second bands.
cinema was a wonderful example of Art Architects also needed to listen to At Albury the thrusting tower with
Deco streamlining. Designed by the their client. In an interview in the exquisite brickwork was an idea that
firm Taylor, Soilleux and Overend, Border Morning Mail published on evolved. For the Padua Brunswick,
Hoyts Albury was constructed by T.R. opening-day, Vivian Taylor explained opened two months later, the central
& L. Cockram Pty. Ltd. at a cost of that the new theatre had to suit local tower is curved rather than square.
£30,000 ($60,000). This collaboration custom. “For instance, picture-going Eighteen months later, the Ozone
between architect and builder resulted in folk in these parts favor the circle, Mildura has two curved towers.
seven acclaimed cinemas in Victoria whereas in the city there is a demand Internally, simplicity of design was
between 1936 and 1940. for accommodation in the stalls. So in again the keynote. The dominant
As Gerry Kennedy wrote of the the theatre to be opened this evening decorative element of the spacious
Ozone Mildura, (CinemaRecord 36), all visitors will observe a rather huge ground floor foyer was the terrazzo
of these theatres were design trendsetters, circle capacity compared to the stalls”. floor featuring sweeping curved bands
‘featuring technical excellence in sound As for the bicycle room, “ I have had fanning out from the entry doors,
and vision, combined with luxurious many unorthodox requests in my time, drawing patrons inwards. The centre-
comfort for patrons.’ H. V. Taylor was a but this is the first time I have been most band led directly to the ticket box.
specialist in acoustic treatments and his called upon for a bicycle room. This resembled a ship's prow projecting
cinemas combined streamlined shapes However, that is a little local from a semicircular wall with stepped
with perfect sound. While relatively idiosyncracy that must be encouraged.” cornice. Matching the curving floor
economic in construction, as a group these The exterior of Hoyts Albury was motif were both straight and curving
cinemas were innovative and stylish, each simple yet striking, dominated by a chrome and glass light boxes in the
with some individuality, often expressed projecting tower block. The fortress- ceiling, similar in style to some at
as an idiosyncratic ticket box. like austerity of this central tower was Hoyts Windsor (Melb.)
Many of the ideas incorporated into relieved by horizontally-banded
cinemas by this firm (later H.V. Taylor brickwork. Otherwise there was little, if
and Soilleux) were undoubtedly a any, extraneous decoration, save for the

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