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Letters

Australia
ABN 37 195 378 179
Reg A0020747R
The aims of CATHS are: to record the Film Storage Compromised the film buffs, to whom one viewing of
history of cinemas and theatres, and to The article The Producer’s a film was never enough? A small
promote interest in theatre heritage and Representative In Film Distribution market perhaps, but why not service all
architecture, and other related areas.
(CR59) interested me because I knew of the market?
Patrons: first-hand what could happen when a During the 1950s, when most
Frank Van Straten OAM Peter Smith OAM distributor acted on behalf of another
Philip Brady companies established a 16mm
film company. Division to supply clubs, institutions
Committee: 20th Century-Fox produced some of and private individuals with programs,
President: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870
Vice President: Peter Wolfenden 9744 2570 the most successful and profitable films Fox found that they only had a small
Secretary: Mike Trickett 5278 1986 shown in Australia. By choosing to number of the negatives used to make
Treasurer: Rodney Bendix 9563 2927 release films from other companies Fox the original 35mm release prints.
Shane Moore 9859 5126 were prepared to sacrifice their own Another chance for additional returns
Janetta Green 5439 6405 product, often for films of inferior on earlier films lost.
★ quality. True, many of the British films One company which did value their
Qld. Convenor: distributed by Fox proved to be winners most popular titles was M.G.M. A good
Steve Maggs 0413 805 320 and brought some prestige to a company number of their films from the 1930s
★ seen to be supporting our British cousins, were still playing in cinemas until the
Archivist: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 but in the case of Republic Pictures only 1980s.
Events Co-ordinator: a few titles were of any value. It was director John Ford who
Brian Miller 9557 7446 The major problem for local managed to persuade Herbert J. Yates
Film Buffs Group:
Mike Trickett 5278 1986 distributors, even a big one like Fox, into a production deal from which The
Publications Sales: was that their film vaults were too Quiet Man evolved. Its enormous
James Barrand 03 5229 8339 small for long-term storage. In order to success in Australia more than justified
Membership Secretary: Peter O’Reilly provide space for new releases the Fox's decision to handle the Republic
PO Box 476 Bentleigh Vic. 3204 companies ruthlessly junked films as Pictures product, but it came at a cost.
CinemaRecord Editor:
Ian Smith soon as all contracts were exhausted. William Gray, North Parramatta
iansmith8@bigpond.com Where did this policy leave the Vocaltone Sound
CATHS website: thousands of film lovers interested in
www.caths.org.au retrospective viewings? I was particularly interested in the
Postal address: article on cinema technology (The
PO Box 476, Bentleigh 3204. Revival houses often received Magic Box CR59). I was excited to see
requests for a film, only to discover that
★ the advertisement and picture of the
no prints were available. Even the
Membership Vocaltone sound system. I had video-
Annual membership subscription is $45, biggest stars usually start small, but any recorded this at the former Canowindra
(overseas subscribers $50) and hope of tracing their history on the cinema in 1999. From the four -pin
members receive four copies of screen was soon dashed. valves I thought it must be about
CinemaRecord, notification of events, Having a great enthusiasm for films 1929/30, before eight-pin valves came
and copies of the agenda and minutes myself, I was fortunate to get a position into existence, which was later in the
of all meetings. There is no joining fee. with Fox head office in Sydney, in the 1930s.
Meetings film despatch department. I quickly
Meetings are held on the last Sunday of learned that many of the films I Ross Thorne, Palm Beach
February, April, June, August, October & expected to find in storage were already A Crayfish At The Trocadero
November. junked. I couldn't believe that the The Brian Quigley interview in
Archive
The Archive is located in the Prahran number of titles to be destroyed every CR60 brought back memories. Brian
Mechanics’ Institute, 140 High Street few months was really necessary, and was instrumental in getting me
Prahran, 9510 3393. The Archive will when it was announced that Fox were to projection work at the Capitol, East
be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm distribute Republic Pictures, I knew that End Cinemas and Rivoli. I worked
on the Saturday before each meeting the discard rate would only get worse. opening night at the Dandenong 10
(see above), and at other times by To accommodate the minor titles, multiplex, and the original Southland 8.
appointment with the archivist. good Fox films were just thrown away. Of special interest for me was his
Publications The doctrine was: Why have films mention of Hoyts Trocadero in
Back issues of CinemaRecord, other sitting in the vaults earning only Footscray and the projectionist there,
publications, CDs and videos are occasional money, when you can have Alec Boyce. The ‘Troc’ was my first
available at meetings. Items are also new titles filling contracts? Sound official projection job in 1955 when I
available by mail. Please contact Garry
Saunders on 9812 7227 for details. business sense, but where did it leave was 16 and I found Alec wonderful to

4 2008 CINEMARECORD