Page 5 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Local Rules In the Bio-Box.
Fish and chips warming on the
rectifier in the bio-box (Circle Preston
CR 62) wasn’t all that unusual in a
suburban theatre, although strictly
taboo, as was smoking. The Health
Department inspector could drop in any
time for a spot check, but as many
operators liked a smoke, they would
either burn their cigarette butts in the
lamp-house or bury them in the sand
bucket.
When I was assistant at the Circle
Essendon, the operator, Harry Grattan
Jnr. enjoyed Dim Sims, and so did one
of the ushers. At least once a week the
usher would go to the nearby Chinese
café, bring the hot bundle to the theatre
and place them on top of the projector
lamp-house to keep them warm. The The interior of the Kings (1904). A bio-box at rear of the Upper Circle meant severe
smell of Dim Sims mixed with arc- parallax for the screen image. Photo by Brian Pearson.
lamp ozone fumes was enough to churn
QUEENSLAND - Steve Maggs
my stomach and put me off them for •
•• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • • •
years. •• NEWSREEL • New Cinema on Gold Coast
Harry had a bio-box story in which • •• Birch Carroll and Coyle closed their
the joke was on him. One of his •• CINEMA, THEATRE & • existing complex at Robina to open a
new one with Gold Class, VMax
assistants was a little bit odd, or maybe •
•
••
screens and 3D. There are 11 cinemas
just adventuresome. Eventually he left SHOWBUSINESS NEWS •
••
the business and Harry lost touch with • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • in the complex, said to be all digital
with no 35mm.
him. One Saturday night some months
later, Harry heard the bio-door open and NATIONAL Heritage Listing For Regent?
was startled to see an aboriginal, naked Hearing Loops Make Cinemas Submissions to have Cinema 1
except for a lap-lap. The ‘aboriginal’ More User-Friendly given Heritage Listing closed early
was the former assistant, with a Film fans with impaired hearing and July. This cinema has plaster-work
completely blackened body. He had vision will welcome a Federal from the original auditorium. No
travelled out from the city on the tram. Government initiative, through the decision has been given.
Harry wondered how this apparition Department of Health and Ageing, to Gympie Loses Movies
managed to avoid being put off the fund the installation of special
tram, let alone allowed into the theatre! equipment in selected cinemas. Owner of the Wonga Drive-in and
the renovated Sovereign Cinemas,
Ross King, Essendon The initial choice of cinemas is
Gary King, has closed both venues.
skewed towards regional centres and
Tilted Screen At the Kings A run of bad weather finished the
smaller exhibitors, probably because
Why Cut an Aperture? in CR62 drive-in, but Mr King blamed the
the major exhibitors have already fitted
reminded me of another theatre-turned- cinema’s demise on the town habit of
out some important locations with
cinema in Melbourne which probably driving to Noosa to see their films.
similar equipment. The roll-out began
also needed some aperture adjustment.
in May and concludes in July. It Mr King lamented in an interview
I was backstage at the Kings Russell
comprises audio description equipment, that he’d had to take work in the Cobar
Street one Sunday afternoon in the mid-
captioning and headsets. gold mines to ‘subsidise the right of
1940s, prior to the community singing.
Northern Territory: Darwin - CMax, Gympie people to go to the movies.’
The screen, on a moveable frame, was
Palmerston
tilted upwards to minimize parallax. NSW - Ian Hanson
Queensland: BigScreen Cinemas,
The Kings had a very deep stage Cinema Openings:
Hervey Bay
and the screen was only a quarter of the Narellan, west of Campbelltown
way back from the proscenium arch. NSW: AMC Tweed Heads, An eight-screen complex opened in
There was nothing behind it; no stored Sydney - Palace Verona
late 2008. It is run by an independent
props, nothing. I think there was another Canberra: Dendy
exhibitor from Sydney’s northern
screen which descended in front of the Victoria: Melb. - Palace Nova Carlton, beaches.
stage curtain for community singing. Sale Cinema and Deakin Cinemas,
Issue 62 also had great pictures of Mildura Newcastle city
A new cinema complex is planned
the Circle Preston, which brought back Tasmania: C Max, Devonport
happy memories. I attended this theatre SA: Adelaide - Nova East End, as part of a major shopping centre
quite a few times with a school friend. Whyalla Twin Cinemas development.
Don McGregor, Rye WA: Grand Cinemas, Bunbury
CINEMARECORD 2009 5