Page 7 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Swansea Town Hall is an average
wooden country hall with a bio-box no
longer in use. The hall screens movies
occasionally, according to locals, but
always from portable digital projection
set up within the body of the hall.
The Forum Cinema St Helens is a
newish, single-screen operation seating
75. Owner Andrew Ward also runs an
upholstery business for additional
income. The upholstery business is
booming, while the cinema struggles.
Andrew does it all: selling the tickets
TASMANIA - Brian Mier, Ray Peck,
and confectionary, then projecting.
Cameron Hall
When Brian was there in April the
To an interstate visitor the theatre
cinema was screening five days a week,
and cinema scene looks alive and well.
Tuesday to Saturday, (14 sessions)
Larger regional cinemas such as the
including a Kids’ Club on Saturdays
Metro complex at Burnie and CMax at
from 11am to 1pm.
Devonport were busy, as was the New Albert Hall Shows Its Age
Town Cinemas (five screens) in Honour For A Local Legend
Imagine a crack appearing in the
suburban Hobart. The inner-city scene Latrobe identity John Reisz (above)
balcony of the Melbourne Town Hall
in both Hobart and Launceston was has finally retired at the age of 87. A
and the need to support a section of
also positive. cinema man for most of his working
balcony with a prop! That indignity has
The Theatre Royal Hobart was, as life, with an interruption for war service,
befallen Launceston’s 118-year old
expected, resplendent in all its glory. John worked for Star Theatres at
Albert Hall. The split in the support
The Upper Circle - has wooden, padded Latrobe and Devonport. He ran the last
where the balcony extends along one
bench seats with panelled wood drive-in show at Devonport as well as an
wall became evident during the warm-
backing along each row, reminiscent of electrical business - radio and televison
up for a rock concert, when 80 youths
the chapel in the Model Prison at Port repairs - specialising in public address
were sitting (more likely jumping) in
Arthur. At least at the Royal the systems. On top of that John was so
the seats above.
individual seats weren’t partitioned active in community work that Latrobe
The need for more repairs came on
from one another. Council hosted a special afternoon tea
the heels of news that the vision to
for him in recognition of his many and
secure the hall as northern home to the
varied services to the town.
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra may
be a step closer: Launceston Council Risque Future For A Cinema?
has secured $160,000 of federal Here’s an application unlikely to get
funding towards an upgrade. through council. The former Avalon
In 2007 a $2.8m. plan was launched cinema in Melville Street Hobart has
to upgrade the building over ten years been proposed as the location for a strip
to meet the requirements of the TSO. club. Built in 1890 as a temperance
With problems like a sagging balcony hall, then switching to films, the
this seems to be a case of one step Avalon lasted until 1977, when it was
forward and two back. converted to a white goods store.
What makes this proposal a tough
sell? The building is next door to the
Wesley Uniting Church.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Colin Flint
The Princess Launceston, now part Chelsea Cinema Thrown A Life
of Theatre North, has been through a Line
protracted upgrade to bring it to current Burnside Council, which had
standards for live performance and seemed steadfast in its decision to sell
audience comfort. Effective though this the Kensington Road cinema, has
has been, the Princess (opposite) just reversed the ruling. Instead, the council
doesn’t sparkle like the Theatre Royal, has accepted an offer of $25,000 in
the interior not helped by a dark colour funding from the State Government to
scheme and unimpressive chandelier- help the council retain ownership and
type lights, which don't cast much light. keep it operating as a cinema. Under
However, sight lines and acoustics the agreement the council would have
were good. tp pay back the money it it were to sell
the building within the next ten years.

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