Page 15 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Adelaide theatres which installed
this equipment in 1931 included Dan
Clifford’s Norwood Star and the
Capitol at St. Peters. Clifford used
Benbow equipment in many Star
theatres and in country locations such
as the Lyric Murray Bridge. The first
Victorian theatre to install Shadowtone
was the Star Portland in July 1931. It
was a time of great activity. Invoices
from the Knoxville factory declared
that he was a Manufacturer of Benbow
Biographs, Shadowtone Sound Systems,
High Fidelity Pickup Units and Special
Apparatus and stated that All Classes
of Cine, Theatrical and Sound Work
Executed.
In August 1931 Bill Benbow took
over Tweedvale Pictures at the
Institute hall, and installed sound
equipment.
(Tweedvale would revert to its
original name Loberthal while Bill was
there.) This venture was so successful
that the Institute built a new, 650-seat
hall in 1936-7 and installed his latest
sound equipment. A sign BENBOW
TALKIES was prominently displayed
on the verandah’s edge. This venue
became one of Bill’s favourite theatres,
his family were regulars on Saturday
night for many years.

Projector at the Star Portland, fitted with Shadowtone sound.
The helical gear drive at the top of the white shaft (centre of
picture), synchronised the projector and the turntable below.

Above: The original Loberthal Institute
hall. Benbow Amusements leased the hall
in 1931 when it was Tweedvale
Pictures.

Right: Centennial Hall Loberthal
(1940s) looks a real picture theatre. It
was built next to the original hall on the
strength of the success of Benbow
Talkies.

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