Page 36 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Resurrecting My
Local Cinema

by Barrie Wraith

The photo record for many
suburban cinemas is sometimes poor,
inaccessible or non-existent. This
doesn’t mean that a semblance of the
building has to be lost forever. As long
as the place is standing - be it an op-
shop, garage or furniture show-room -
it can be re-imagined.
Here is a reconstruction of the
Rivoli West Preston. The location of
this former theatre is shown in CR62,
in the map on page 12.
The reconstruction was based on a
photo taken by CATHS’ member Rod
Cook in about 1959, soon after the The computer software I used was Notice something missing from my
theatre closed. Arcsoft Photo Studio, which came with re-creation? Yes, the tram stop at the front
The new occupant had bricked-up a basic Canon printer and the program door. It was erased when I took out the
the original entrance and erected the was Windows PowerPoint. bricked-up entrance and was too difficult
business name above the verandah, but It wasn’t hard to find the images I to put back. However, the image is still
telltale signs from the cinema days can needed. Most were from Google accurate; the tram post wasn’t there until
be seen. Photos of radically altered searches - except for the lobby cards on well on in the life of the Rivoli.
buildings would take a lot more work to the shop window left of the entrance. A reconstruction like this is a time
bring back to a cinema likeness. These were DVD covers taken from a consuming process. Most of all, it takes a
I knew this one well; my store catalogue, resized and suitably lot of patience, especially when learning
grandparents ran the milk bar opposite, obscured to avoid detection. to use the programs. At the same time,
serving dixies and wafers during The finished photo was in the original it’s a good way to spend a wet day and
interval. They sold Sennitt’s ice-cream; theatre colours too. remember old times. ★
the Rivoli, Peters.

36 2009 CINEMARECORD