Page 16 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

A couple of side streets along Moseley Street on the
beach side was Kent Street, named for a triple-great
grandfather’s early land holding.
Dr Kent was known for a number of things. Not the least
of these was insisting on the infuriating deviation around his
principal residence at Kent Town just east of the Adelaide
parklands, and thereby the lasting and abominable non-
alignment of Rundle Street in the City and the famous
Norwood Parade through the early village of Norwood.
Nearby on the other side of Moseley Street was Giles
Avenue, including matemal Grandfather’s home, and a few
houses further up Giles Avenue was the home of Irving
Cook of Greater Union and Director of Empire Films. The
late Mr. Cook may not have been the best player at the
A very rare interior of photograph Glenelg’s Palais/Strand/
regular tournaments on Uncle's tennis court at Somerton
Odeon/Village Cinema in its later days with a youthful crowd
Park, a little South of Glenelg, but was certainly erudite
ready for the show to begin. Photo courtesy of Brian Pearson.
company.
Over the back fence from our grandparents a family of
The Strand was a fascinating cinema, despite a rather
four boys named Waterman had taken up residence. Ewen,
dowdy and somewhat musty upstairs foyer. It must be said,
Robbie, Mac and their brother were related to Hugh
however, that on the rare occasions I was taken there in the
Waterman who had started Ozone Theatres, one of the two
company of adults, their manner hinted at an ineffable sense
big chains in Adelaide alongside the late Daniel Clifford’s
of inferiority in finding themselves in these surroundings.
Star cinema circuit.
But they were buying the tickets, and in those days children
At about this time the Star circuit was sold to Greater
were only to be seen, and protestation or enquiry rarely to be
Union and eventually became the Odeon group, while Ozone
entertained.
Theatres were sold to Hoyts.
I was not supposed to know of the allegations that at one
Another early fascination was the small triangle of land a
time a senior figure, dare I say ‘luminary’ of Glenelg
little further along Moseley Street. It was another site of
Cinemas, had “had tickets on” an employee of the Strand.
metal remains, largely concealed by undergrowth rising up
While it may not have been up in lights on the marquee, they
to almost meet the overhanging peppercorns.
reputedly starred for an extended season of post-screening
Little did I know, and I suspect that most residents of
third attractions. Glenelg, although a famous palindrome,
Glenelg would not have known, that it had been the depot of
was not an overly vibrant place in those days; even children
a very short-lived passenger and goods railway in about
could hear the tongues wag.
1880. The rail line had been a shining example of poor
The Strand became the Glenelg Odeon in 1956, was
business planning combined with the land speculation often
refurbished and reopened as the Village Glenelg in 1967,
associated with new rail ventures. It had been intended that
before becoming a shopping arcade of sorts with a new
the trains, presumably in addition to 'opening up land"',
beautifully lit art deco facade.
would carry quarried rock from the southern terminus
Up Jetty Road again, but on the other side, was the now
behind Brighton beach to the Glenelg-Adelaide rail terminus
trebled Glenelg Ozone, built in 1937 with its marvelous twin
at Moseley Square. In summer it would haul eager trainloads
marble staircases. It was here to their perpetually reserved
of beachgoers (from the Glenelg beach, if you don't mind) to
Saturday night lounge seats that the cream of Bay Society
the beaches at Brighton through Somerton.
would repair. It was not unusual during those Saturday night
The most interesting aspect of the predictably ill-fated
screenings to see on the screen, across the dress of the
venture was the route taken by the locomotive-hauled
recumbent heroine, the superimposed message: ‘Would Dr
carriage and Rowan steam railcars.
Stoddart please phone LA0451’.

Left: Glenelg's now closed Ozone/Wallis Cinema Centre 3.
Above: A rare photo of the beach railway from Glenelg to
Brighton.

16 2010 CINEMARECORD