Page 24 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

locksmith and inventor even of vending
machines while often repairing false
teeth.
Jack Anderson died in 1940 and his
partnership share was bought by Albert
Jarratt. The other remaining partner
Jack Stirling died in 1949 leaving
ownership to Albert Jarrett and now
Jack’s son, Doug Stirling.
On Albert Jarrett’s death in 1960,
his sons Lyndon, Mervyn and Geoff
entered into a partnership known as J &
S with Doug Stirling. Ever
entrepreneurial they added the J & S
Steam Laundry on their adjacent land
beside the cinema. While selling the
Laundry to Malcolm hand in 1983 they
also sold the Cinema to Mr Ken Todd

The early day projectionist had to
withstand the intense heat of the
projection box. With the candlepower
carbon arc lamp and highly flammable
nitrate film, it meant that fire blankets
and the now banned Carbon Tetra
Chloride extinguishers were always
close at hand. Fans could not be used
as it could affect the intensity of the
carbon arc and in fact blow the arc
out.
Add to this the many difficulties
they experienced with the continuity of
the often four reels of film that made a
main feature. Film reels came in either
of two sound systems, some with a
Western Electric system and others
with a RCA system. A normal night’s
program would start with a short, a
cartoon, a newsreel and a supporting
movie before a welcome interval to be
followed by the main feature. Not bad in the same year. Today Ken Todd is
value for some 3.5 hours of Some specific ‘touch of art deco’ still the owner but living in Melbourne
entertainment. Local slide advertising features of the Lorne Theatre include while it is managed by Tony Hill who
was under contract through Val Morgan the terrazzo steps and foyer floor that also runs the Apollo Bay Cinema some
and 3KZ who first controlled most lead to the ticket box and adjoining 50kms further down the Great Ocean
screen advertising in the early 40’s. kiosk. A staircase winds to the 200 seat Road.
dress circle and access to the projection
box. Three large flood lights mounted
upon the verandah roof flooded the
façade of the building in the early years
while a neon tube vertical “Lorne
Theatre” sign still identifies the theatre
to the passing traffic.
With three lettable shops built as
part of the Theatre facing Mountjoy
and Grove Streets has assured
additional income, while the Grove
The first film shown at the new Street shop was home to Lorne’s iconic
Lorne Theatre in November 1937 was Mr. Fixit,
Cary Grant playing a cockney con man Les Barker, ‘demobbed’ in the late
and Katherine Hepburn a cross dresser 1940’s and from 1950 for some 50years
in RKO’s film Sylvia Scarlett directed ran his business of all trades, sign
by George Cukor writer, watchmaker, camera repairs,

24 2010 CINEMARECORD