Page 25 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

There has been very little change in
the theatre over these years other than
late in the 1970's when an additional
thrust stage was built allowing the
Theatre to be used by local schools and
groups for concerts and meetings while
not compromising regular theatre
sessions.
Today with heavy seasonal use and
often end of week sessions, the theatre
stands tall in the main street with a few
signs of render crazing to the façade,
while several side wall cracks have been
attended to over the past years as the
building faces the full elements and
vagrancies of the sea from Loutitt Bay. ★

Notes: The writer is indebted to Doug
Stirling (Lorne Historian and son of
Jack Stirling of one of the original
owners) for his contribution and the
several stories that are included in this
article. Addition information on the
Four Cinema Venues of Lorne
1. Open-Air venue opened on the Lorne
foreshore.
2. On flat land near Erskine House not
far from the failed open-air venue, a
small hall for picture shows and
dancing is erected.
3. In the early 1920's a more
comfortable 300 seat two-level theatre
was built. In 1935 an open-air skating
rink was added although it was soon
roofed over and given a spectator
gallery. In the 1950s the old theatre was
rented and operated as a very
successful nightclub called “The Wild
Colonial”. It was later used as a pinball
machine - fun parlour with electric
dodgem cars in a separate building.
4. In 1937 the new Lorne Theatre is
built on Mountjoy Parade taking 9
months to construct.
http://www.psa.org.au/site.php?id=5227
Photographs from the
Kevin Adams Collection

CINEMARECORD 2010 25