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North AND South..

Drive-In mania strikes

Twice in Dandenong!

ROWVILLE

Formerly known as VILLAGE DANDENONG NORTH

n Melbourne’s outer south-east, by Bryan Power It is important to remember that this
Ithe Village “Rowville” Drive-In occurred in 1956, the year of the
Theatre was the brainchild of Stewart Melbourne Olympics, because with the
Finn whose father Jack was a man who coming of the Games another
had never been afraid to take on new phenomenon was also about to be
business opportunities. launched – television – which would
eventually have a severe impact on
A visit to the new Village Croydon
cinema attendances. However, in early
Drive-In Theatre had impressed 22
1956 the directors were confident of
year-old Stewart and he was able to
the future success of the Rowville
persuade his father that the family’s
Drive-In.
thirty-acre property lying in a triangle
between Stud and Bergins Roads would
This venue would in fact be the
be an ideal site for such a venture.
second drive-in to open in the area, as
Stewart and Jack put their proposal
the independent Dandenong
to Bill Spencer, the managing director of
“Panoramic” on the South Gippsland
the Village Drive-Ins at Essendon and
Highway at Dandenong South opened a
Croydon, and he quickly recognized the
few months earlier in May 1956.
suitability of the location with its
For a time, confusion must have
proximity to Dandenong and Ferntree
been commonplace as the Stud Road
Gully. A new company was established
theatre actually opened and advertised
and Jack and Stewart set about
converting the pasture land to a properly Above: Jack Finn was a bricklayer by as “Village Dandenong” until it was
trade who also started the first Service finally renamed “Rowville” and the
terraced site.
Station in Rowville as well as the Caravan Village company took on the operation
Park and Rowville Tourist Motel. of both theatres.
Building the Theatre
While Stewart and Jack were busy
at the site supervising the shaping of
12,000 cubic yards of crushed rock and
the laying of 20,000 yards of cables to
the 720 individual speakers, the Village
technicians were grappling with the
problem of providing a better screen for
their outdoor theatres.

Left: W.Spencer, Sir George Knox,
Jack and Stewart Finn inspect the
café building prior to opening.

10 2010 CINEMARECORD