Page 17 - CR

At Adelaide’s modern Mercury
Cinema, Paul and I worked as
projectionists - but when Nova and
Palace announced their proposed
building of Art House Cinemas in the
East End it signaled the end of the
Mercury as a full time Art House
venue. Paul resigned sighting full time
employment with Palace.
Mercury manager Adel Hann said
she would miss “The Tooth Fairy” as
he always was a pleasant member of
staff.
Adel said to me at the last screening
it would be nice to play the Elvis
Finale at Madison Square Garden and I
agreed, but where was I going to get
the soundtrack? Was it ever released on
CD? A mate suggested a CD shop at
Hyde Park, specializing in soundtrack
music and I was in luck.
Bob recalls that at interval Paul intermittently involved with every
showed the slides then with blank tape aspect of running the theatre.
spliced into the tape recorder allowing Accomplished at the piano, he was
just enough time for the trailers to known to play the theatre’s Christie
screen, the curtains then closed and the organ which is a true event and unique
remainder of the soundtrack played, the to the Capri.
lights dimmed and in the instant the
auditorium blacked out, the curtains
parted and the locomotive roared out of
the tunnel and the audience was
instantly reunited with the plot. Paul
knew only film can excite an audience
in such a way, stage shows will never
compete on that level.
Over the years Paul and I constantly
crossed paths, especially at the Capri
On the final day of the Mercury as
Theatre (Goodwood) - the last built by
a full time and permanent ‘Art House’ I
Dan Clifford, but now owned and home
took a photo of Paul at the candy bar /
of the Theatre Organ Society of
box office. Paul then took one of me
Australia (S.A. Division). Paul was not standing proudly near a Simplex
Graham Kenefick served on the
only a committee member, but also projector in the bio box while the
TOSA committee with Paul and when
wrote the “TOSA News” and was credits rolled at the end of the
asked if there was a special showing
screening. I briefly delayed the curtain
that stands out as spectacular Graham
close as the drums rolled & rolled the
said “Paul had his heart in every
curtains closed with curtain lights half
show”!
bright and that GREAT announcement
When Motorfest hired the Glenelg
played: ‘LADIES & GENTLEMEN
Town Hall, owners proudly brought
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING –
along their old amateur 16mm film
THANK YOU & GOODNIGHT’!
with various speeds and sound tracks.
Many years ago in the State
Film Historian, David Donaldson
Theatre Projection Room when Paul
recalls it was quite a challenge, but was
and I only dreamed of becoming
relieved when Paul arrived
projectionists, Paul said to me ‘Old
unannounced with additional projectors
projectionist never die!…. They just
- and “that’s how we got to be friends”.
change over’.
Top: Kingswood Vogue Proscenium.
Left & Above: Goodwood Capri & Organ. Paul Lawrence
Right: Mercury Cinema exterior.
Title Photo of Paul at the Mercury kindly 1945 – 2010
provided by Jeffrey Weare.
Photos courtesy Colin Flint & Kevin Adams. © 2010 J.A. Wheare
CINEMARECORD 2010 17