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The Herald report of 16th July
1897, following the show, confirmed
the popularity of the Cinematographe:
“… and we are bound to state that in
the history of the township we have
never seen two larger audiences in the
hall.”
The report went on to detail the
problems of coping with the
“clamouring crowd”, detailed the
program screened and concluded with:
“By special request it has been
arranged that another show will be
given in Narracoorte during the first
week in August.”
Like most large country towns,
Narracoorte played host to many
travelling picture shows and towards Above: The Town Hall adjoins the left side of the Mechanics Institute. 1924 R. King
the end of 1906 there was a great flurry
of activity. For example, in October the
It appears that regular weekly equal share basis, but this was only
town was entertained by J&N Tait’s
shows started when World Pictures, possible if a new projectionist could be
“Living London Show”. This included
managed by H. Baldock opened on found. Mr. A.C. Farmer, a local man,
a popular film made in 1903 which was
25th April 1913. trained and passed his cinema
very financially rewarding for the Tait
(4, 12) operator’s licence followed by Mr. J.L.
brothers. Taits were followed by This show changed name about a
(5) Thomson, thus enabling Austral
Dan Barry’s “Wonder Show” and on year later to Premier Pictures which
the 9th and 10th of November, the seems to have coincided with a move to Pictures to resume and continue
famous Corricks with “Leonard’s the newly built 700-seat Institute Hall screenings. In 1931, when management
(6) of the Institute Hall was taken over by
Beautiful Pictures” brought their next door which opened on 4th April
well travelled show to town. This was a 1914. (It was later known as the Town the Corporation (Town Council), a new
ten member multi-skilled family from Hall, management changing from the partnership enabled continuation of
New Zealand which toured Australia, Institute Trustees to the Corporation in “the pictures” - the Corporation
(1)
India, South East Asia and England. As 1931.) providing the hall, and Dugald (1, 7)
installing sound on film equipment.
well as screening moving pictures, the Dugald Caldwell started to become
family performed on the stage. They involved in movies in Narracoorte at Austral Pictures converted to sound
also made their own short films! There about this time. Caldwell was a very at the time that the Institute hall was
were many other shows over the years interesting man, obviously committed extensively refurbished as the Town
making use of the Institute hall in to the town. His brother, Archibald Hall in late 1931. Some £3000 was
(13)
Narracoorte. Caldwell was the second owner of the spent on the alterations to the hall
Narracoorte Herald, founded 1875, and including the installation of sound-on-
when he died Dugald assumed control film equipment. A week before the
of the paper. Dugald started and grand opening of the new talkies, a
managed Austral Pictures. He was not Farewell to the Silent Pictures
the operator; he employed others for screening was held. Hoot Gibson in
this position’ W. Clarke being his first Smilin’ Guns suitably saw out the
projectionist. However, he certainly silents.
contributed in a very practical way by
accompanying the films on the piano!
Austral Pictures opened from 28th
May 1915 on Wednesday nights at the
Institute Hall, as Premier Pictures were
still screening on the Saturday nights.
By October that year, Austral had
secured the hall for Saturday nights
however they were forced to close for
some time because their operator
responded to “the call of his country”
Above: The Town Hall with the addition
and enlisted. The Institute encouraged of a bio-box above the entrance. C.1910.
Dugald to re-start the pictures on an Left: Naracoorte Herald 2nd Nov. 1906

CINEMARECORD 2010 19