Page 5 - CR

MARION: Greater Union’s CARLTON: The Nova Cinema
application for an extended liquor Complex has opened four new
licence at its Marion Cinema auditoriums. The additional cinemas
Complex has been put on hold. are all digital and this now brings the
The company applied for an original Nova Twin up to a total of 15
extension of its liquor licence to cover screens!
the entire cinema complex - not just the ST.KILDA: The George Cinemas
three Gold Class theatres precinct. will close at the end of September
NORTH ADELAIDE: The when Palace walks away from the
Piccadilly Cinemas will celebrate its under-achieving site.
NORTHCOTE: An extra storey is
70th birthday on Saturday 23rd WESTERN SUBURBS: In
proposed for the conversion of the
October. A charity screening of the Footscray, conversion of the long-
former Plaza Theatre to retail, office
opening film “First Love” will be held derelict Barkly Theatre into modern
and living spaces. The theatre’s
on Sunday 24th. The same charities apartments has finally been completed.
distinctive façade is to remain as a
will benefit as for the gala opening in In nearby Yarraville, the conversion of
reminder of its theatrical past.
1940. the former St. Georges Theatre has
MELBOURNE: It is sad to report
stalled due to lack of funds.
that long-time Roadshow Film identity,
Ian Sands passed away on Friday 30th
July due to heart surgery complications.
Only 56, Ian was much respected
throughout the industry; a moving
memorial service was well attended at
St.Kilda’s Astor Theatre.
WARRNAMBOOL: The fire-
damaged Capitol Cinema Complex
opened to the public on 29th July after
a gala re-opening the night before. The
rebuild also saw the installation of 3D
equipment enabling the cinema to
catch-up on a back-log of titles and re-
VICTORIA open with Avatar, Alice in Wonderland EAST BURWOOD: Reading
and Toy Story 3 as well as a number of Cinemas has pulled the plug on its
DOCKLANDS: Financial issues
2D titles. long-proposed Burwood Development.
with the DFO Shopping Centre at
The 50-acre old brickworks site they
Southbank have put on hold a proposed
purchased in 1996 had permission to
multi-screen Cineplex that was planned
develop into a 17-screen cinema
for a December 2010 opening.
complex of 3000 seats, a 10 lane
NORTHCOTE: An application has bowling alley, gym and child care
been lodged for the de-registration of centre. The site is now valued at a cool
the former Northcote Theatre. An $46.7 million.
objection to the recommendation that
FOREST HILL: The Hoyts
the theatre should NOT be included in
complex closed on Monday 5th July for
the Victorian Heritage Register has
major renovations and will reopen in
been received and a hearing will be
late 2010.
held on November 9th. BELGRAVE: Two additional
SOUTH MELBOURNE:
MELBOURNE CBD: The Palace screens are being added to the rear of “Goodnight Hamer Hall” was the final
Theatre in Bourke Street (Metro/ the Cameo Cinemas and are expected concert on Saturday 3rd July before the
St. James/Apollo) has also NOT been to be open by late December. This will theatre closed for two years and a
recommended for inclusion in the give the Cameo seven indoor cinemas controversial $128 million refurbishment.
Victorian Heritage listing. in addition to their popular outdoor
screen. A public inspection was held the next day
MELBOURNE CBD: The former on the Sunday afternoon.
Hoyts Cinema Centre at 140 Bourke
SOUTH YARRA: The former
Street has been on the market again as
Longford Cinema (closed in 2001) is
one of the city’s largest-ever strata
set to be redeveloped into a five-level,
sales. The three-level health / exercise
36-unit apartment complex with ground-
complex that now occupies the former
floor shops. One-bedroom apartments in
cinemas is on a 15-year lease to Virgin
the high-end redevelopment will start at
Active. The price is $18 million.
$515,000 and will include a car park and
storage room.

CINEMARECORD 2010 5