Page 14 - CR

In 1951 the Waterman’s Company
controlling its Sunraysia interests Then...
became known as Pioneer Theatres Ltd.
This was a subsidiary company of
Hoyts Theatres. The Hoyts Theatres
interests in the Sunraysia area were
aligned to their South Australian rather
than its Victorian operations.
Again in 1952 alterations were
made to reduce the size of the left hand
shop and improve toilet facilities.
The Waterman’s submitted new
plans to the HD, through the
architectural firm of J W Roberts &
Assoc. (of Sydney), on 23 September
1952. This time the shop was not
included. These plans were approved
March 27th 1953 and the renovations
were completed.
In December 2004 the entire building
Prior to the conversion to
was converted into a boutique brewery
CinemaScope the assessment at the
and restaurant known as the Mildura
time noted that 68 seats would be lost.
Brewery Pub. All that is to be seen of the
The projection equipment was noted as
old theatre is the 1920s auditorium walls,
Simplex with arc lamps and
roof and the 1937 frontage.
Raycophone sound.
References:
Further, in 1957 plans were
Public Records Office: File PB127 Unit 26
approved to incorporate the right-hand
Additional material:
shop into the theatre foyer to expand
Colin Flint – Adelaide;
the sweets counter.
Sunraysia Daily - Advertising feature pp7-9,
Two drive-in theatres were also 20 April, 1937;
added to the competitive mix in 1958 Glen Miller – Mildura Historical Society.
and 1963 with Hoyts 16th Street, and Photos:
the newer Crossroads. Paramount / Wonderland
In November 1965 television Frontage; Mildura Historical Society.
arrived in the Sunraysia area and there Interior; (stage to projection) Mildura
was an immediate decline in patronage Historical Society.
at the hard-top theatres. Pioneer Astor Exterior – Courtesy Chis Mitchell.
Interior – “Sunburst Proscenium” – CATHS
Theatres advised the HD of the closure
Collection.
of the Astor Theatre effective from
Other Photos from the Kevin Adams
Saturday 24th of June 1967. The final
Collection.
day program was A Day of Fury and
For Love of Money at a 1.30pm
matinee. Now...
At the final evening session Alvarez
Kelly and Accused of Murder were
screened. In Mildura, Hoyts indoor
theatre interests were centred on the
Ozone Theatre.
The Astor was quickly sold to the
neighboring Grand Hotel. The
auditorium was soon converted into a
garage and the foyer became retail
premises. The unused first-floor “foyer
space” areas were proposed to be
converted into apartments, although it
is not known if this occurred.

14 2011 CINEMARECORD