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The Movie Wonderland

of a Murray River Town

By Gerry Kennedy

MILDURA – VICTORIA: n February 16th 1923 Alex
PARAMOUNT / WONDERLAND (Indoor) OThompson, a Mildura business
ASTOR. man, applied to the Victorian Health
Owners: Paramount / Wonderland – Department (HD) for a permit to build
Alex Thomson & Mildura a picture theatre at 22 Langtree Avenue
Amusement Coy. Ltd; on behalf of The Mildura Amusement
Wonderland – Company Ltd.
M.C. Symonds Attractions; The Company letterhead also
Astor – included the Wonderland (Open-Air)
Thos. H. Houghton Circuit. at 21-23 Langtree Avenue, and the
Waterman Bros. Olympia (hard-top) at 50-58 Orange Revised plans were approved on the
Avenue. 10th of June 1924 for the construction
Pioneer Theatres (Hoyts
Theatres – South Aust). Subsequently sketch plans were of a single-level theatre, which was
submitted to the HD on March 9th built and opened in 1925 named the
Architects: Paramount -
Alex Thompson (Mildura); 1923 that included, in the building Paramount. However, by September
proposal, a two-level auditorium 16th 1925 the theatre was being called
Astor – Cowper, Murphy seating 1511 (stalls 1067 and balcony the Wonderland.
and Appleford;
444), a downstairs projection booth, a In further correspondence to the HD
Builders: Paramount:
shop on each side of the frontage and (5 October 1927) the circuit letter also
Astor: L Manniche. toilets at the rear of the building. included the Majestic Theatre - this
Opened: Paramount / Wonderland A small stage and two dressing rooms was likely to have been the renamed
1925; were included. Olympia.
Astor 20 April, 1937.
Closed: 24 June,1967.
Photographs:
ABOVE: Wonderland Open-Air Theatre.
LEFT: Wonderland Theatre (Hard-Top).
BELOW: The Olympia Theatre/Dance
Palais.

8 2011 CINEMARECORD