Page 16 - CR

Exploring

Melbourne’s

West

Above: Shane Moore (left) presents a
Organised by Shane Moore and Ross King CATHS Plaque to Matt at the former
Western Theatre.

n Saturday June 18, CATHS Leaving the Western it was only a
Omembers and friends met at short drive across to Moonee Ponds.
Estonian House, formerly the Western We had originally hoped to have access
Theatre, West Brunswick, to begin our to the former Moonee Ponds Town
Western Suburbs Tour. Hall now the Clocktower Performing
Arts Centre, however, as the centre
Shane had prepared a detailed
was sublet for the day we were unable
handout - complete with sample block
to inspect the interior. Thankfully, local
booking tickets. We were greeted by
Councillor, Jan Chantry will be able to
Matt, the centre manager who
Western arrange a full tour of the centre for us
welcomed us to the theatre.
at a later time.
Long-standing CATHS member Mel In the old stalls area, the floor has
Elliot and wife Cynthia were present. been levelled and the stage platform The site of the early 1900s Moonee
Mel, who had commenced his cinema raised, but otherwise the whole theatre Ponds Picture Gardens was also
career at the Western just prior to is relatively intact. One of only a pointed out.
WW2 as well as screening the last film handful remaining as such in the All was not lost as one of our
there in 1960 under the Western Melbourne metropolitan area! visitors on the tour was Alex Bragiola
banner, gave us a personal insight into from the Essendon Historical Society.
At the completion of our inspection,
his time there as assistant operator, Alex kindly gave us access and a
a CATHS certificate and a framed
projectionist and later, manager. tour of the nearby Historical Society
Western Theatre memorabilia sampler
For a time after the theatre closed as were presented to our host. Courthouse museum opposite Queens
the Western it was re-opened as the Park. The park was the first campsite of
Marco Polo Cinema, screening Italian the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition
fare prior to being purchased by the and also used on occasions for open-air
Estonian community for their club biograph shows.
rooms. We then proceeded to Puckle Street
We then inspected the former and the former Moonee Ponds/Moonee
lounge foyer and dress-circle where Picture Theatre, closed as a cinema in
most of the seating remains in situ. 1964 and now in its centenary year.
The Bio-box and upper section of the Currently a bicycle store, the
circle have been removed and management were happy for us to look
Western
converted into meeting rooms. around and take photographs of the
remaining plaster decoration.
Mel Elliot had also worked here as
an assistant operator for a time in 1946
and he related how the complex light
dimmer system made the bio box a
very definite two-man operation.

Western Moonee Ponds

16 2011 CINEMARECORD