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The 1928 work was followed by a
1941 rebuild and sale to Hoyts in 1951.
It was sold to Burnside Council in 1964
but continued under lease to Hoyts until
1971, then Wallis Theatres took over,
renaming it the Chelsea Cinema.
Alan achieved Centenarian status on
27th March, 2011. On Sunday, 17th
April, Geoff, Joy and Gavin Stock of
Victa Cinemas fame (Victor Harbor’s
former Victor/Ozone) entertained a
group of cinema industry friends to
give him a memorable celebration
party.
I have always admired the beautiful There was a display of memorabilia
garden fronting onto Kensington Road of Alan’s association with Victor
on the eastern side of the theatre, but Harbor, followed by a big screen
Alan still laughs at his stupidity in presentation of Hello Dolly in their
establishing it because its central fish Hiline home cinema and another of
pond acted like a magnet for naughty Joy’s magnificent afternoon teas.
boys who bombarded the unfortunate
Alan is a fine gentleman - worthy of
fish with stones on their way to and
the company of such luminaries of the
from Saturday afternoon matinees.
cinema industry as Sir Ewen and Laurie
Because of the danger of losing film Waterman of Ozone Theatres, Dan
contracts while transforming the Clifford, the founder and owner of the
Princess into the Ozone, exhibition rival Star Theatres, and Bill Benbow
went on continuously by suspending (projector manufacture and owner of a
the scaffolding from the roof timbers country theatre chain) all of whom he
and moving it aside to allow the remembers with affection and gratitude.
projection beams through.
As for me (like him) a lifelong
lover of movies and the beautiful
theatres in which they were shown, I
am truly privileged to be a friend and
admirer of the man who, more than
anyone else, is the creator of the
Ozone/Chelsea which has long been in
the top echelon of intimate modern
neighbourhood cinemas, and which will
surely stand as his lasting memorial.

Photographs Courtesy of Brian Pearson;
Colin Flint; Kevin Adams and
The Adelaide Advertiser.

April Birthday Celebrations.

CINEMARECORD 2011 21