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n the aftermath of World War I, many By Brian Miller &
Ipublic monuments were erected Warren Spence
throughout Australia. In the
Melbourne’s popular bay-side suburb of
St. Kilda, the citizens decided to build a
complex at 88 Acland Street which
would include a multi-purpose public
Memorial Hall.
The ground and first floor are now
occupied by the St. Kilda R.S.L. Sub-
Branch Inc. and the upper floors
contain apartments.
The hall is at the rear, with a
separate public entrance around the
corner in Albert Street which leads to a
foyer and staircase. The auditorium is
a basic style, similar to many country
halls, with a stage, flat ground floor and
a small balcony.
With financial support from the City
of St. Kilda and extensive fund-raising
by local committees, work was
commenced in 1923. Design was by
Hudson and Wardrop, who went on to
win an international competition for the
design of the Melbourne Shrine of
Remembrance. Construction was
carried out by builder R.L. Phillips with
the total cost, including land, being 39,
492 Pounds.
The finished building was four
stories high containing 12 flats and four
shops, whilst at the rear the hall itself Above: News reports from November 12, 1924. grade detective series. By comparison
could accommodate 500 for dancing or Below: The grand Acland street façade in 1930. to the luxurious cinemas nearby, the
up to 1000 people seated.
Opening in November 1924 with a
Grand Ball, the hall soon catered for all
kinds of community uses. However to
ensure regular incoming revenue, the
hall had always been planned to be
leased as a picture-theatre, so after a
film licence was received, regular
screenings commenced in November
1927 with the silent film Sweethearts as
well as a live show of “aboriginal
corroboree turns”.
22 2011 CINEMARECORD
Located midway between
Australia’s two largest suburban
cinemas, Palais Pictures with an
orchestra and about 2,900 seats and
Hoyts Victory, around 2,400 seats, the
Memorial was very modest compared
to its deluxe neighbours.
It was Hoyts’ policy to operate
double-feature programs for one week
at their prime locations as well as
operate an older, second-run overflow
house nearby. Ballarat, Brunswick,
Footscray, Windsor-Prahran and
Malvern were good examples.
Before 1935, Palais and Victory
Theatres Pty. Ltd. took out a joint lease
on the 750-seat Memorial. This would
not only provide a second-run house-
but more importantly keep any
opposition at bay.
Film exchange releasing patterns
were four Hoyts and two Independent
Circuit attractions per week. The four
best films were divided between the
two big outlets and the remainder were
shown at the “Memo”- an endearing
nickname given by its undemanding
audience.
Down-market product meant a
steady diet of Universal horror films,
Republic westerns with Gene Autry and
Roy Rogers, plus Columbia’s many B-
Memo was often regarded as a lowly
flea-pit, however a local clientele of
regular patrons was soon built up.
Occasionally a more art-house
attraction, too long for a double-feature
nearby, would be shown.
Two sessions a day were tried in the
early years of World War II in an effort
to keep patrons out of the city. Two
popular television presenters stated
some years ago that they still had fond
memories of the “Memo”.