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There were often a limited number Only the front of the theatre and its
The back-stage fly-tower.
of prints and couriers on motor-cycles entrance foyer remain, with the former
were employed to get the reels from circle-lounge and auditorium now
one cinema to another. housing modern apartments.
Programs were swapped around and Over the years, the Barkly
starting times adjusted to make this entertained hundreds of thousands. A
possible. So as one reel finished centre of family entertainment: the
screening it was given to the courier as Saturday kids’ matinees, romantic
he delivered a reel hot off a projector at evening outings for young couples and
the other cinema. an escape from the hum-drum of
Obviously, the reels were end-out suburban life for the Mums and Dads
and had to be rewound and checked for enjoying their weekly night out at the
screening on your projectors. Generally movies.
it worked well, but there were occasions And what of those who projected all
when the timing was too close or there those films in this palace of dreams?
was hold-up so that the next reel arrived For many it was just a job done with
for rewinding and putting in the professional skill as thousands of feet
projector with barely minutes to spare! of film went through the projectors.
There were times when a reel was late They even enjoyed some of the films.
arriving and the projector showing the But for some there was an ongoing
preceding reel was slowed down very interest in films and the industry that
slightly to give precious minutes for the produced them. Movies were part of
late arrival. Yes, even in those days the popular culture of our time –
work involved stress! employing the talents of great writers,
Although we knew that television designers, composers, actors,
At the end of every evening show
was coming, few could foresee the cameramen, producers and directors. At
after the closing titles, a film of the
growth that would lead to the end of their best they informed, educated, and
National Anthem was played –
suburban cinemas as we knew them. entertained.
preceded by an unseemly rush for the
exit doors by (mostly younger) patrons The Barkly continued as a cinema I spent five teenage-years
who wished to avoid standing for the until 1962 when with diminishing rewinding, projecting and watching
anthem whilst watching Her Majesty audiences, Hoyts closed it. films – also going to see almost every
take the salute on the Horse Guards It stood empty until it became the other film shown at the city theatres,
Parade as a band played God Save the Fiesta Cabaret and Reception Rooms including the ‘foreign’ films at the
Queen. The house lights came on and until 1977. It then became a bingo club Savoy and Australia cinemas.
music was played as the audience left. for some twelve years and was finally Those years lead to a lifetime of
In the bio-box, we removed the last closed and shuttered up in 1989 – by professional work in theatre, radio,
film spool, put dust-covers over the then a very sorry sight. television and education. I am still a
projectors, shut down the rectifier In 1991 a severe storm brought film-lover with happy memories of the
which supplied DC-power to the arc- down the rear wall and massive fly- various cinemas I worked in, where
lamps, and switched off equipment as tower – crushing the stage and leaving hundreds of films passed through my
we too made for the doors and home. the whole area open to wind, rain, fingers.
I would walk down Barkly Street to vandals, drug-pushers, and hundreds of Most were entertaining but
the Trocadero where my mate, Brian pigeons. forgettable; many were very good; and
Quigley was the Assistant and we’d There were a number of plans to some brilliant and unforgettable.
catch a train to Flinders Street where save the Barkly including one to Happily, the advent of the DVD has
we met up with assistants from other restore the front of the theatre with an meant that many film classics have not
Hoyts suburban cinemas and others apartment tower replacing the stage been lost.
from the MGM and the Independent area. But a devastating fire through the Sadly, the film palaces that brought
circuits. We gathered at the concourse roof, lounge, and bio-box brought an them to life have gone for all time.
fruit shop to share the latest gossip and end to the old lady. But I still have my own fond memories
rumours. It was great fun.
It was fenced in and left until its sale of the Barkly Theatre – the Grand old
At mid-night the station bells would in 2004-5 with plans to demolish most Lady of Footscray.
ring to mark the departure of the last of the cinema to build luxury
trains and we would scatter to various apartments with a seven story
platforms for our last train home. residential tower on the site of the stage. Photographs courtesy of Jim White.

CINEMARECORD 2011 35