Page 10 - CR

Perhaps only now is there dawning
an appreciation of Peters and Co’s
vision for a small-town business
based on a handsome cinema, a café
and guesthouse.

This vision was only partly in view
when the Council purchased the Roxy
Theatre and restored it some years ago,
but the Council has since purchased and
restored the Greek café and intends to
develop a museum in the rooms above.
The Mayor went on to say that Kevin Cork's
On 9 April 2011, hundreds of people, vision would be realised in Bingara:
many of Greek background, came to
Bingara to celebrate the 75th anniversary ‘The Roxy will become a place of
of the Roxy Theatre and the launch national significance that conserves
of the restored Roxy Cafe and the and protects the important cultural
new ‘Museum of Greek Settlement in associations between people and place.
Country Australia’. It will provide opportunities for the
celebration of Greek traditions that
In his welcome the Mayor, Councillor became embedded in Australia’. +
John Coulton, reminded the audience
that the late Kevin Cork made a strong
argument for maintaining Greek- References
Australian cultural and historical sites:
Cork, Kevin (1998) ‘Parthenons Down Under: Greek
Motion Picture Exhibitors in NSW, 1915 to 1963’.
‘If we are to remember these Greeks Unfinished PhD Thesis. University of Western Sydney.
for their contributions to Australia's
social, architectural and technological Kennedy, Gerry (2004) ‘The Roxy Theatre and the
advancement, then it is imperative that Cinema War in Bingara’. ‘Cinema Record’ Issue 43.
there be Greek landmarks which are Prineas, Peter, (2006) ‘Katsehamos and the Great
acknowledged at local and state level Idea: a true story of Greeks and Australians in the
th
- ones that point to the achievements early 20 century’. Plateia.
of the Greek - Australian cinema
exhibitors... We cannot allow their PHOTOS THIS PAGE: The Roxy Theatre
histories to be forgotten, not when they restored to its former glory.
provided services that positively affected
millions of people, firstly, through
their refreshment rooms and, secondly,
through their picture theatres’.

10 2011 CINEMAREC ORD