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Lyceum-Elite-George-Dendy-Tribal

The many lives of a Cinema Centenarian

By Kevin Adams.

ot long after the turn of the last century - in a time when Located at number 346 in Brisbane’s
Nbudding showmen were renting any available hall to run their busy George Street, the “luxuriously
primitive “picture-shows”, early cinema operator Mr. C. E. King and fitted” two-level Lyceum Theatre
his entrepreneurial partners, including Mr E. McGregor, decided that boasted many new features that rented
the sunny Queensland capital city of Brisbane was ready for its first Town Halls did not – most importantly
purpose-built Picture-Theatre. in balmy Brisbane: good ventilation and
even its own electricity generator! Mr
This foresight would provide a cinema, that although remodelled, King as Managing Director and lessee
reconfigured and renamed a number of times - would survive the ups of this fine new edifice was now ready
and downs of an often turbulent industry for well over a century. to open the doors.
To this day it is still in use for its original purpose - it’s amazing
longevity making it a true cinema pioneer. Under the Distinguished patronage of
the Lord Mayor Of Brisbane, Kings
Pictures new venture was declared
open on Easter Saturday, April 10, 1909
when a specially selected program of
(silent) pictures were screened. Whilst
the films were silent, they were actually
well accompanied by Kings Lyceum
Orchestra made up of local musicians
under the experienced baton of Signor
Benvenuti. Also featured was vocalist,
Miss Ailsa Sherbrook from Melbourne
who was hired to accompany the
illustrated glass-slide presentations in
song. By mid-year the dulcet voice
of Mr. C. Howard accompanied this
popular part of each program.

The theatre was entered via a small
foyer which featured plastered walls
and a decorative pressed-metal
ceiling. The auditorium itself seated
around 1500 and featured a new
innovation – a sloped floor at ground
level to enable an uninterrupted view
of the stage for all patrons.

This main floor was constructed of
concrete which it felt was a great step
forward hygienically, as it would deter
the harbouring of any vermin (rats and
mice), but could also be hosed down
daily! This area was divided into
Orchestra Stalls; Stalls and Pit - whilst
upstairs the classier “dress-circle”
featured comfortable upholstered chairs
behind a balcony front decorated with
Matinee Crowd: (Photo from Ron West)
fancy pressed art-metal.

14 2011 CINEMAREC ORD