Page 20 - CR

In January 1965, Norman Rydge,
chairman of the directors of Greater
Union announced that the Lyceum
would be rebuilt as a modern cinema to
be named “The George”. Designed by
Queensland architects Lewis Williams
and Associates, construction would be
carried out by the Marberite Company
of Brisbane at an overall cost of around
250,000 pounds – including equipment
and furnishings. The machines were air and water-cooled
with carbon-arcs that provided “a light
“Following the modern move to beam of over a million candlepower” - and
intimate cinema the George will seat were also equipped for 6-track magnetic
714 persons, all in luxury lounge chairs sound that played over the 27 speakers
and all on the one floor”. To accomplish throughout the auditorium.
this, the old balcony was completely
removed and a steeply-raked, single The new George Cinema was air-
floor was constructed within the shell conditioned throughout – including its
of the building. new larger foyer spaces which would
feature classical Greek and Roman
A virtually wall-to-wall screen, some statuary in a distinctive decorating theme.
50-foot-wide, was installed within
a new lushly curtained proscenium, As if welcoming patrons, from a
making it the largest cinema screen in raised dais, a larger than life statue
Australia at the time. of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus
commanded the entrance foyer in a
This showcased the large-format back-lit colannaded recess. The theme
70mm film presentations which would continued in the muted-gold coloured
be projected from the revolutionary auditorium with lighted niches recessed
new Italian Cinemeccanica 35/70mm into the side walls - drawing ones focus
Projectors from Italy – the first to be to the massive curtained screen set
installed in Queensland. above a shallow stage fronted with a
Above, below and Left: Rebuilt as the George (Courtesy of S. Malone collection) rich classical balustrade.

20 2011 CINEMAREC ORD