Page 23 - CR

Having opened their new Portside
Cinemas nearby at suburban Hamilton,
and unable to keep the George Street
site viable, Dendy decided not to renew
their lease when it expired in December
2008. A final closing night party dubbed
“George’s Final Bow” was held on
th
Friday 28 of November.
This time closure was to be “forever”
– or was it? Unable to find anyone
interested in taking on the location, the
cinemas sat boarded up, closed, forlorn
and forgotten. But “Never say Never”
for in reality, the end credits were far
from over! Tribal Cinema - Auditorium One

Tribal Cinema - Auditorium Two

In 2009, Peter Holliday, director of the Despite building a dedicated clientele,
Tribal Travel franchises, took over the the young operators have decided to
lease on the venue to operate Tribal follow a different career course and
Travel from the foyer space. With the plan to exit from the cinema side of the
travel business operating mainly on business in November 2011.
weekdays, he then offered family–
friend, Sam Robertson, the opportunity The opportunity now arises for new
to run the theatre space as a separate blood to come forward and take up the
business on weeknights and weekends. reigns to keep the silver screens alive.

Sam, a 22-year-old artist and film With its renewed focus on a broad
buff had a vision of creating a unique range of artistic activities, it is clear that
cultural hub – providing a venue for not this 102-year-old cultural institution is
only classic & cult film screenings but truly a Brisbane icon that has survived
also able to host exhibitions, band and against the odds and come full circle.
comedy gigs and cabaret performances.
After three months of work getting How will the next chapter unfold?
the two cinemas back into shape, the Only time will tell. +
newly named Tribal Theatre opened
on March 11, 2010 with screenings of
Pans Labrynth and Pulp Fiction. My sincere thanks to everyone who kindly
contributed information and photographs
Cinema 1 now seats 250 patrons and is for this article: Steve Malone; Ron West;
equipped for 35mm projection. Cinema Barry Parsons; Ian Day; Mungo McKay;
Jacinta Bull; Katie and Sam Robertson
2 has both 35mm and digital equipment and many others.
(DVD & E-Cinema) and a capacity for - Kevin Adams ©
216 seated patrons - as well as standing
room for 30 at the front.

CINEMAREC ORD 2011 23