Page 22 - CR

A lifetime of

Entertainment

across a

Nation

By Peter Keogh

y cinema journey started here
Min Western Australia when I
was very, very young. It was at the
Mosman Park Picture Theatre (now
the Council Offices) which was just
around the corner from where I lived.
Very handy!

I used to attend Saturday matinees when
they often had kids with birthdays brought
up on to the stage to receive a small gift. I
adored this because I was able to actually
touch the screen - which I hate to admit was
small then and with the old-style rounded
corners. I remember being so surprised that
the screen was full of small holes to let the
sound through!

I must have been a somewhat forward I treasured all the odd frames of film that watching them rebuild both screens to
kid because despite being extremely he had lying around which he gave me. He the much wider format.
young, I made friends with the Manager. also occasionally let me sit in the bio-box
- which was also used to project movies to I also attended the nearby Cottesloe
Mosman Park the open-air picture-gardens which was on Picture Theatre on the Stirling
right side of the adjoining indoor theatre. Highway when they first installed both
CinemaScope and stereophonic sound.
I always remember the time that they To promote the improvements they had a
upgraded both the gardens and indoor weekend of free sessions – but no movies
cinemas to CinemaScope - which - they just played music through the
meant knocking down part of the indoor sound system… and hundreds turned up!
proscenium arch. I was transfixed
I also remember seeing The King and
I at the Ambassadors Theatre in the
city. It had the most beautiful ceiling
- full of stars - and when the masking
opened to the big CinemaScope screen
and the Fox fanfare in stereo sound
started, I was absolutely transported to
another world.

Perth’s art-deco Metro Theatre in
William Street also had the most
beautiful golden curtain.

Perth Metro (interior)

22 2011 CINEMAREC ORD