Page 18 - CR

ildura is a mid-sized regional By Gerry Kennedy After the 1971 closure of Hoyts Ozone
Mcity situated 557 kms. North- Theatre in Langtree Avenue, Century
West of Melbourne on the Victorian / Cinemas screened (1973–75) a few
NSW state border. The general area can nights a week in the Mildura Arts
be best described as a light desert. On 25 October, 1973 Century Cinemas Centre located at 199 Cureton Street.
Pty. Ltd. lodged an application with
Dating from the late 19 century the Victorian Health Department
th
this Murray River city grew with the (HD) to build a new cinema at 93-
development of the Sunraysua Irrigation 95 Deakin Ave. Mildura. A Mr. E.E.
Area. Mildura and district had a rich Andriske was the Chairman of the
history of outdoor, hardtop and drive-in Company, which was associated with
theatres with Hoyts Theatres Ltd being the the Mildura Crossroads Drive-In
principal exhibitor around the Sunraysia Theatre. This was the South Mildura
district from 1951 until the late 1960’s. Development Company Pty. Ltd. The
Company also had drive-in and hardtop
At the time that the new Cinema Deakin theatre interests in Dubbo (NSW).
was being planned, films were screened Mildura Arts Centre.
at two drive-in theatres; Hoyts 16 At the time Mildura was the only
th
Street and the independent Crossroads, large Victorian provincial city The large number of “walk-in” patrons
as well as at the Mildura Arts Centre. without a permanent hardtop cinema.
at the 15 Street Crossroads Drive-
th
In (and their frequent misbehavior)
encouraged the directors to build a
new hardtop cinema in the city centre.

The plans were approved in 1974 and
construction subsequently took place
on the site of a former printing works.
The cinema was constructed in steel,
concrete and brick and included a shop
on the right hand side of the frontage.

The auditorium had a single raked floor
and the building featured beige coloured
bricks with an arched fronted verandah.

The 400 lounge-seats were sourced
from the local closed Ozone Theatre
along with other fitments - such as
curtains, tracks and motors. The interior
appointments were typical of the time
and relied on earthy-coloured tonings
and stained natural timbers. The screen
curtains were burnt orange in colour.
The projection room was equipped
1970s with C&W (Model G) projectors using
Perth Metro (interior)
2000ft reels. The project cost $200.000.

18 2012 CINEMAREC ORD