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Cinemeccanica and platter

In December 1996 two additional
auditoriums were opened on the left side
of the building: one in the refurbished,
heritage listed, former Masonic Hall
- and a second constructed on land in-
between the two buildings.

The new Cinema 1 was fully equipped The new cinemas were equipped with
and furnished from the closed imported Silver Stereo curved screens.
(c1986) Village East End Cinemas Two Cinemecanica Victoria-8 projectors
in Bourke Street, Melbourne. This from the now closed (1984) Cross Road
included Bauer projectors, the round Drive-In (Mildura) were installed in
surround speakers, plus its orange cinemas 3 and 4. The cinemas were
curtains and carpets. The opening then renamed the Deakin Cinema
film for the new screen was Who Complex and seated over 800 patrons.
Framed Roger Rabbit. The operating Company was the Deakin
Cinema Complex Pty. Ltd.
. In 1985 Ouyen farmers, Bob and Alex
Cassidy, acquired the theatre freehold The four cinemas, both new and
and became shareholders in the business refurbished, were comfortably seated
now operated by Inala Pty Ltd.
with good sight-lines and spacious
aisles. There is generous leg-room
A second cinema was proposed, and the seats are well set back from the
approved and constructed in 1988 and it screens. All auditoria are equipped with
opened on 15 December. Dolby Digital SR (Spectral Recording)
sound and 3D screens.
To accommodate this cinema, the shop
space and the land behind it was used, The latest Pennywise automation system
and the right hand side wall of the had been installed to operate the cinema’s
main cinema was moved further into projectors, lights and auditorium doors.
the auditorium to improve the width of Two candy bars were included in the
the new one. The new auditorium was complex although only the original is
designated Cinema 1 (162 seats) and now used.
the reduced–sized original auditorium
became Cinema 2 (300 seats). The Both the former Masonic Temple and
name of the venue was changed to the Chris with Bauer Projector. the Deakin Cinemas were given a most
Deakin Twin Cinema at this time.
sympathetic external treatment to link
the two buildings. The cinemas arched
verandah was removed and the frontage
was cement rendered and painted. The
foyers were modernized and disability
access provided via ramps and a lift.

1996

20 2012 CINEMAREC ORD