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Original Proscenium.
From 1923 until 1931 Cliff Geeves
took over the contract for the theatre.
During this time the venue was renamed
The Majestic.
The Until 1931 the Majestic Pictures had a
opening night was band that played along with the film, one
a huge success with the Huon Times person on piano, one on a clarinet and
reporting on August 7 1912: another playing the violin.
“The attendance at the opening performance The name was changed again in 1931
of the Royal Bioscope and Skating Company to The Franklin Talkies for the
at the Franklin Town Hall on Saturday introduction of sound. The first sound
night equalled in point of numbers the great film screened was The Czar of Broadway
audience that assembled on the occasion of on May 16, 1931.
the official opening of the hall last month.
The whole of the accommodation available Franklin was a busy town at this time. With
was taxed to its fullest capacity, and many its own hydro power plant behind the town,
experienced the keen disappointment of it was the first Tasmanian population outside
being unable to gain admission. of Hobart to have electricity. Many Hobart
shops had branch stores in Franklin - along The main industries supporting the town
Though a brief delay was experienced in getting with two banks, several hotels, schools were timber (with several timber mills),
the plant (the whole of which, it might be said and a hospital. fruit orchards and boat building.
is new) to work with the desired degree of
smoothness, when the difficulty was overcome it
was soon made evident that the pictures were of
a higher standard of excellence than anything
seen in the district previously.”
The Royal Bioscope and Skating Company
continued screening a new program of films
on Saturday evenings as well as Roller
Skating. Often the films were accompanied
by the Franklin Brass Band.
During the First World War (from
1914 – 1918) film screenings were
held intermittently. The first newsreels
were screened at the Franklin Theatre
during the war - beginning with
British Pathe News, and later the
Australasian Gazette. 1938 Improvements.
CINEMAREC ORD 2012 25
