Page 22 - CR

When Wests advertised Quo Vadis was
coming to the Olympia in 1913, so did the
Wondergraph - at the Adelaide Town Hall!
Wests Ltd. took the Greater Wondergraph
Company to court, claiming their Cines version
of 8,000 feet was an entire “feature” whereas the
2000ft Wondergraph version was not! As well,
it was an old film!

Note the wider stage opening.

Nearby in Hindley Street was J.C. Wybert Reeves (1831–1906) is acknowledged
Williamsons’ Theatre Royal, a live theatre. as screening the first motion-pictures in
Williamson could now use West’s theatre Adelaide at the Theatre Royal and Beehive
as a second live venue if needed - and they Building on 19 October 1896. The films
th
did. Live on stage at Wests were many were European, most likely English, but not
including the immortal Roy (Mo) Rene. Mo Lumiere. On the same day the Cyclorama
appeared at Wests both live on stage and in was advertising in the amusement pages.
film on its screen. (Mo was born in Hindley
Street and there is now a full size statue However, in 1898 Wybert imported from
of Mo “the tramp with a broken top hat” France, 10 Lumiere short films and in the
on the footpath.) Register on August 27 1898 advertised JUNE
th
his: ‘CRIMEAN WAR COMBINED WITH 1913
Cinema was a certain crowd drawer and LUMIERE’S LATEST CINEMATOGRAPH’ at
Australian theatre managers including T.J. the Cyclorama. The Wondergraph did not show the film on
West built magnificent temples purposely the advertised night but the magistrate found in
designed for film. Australia is fortunate to Back then, who could imagine that in 1908 their favour and Wondergraph advertised ‘WE
still have a few theatres with atmosphere the Cyclorama would become Adelaide’s WIN’ and screened the film.West’s did not lose
remaining. The magnificent State theatres first permanent cinema - West’s Olympia. at the box office and the season was extended for
in Sydney and Melbourne were built When West moved out of the Adelaide another week. It was estimated that upwards of
when Stuart Doyle was at the helm of Town Hall there were many eager to show 70,000 saw the film during its season, which was
Union Theatres. films there - including John and Nevin Tate, just under half the population of Adelaide and
Peacock’s Pictures and Wondergraph. suburbs at the time!
Similarly the mighty Hoyts Regent’s were
built when Frank W. Thring was in charge.
With the merger of Electric Theatres with Silent movie audience – 1921.
Hoyts in 1924, the new company controlled
over 65 theatres nationally and cinema
was expanding!

In Adelaide two major suburban circuits
were established; the largest Dan
Clifford’s ’Star Theatres’ expanded to 26
theatres. The last theatre Dan Clifford
built was the Goodwood Star (now
the Capri, home of the theatre organ).

Waterman’s ‘Ozone Amusements Ltd” was
established in 1911.

The oldest surviving silent suburban cinema
is the Regal at Marryatville (formally
Princess, Ozone and Chelsea). It has been
in continuous use as a cinema since 1925.

22 2012 CINEM AREC ORD