Page 27 - CR

1971

Pre-empting actual wide-screen, 1953 On December 19 1961 Wests reopened with DEC
th
brought “Wydascope” which often meant the 70mm epic Porgy and Bess advertising 1961
cropping standard-ratio films to look wider. ‘The largest Todd –AO screen in Australia’
a massive 40x20-feet complimented with
6-track stereophonic sound.
DEC
1953
The plant was installed locally by Murray
Neuss and National Theatre Supply with Bob
Wilson the Projectionist. Now the masking
raised up as well as opening sideways.

I remember the circle had been closed to the probably assisted in improved sound quality.
public and all the seats removed. It has been Downstairs, the foyer was carpeted in the
suggested that the reduced seating capacity GU red and gold pattern which also enriched
resulted in cheaper film hire. Adelaide’s State and Sturt Theatres.
Whatever the reason, the best of the original Stairs and entrances to the empty balcony
Greater Union did not purchase Wests Art Déco carpet of swirls in autumn tones were closed-off and downstairs promoted as
outright until 1955 and on December was reused to carpet the empty circle, which “Deluxe Royal Reserve” seating!
22, 1955 CinemasScope was introduced
with the film Sign of the Pagan. But the
retention of the old Olympia stage proved to
be a headache.

Unlike other theatres where plaster could
easily be removed, the proscenium was
structural. So at Wests the masking lowered
making Cinemascope pictures smaller
than widescreen!

When Wests closed for conversion to
70mm in 1961, projectionist Sam Haywood
and assistant David transferred to the new
State Cinema (a rebuilding of the former
Wondergraph/ Civic Theatre).

DEC
1961
Unseated balcony in 1970.

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