Page 30 - CR

Assoc. Professor Ross Thorne, an expert
nterest in the possibility of finding a on theatre architecture, was intrigued by
Iforgotten cinema was sparked by a the simplicity of the barrel-vaulted coffered
mistake in identification and some quick ceiling when matched to walls and a gallery
th
thinking by our Editor. front he described as early 20 century
classicism. The detailing was superior to that
Brian Miller’s account of the refurbishment in many picture-theatres of the period.
of the Memorial in the Melbourne suburb of
St.Kilda (in CinemaRecord 70) was to have Designed by (Leighton F) Irwin and (Roy K)
included two photos of the interior, sourced Stevenson, the hall was built on the south-
from the State Library of Victoria. west corner of Canterbury Road and Keats
Street, in a residential section of Canterbury.
Editor Kevin Adams deleted the images at the last The plan showed a complex of auditorium,
minute, when he recognised that this interior was supper room, kitchen, meeting rooms and a
superior to the ‘Memo’. He knew it to actually museum, the arrangement almost a diamond-
be the former Memorial Hall in Canterbury shape, with the auditorium as centrepiece.
(several kilometres from St.Kilda) as he had
photos, but little other information. The bio–room was safely external to the main
CATHS Research Group was interested to hall, located on the ground floor. Its position
In the planning application to the Health know whether this handsome building ever was unusual; not strictly at the rear of the
Department the hall is labelled as ESSMI showed films on a regular basis. auditorium, but further back, behind the
Cinema Hall and later as Memorial and wall of the main foyer, so that the light beam
Cinema Hall, and the drawing shows a bio- The hall was an example of 1920s craftsmanship passed between archways which delineated
room integral to the building. (The acronym augmenting a design which can be compared to the hall from the foyer (see photo). The
was not explained, but Eastern Suburbs that of a smaller town hall. Elaborate entrance and balcony was reached from a circular staircase
Soldiers Memorial Institute is one guess.) exit doors were set within stylish architraves. which passed the door of the bio-room.

The Canterbury Memorial.

30 2012 CINEM AREC ORD