Page 32 - CR

Courtesy of the
Esperance Theatre Guild

he seaside town of Esperance in
TSouthern Western Australia saw a
time of vigorous growth and significant
development after it was officially gazetted a
Municipality on 27th September 1895.
In 1896 Edward James McCarthy built a
two storey general store and next to it the
Bijou Theatre. Mr McCarthy managed both
concerns on behalf of the Esperance Land
Company. The Bijou became a popular venue
for the town’s entertainments. Warner’s Merry
Moments, a touring company, provided the
first musical entertainment, which was well
documented in the "Esperance Chronicle" of Opening celebrations in 1896.
31st October, 1896.

Gatherings of a more serious nature also Over the next thirty years, school festivities, stage
took place within the walls of the Bijou. A dramas, socials, films, dancing and even roller
spirited public meeting attended by over 200 skating (for which the original pine flooring
people was called as a result of provocative around the perimeter of the hall was removed and
statements by John Cabble concerning replaced with stronger jarrah boards to which the
the proposed railway between Esperance skaters were restricted) ensured that the Bijou
and Norseman. was an active social centre.
Interior fittings included brass oil lamps hung
from patterned wooden beams and the ripple
iron walls were decorated with pictures of
sailing ships.

Early photographs clearly show the spartan
seating for patrons - and primitive stage
cloths which were used by local businessmen
for advertising purposes. Large urns holding
majestic Norfolk Island Pines synonymous
with Esperance and other native floras
adorned the painted proscenium.

1916.

Interior 1897.

32 2012 CINEM AREC ORD