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Mini-Golf opening 1931.
1930.
Like most picture-theatres of its time, the Star
became the social hub of the community and
its flat-floored stalls area was often used for
dances, skating and even boxing-matches.
The basic movie screen structure was later
provided with doors hung on rollers to protect
it when not in use, and over the years a deeper
stage was built in front of this so that concerts
and live entertainment could be provided.
Eager to present the latest craze, in May
1931 Tom opened a Miniature Golf Course
on vacant land adjoining the theatre.
Settling in, Tom joined the Darwin Golf
In April 1932, Harold Snell purchased the Club (which he captained from 1931 to
opposition picture-show, George Wedd’s 1969) and it was this membership that
open-air Don Picture-Stadium (Darwin’s eventually led to Darwins annual Tomaris
first in 1912). The Don Theatre was Melbourne Cup Sweep.
Stage improvements. then closed and Snell converted it into the
Don Hotel. This helped consolidate local In the beginning Tom would run ‘all horse
patronage, as there had simply not been sweeps’ for the Melbourne Cup. Initially for
enough business for two theatres to survive! members of the golf club and his friends, but so
popular were his sweeps that by 1934 he had to
The Star Theatre freehold itself was start up a big “single sweep”. A unique one that
purchased from Snell by the Gordons and held no guarantees that each ticket holder would
Tom Harris took over complete operation of draw a horse, but with a certainty there would be
theatre under lease. Soon after, the Gordons much bigger winnings.
The Don Picture Stadium. also purchased the completed Don Hotel
which they operated for many years. The name of the sweep came about by the
fact the local aborigines whom patronised
his cinema at nights couldn’t quite get their
1937 Cyclone damage – Sliding doors now protect the screen.
tongues around his full name and abbreviated
it in pidgeon language to “Tomaris” and so the
Tomaris legend began. Such was the success
of the sweep it wasn’t long before mail orders
for tickets arrived from all over the Northern
Territory and other parts of Australia.
Boxing match 1937.
16 2012 CINEM AREC ORD
