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Waxing for a dance.

Social function at the Star.

In 1932, Tom married Heather Bell. Besides During the war, Bathurst Islander, Matthias,
being a talented acrobat and dancer, Heather when capturing a shot-down Jap pilot, levelled
had been the pianist for the silent movies his spear and ordered “Stick ‘em up, Allersame
whilst her husband-to-be ran the projector. Opperlong Casserty.” Another native, who
landed near Darwin after a two day trip from
Tom Senior ran both the sweep and the Star the islands in a dugout canoe, told startled
Picture-Theatre continuously from 1931 until bystanders “This Satterdee night. Tomaris. Bin
he died in 1973 – only one year prior to the come in, see Tomaris pitchers.” Fancy Dress ball.
theatre’s life ending in 1974 with the event of
Cyclone Tracey. Ironically, Tracey was not the Wednesday night in Darwin was known
first cyclone to damage the Star, as it had also as “Ranch Night”, the night of all nights
suffered damage back in March 1937. at Star Pictures – for a double-bill of Clyde Fenton, the Flying Doctor, was a
cowboy movies! well-known character in Darwin in the
Carried on by his son, the Tomaris Melbourne 1930s. In 1935, flying in from Katherine, he
Cup Sweep had grown so much since its Even in the bush, bands of aborigines would was overcome by an irresistible temptation
inception that a special amendment to the law happily play “Cowboys and Injuns” for hours to find out what was playing at the Star, so
he buzzed the cinema.
had to be passed through the NT legislative and hours. Hence generations of Territorians
council to make Toms sweep legal. (The grew up in the bush practising their quick He liked what he saw, so circled a couple of
sweep finally ceased in 2003). In his time, draws, just like their heroes in the movies. times to catch the dramatic finale before
Tom received an MBE for services rendered landing at the airstrip.
and in turn built up the Star Theatre to In 1932 Hollywood film star, Victor Jory was
become the social heart of the North. in Queensland shooting a new feature film. Writing in his memoirs, Dr Fenton recalled
When Tom Harris got wind of the this, he sent the incident: “The first person encountered
When the picture-show arrived in Darwin a word, inviting Jory to the Northern Territory on our coming into town was Tom Harris,
revolution took place among the aborigines. to hunt the ‘wild’ and see himself on the big the cinema proprietor. He demanded 5s,
the price of two seats in the dress circle.
They donned their ten gallon hats, stovepipe outdoor screen at the Star Picture-Theatre.
riding pants and spurs, identifying We objected to this and offered 2s, on
themselves with the “Cowboys”. Gradually, The following year of 1933, the “talkies” the grounds that we had been in the pit
almost everything they did became proved popular when they finally opened at most of the time.”
“allasame Tomaris” . the Star on May 24.

Tom and his Cup Sweep. Opening night of the Talkies.

CINEM AREC ORD 2012 17