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Smith Street in wartime.

During World War Two, with armed forces After the war, the Star continued in its role as This was at a time when segregation and many
stationed in Darwin, the Army and Air Force the major cinema for the Darwin population. unjust laws were finally being questioned
established their own mobile and outdoor Its importance as the social hub of the town and slowly abolished. (It is reported that
cinemas. Troops were also entertained by was obvious when in February 1952 the aboriginal patrons would only be admitted
visiting celebrities such as Gary Cooper and death of King George V1 was flashed onto on Wednesday nights!)
Una Merkel. For some time the Star was the screen at the Star Theatre – by morning
taken over by the Royal Australian Navy and everyone in town had heard. From the early days, the Chief Protector of
screened every night for all servicemen in Aborigines had regularly published an ad in
the Darwin area. On January 3, 1955 the Star hosted the the local paper granting permission for them
northern city’s first World Premiere with the to be in town after the curfew for the purpose
From February 1942 until November 1943 screening of the Australian film Jedda. The of visiting the pictures. The Ordinance was
war-time Darwin was attacked some 64 aboriginal stars of the film, Roslaie Kunoth- modified allowing all ‘half-castes*’ freedom
times in Japanese air-raids and the Star Monks and Bob Tudowaii appeared on stage, of movement in 1953 and finally ‘full
received its fair share of bomb damage, and were allowed to sit in specially reserved bloods*’ in 1964.
however it was soon patched-up so that seats in the (all-white) dress-circle - the other
the show could go on. Keeping the morale cast members had to remain in the stalls. By 1958 a much wider screen to accommodate
up of both troops and civilians was a high the newer widescreen processes was introduced
priority in the war effort. The Gala occasion was a great success, to the Star.Michael Paspalis, a self-made
and Tom Harris told reporters that hosting millionaire with extensive property interests
Quite a number of rudimentary outdoor the World Premiere had been “the proudest entered the local movie-business in the early
picture-shows were set up by the Defence moment of my life”. 1960s when he took on and improved the
Department to entertain the troops. Some Parap Theatre.
even continued for a time after the war. One
of these was the open-air Parap Theatre In 1965 he opened the Paspalis Darwin
in the suburbs which was then operated by Drive-In Theatre in the suburb of Nightcliff.
the Harris family and eventually roofed and In time he also became involved with the
enclosed. The RAAF Base Cinema also operation of the Star Theatre and after his
continued to operate for military personnel untimely death in 1972, his wife, Chrissie
and was eventually rebuilt as the Starlight carried on the family businesses with Vince
Cinema. Today it serves as the base Chapel. Lucas as theatre manager.

Jedda Premiere. Jedda Premiere.

18 2012 CINEM AREC ORD