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Staff of the South Yarra Regent in 1935.

South Yarra Regent patrons included the My grandfather tried shoveling gravel at
wealthy who had permanent bookings on Black Rock, but being in poor health, he

Saturday nights. Full evening dress was was unable to finish a day’s work. Early in
worn and Government House often rang for 1933 he was given a low retainer and sales
seats for guests. Mickey Mouse was very commission from Ford to drive a truck
popular. Members of the Toorak/South Yarra displaying a tractor on the back around
set would enquire as to the time the cartoon farms. Farmers were also facing hardship,
would be shown, arrive in chauffeur driven so this job was abandoned after about
limousines, watch the cartoon, then leave eighteen months.
to enjoy supper at the Windsor or Menzies
hotels. These people were very generous and My grandfather scrounged a few odd jobs
my mother received many expensive gifts. over the years until the outbreak of World
One Christmas she was given 23 large boxes War Two when he worked in an ammunition
of chocolates! The following day the assistant projectionist factory at Footscray. Phyllis said bitterly,
from theatre one had to pick up the film and "It meant a war to give a lot of people a
Sports events such as the Melbourne Cup carry it on his back in a canvas bag. If he job. It was a rotten job. Pop worked in a
and the boat races aroused interest. On used a tram, he was told not to pay extra for little hut with two others filling bullets.
the night of the event, film was taken by freight. There were only two or three in each hut
motorbike from theatre to theatre, where in case it blew up."
the normal program would be broken to Phyllis's time of stress began in 1929 when,
show the newsreel. because of declining sales, her father lost Phyllis suffered the stress of being the
his job as Victorian Supervisor for the Ford only member of a family of five to bring
Employees were exploited, but were fearful Motor Co. He unsuccessfully answered in a regular wage. This was compounded
of losing their jobs and tolerated injustices numerous advertisements in the motor when she saw girls coming to the theatre
and difficulties. For instance, it was common trade, and in desperation bought an old car who were asking for her job. From
for up to five theatres to be showing the same and drove around the country selling silk her salary Phyllis paid £2 board ($140)
film. As a reel came off the projector, a courier stockings door-to-door. He slept in a tent. and 7/8 in train fares ($140 and $27).
d
on a motor-bike took it to the next theatre, so This left 2/4 ($8) to clothe herself.
d
that by the end of the night, theatre one had Few people had money to buy stockings, so There was constant worry that the daily
no film while theatre five had the complete this venture failed. He tried to sell fish door- theatre takings would not balance. Any
program. If the courier was caught speeding to-door, bought at Sandringham, then special discrepancy had to be covered out of
he had to pay his own fines. tea. Door-to-door selling was tried by many. your own pocket.

CINEM AREC ORD 2012 37