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CINEMA AND Your
THEATRE Letters
T
C A H S (continued)
he story of how Eric Thacker, the last
HISTORICAL SOCIETY Tmanager of the South Yarra Regent
ESTABLISHED 1989 devised Friday night late shows, and breathed
Australia new life into the theatre, ran in CR-73.
ABN 37 195 378 179
Reg A0020747R Years after the demise of the theatre, the
Thacker influence surfaced again in an odd
The aim of CATHS is to record the history of newspaper story. It was something he would
cinemas and theatres, and to promote interest in have relished, even if it was posthumous; a bit
theatre heritage, architecture and other of mystery, with a Hollywood connection.
related areas.
Patrons: A 1994 story in the (Melbourne) Herald-Sun
Peter Smith OAM told an intriguing story. According to actor/
Frank Van Straten OAM musician Austin James who was tutored by
Thacker, his teacher kept an Oscar on the piano!
Committee: Thacker was silent about its provenance, but he
President Gerry Kennedy 0432 434 169 did promise to bequeath it to Mr James.
Vice President Royce Harris
Secretary Mike Trickett 5278 1986 After Thacker died, no will could be found
Treasurer Rodney Bendix 9563 2927 and the actor battled for seven years in the
Editor/Committee K.Adams 0409 946 066 Supreme Court to claim his inheritance.
Committee Shane Moore Eventually a will was found inside the piano,
which verified his claim to ownership. Thacker’s Oscar.

Archivist Gerry Kennedy 0432 434 169 The story explained that the name plate for
Events Co-ordinator Les Auld 9689 2765 this Oscar was missing. The photo of it was
Qld.Convenor / Publicity Officer: only so-so quality, but it did show small ere in Tasmania, two more old industry
Steve Maggs 0413 805 320 holes in the pedestal, which could have been Hfriends, Gavan Guy and Norm Brown
the screw holes for securing a name plate. have sadly left us.

Contacting CATHS: Was this Oscar a fake, another example of Gavan gave the little Deloraine Cinema a
Eric Thacker’s humour? That was the initial new lease of life after Star Theatres ceased
Post P.O.Box 476. Bentleigh. Vic. 3205 conclusion of the CATHS Research Group. A screening there. The plant, which was the
Email caths@caths.org.au
Caths Website www.caths.org.au modern Oscar has a stern visage and this one same as at the Longford Capitol where I
had a Mona Lisa smile. But the Committee started off – good old P-5 C&Ws with RCA
are not experts on this subject, especially sound, was still in the theatre. With the help
when the evidence is a grainy photo. So let’s of Fred Archer, Gavin was able to get it
CinemaRecord Magazine:
broaden the discussion a bit. operational and start screenings again. I saw
Editor Kevin Adams 0409 946 066 Gavin’s ad in the local paper, which was the
Email cinemarecord@hotmail.com The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and start of a friendship that lasted a long time.
Postal for magazine content only K.Adams Sciences guards its Oscars closely. These
P.O.Box 535, Carlton North. Vic. 3054 days, recipients have to agree not to sell Gavan’s funeral service was held in the theatre,
them, and if they do want to\dispose of them, and there was a full house! His family had
the Academy has the right of first refusal. movie-posters all around the walls – his
Memberships & Publication Sales: favourite movie had been The Sound of Music.
Jim & Maureen Barrand 0418520315 How often do actors or their descendants wish to
P.O.Box 476. Bentleigh. Victoria. 3205 sell an Oscar? There was a kerfuffle when Harold Norm Brown hailed from the small town of
Annual membership subscription is $45. Russell (Best Supporting Actor – The Best Years Rangarooma. He had the same name as his
(overseas $50) and members receive four of Our Lives) sold his statuette. Perhaps it can father and both had put on picture-shows
copies of CinemaRecord, notifications of events, legally be sold if the plate is removed. throughout North-East Tasmania. Young
copies of the agenda and minutes of meetings. Norm never had a certificate to operate – so
There is no joining fee. Another question is whether the design of he simply used his dad’s name!
the face has changed since Cedric Gibbons
at MGM designed the statuette for the first One night his program was Peter Pan, but not
CATHS Meetings: Awards in 1927. Perhaps those early Oscars a single person came to the show, so Norm
Are held on the last Sunday of February, April, did have a smirky look. After all, every said “I have paid for it” – so we ran it for
June, August, October & November. film studio has tweaked its logo, sometimes ourselves! The first show I ever had that no
drastically, so why not the Academy? one came! I am told that all these years later,
CATHS Archive: the two C&Ws are still in the hall.
The Archive is located in the Prahran Mechanics Whatever the truth, it’s a sure bet that Thacker
Institute, 140 High Street Prahran. 9510 3393. would have revelled in the mischief caused Poor Norm had the “Big C” but he kept going
The archive will be open between 9.30am and by his little golden figure. And it would have for many years and ran his own workshop in
12.30pm on the Saturday before each meeting been quite in character for him to ‘acquire’ a the town.
and at other times by appointment
with the archivist. real Oscar somewhere along the line.
Ray Peck.
Eric White. Underwood. Tas

4 2012 CINEM AREC ORD