Page 31 - CinemaRecord #76C

Thornbury Regent.

I visited Melbourne for a weekend in 1963 and
visited the manager at the Hoyts Athenaeum
theatre (I knew all the city managers for Hoyts,
GU and independent theatres) which was
screening The Longest Day and he told me of an
advertisement in The Age for a Hoyts suburban
theatre manager.

Their circuit office was located at the former
Hoyts Windsor theatre and he told me to contact
Joe Walker. He told me to send a resume and a Thornbury Regent.
photo to him when I returned to Adelaide, which
I did. I was not interviewed so he must have
known about me. He then wrote asking me to In 1976 I applied for the general manager’s
report to him. Melbourne Athenaeum. job at the independent Capitol theatre
(City); a 70mm house. I was successful.
I was sent to the Regent Theatre in Thornbury The Towering Inferno was in its second
(Melbourne). I did well there especially with week. The place was a mess operationally;
matinees. I was later also given the Padua I casually changed things around and got it
(Brunswick). I closed the Regent Thornbury and back in good working order. The directors
then moved onto the New Malvern (Malvern). were very impressed.
This theatre was in an affluent area. I convinced
Hoyts to change the childrens matinees to The interests associated with the Capitol
running the night programmes and also to run took over both the nearby Century Theatre
6pm sessions as well. This all proved successful (refurbishing it into the Swanston) and the
and the New Malvern was put onto day and date Australia 1&2 around the corner in Collins
releases with some city theatres. Street. As the years passed, the film industry
was not doing too well so I left in 1984.
When Sunday screenings were allowed I ran I was then moved to the Athenaeum (City)
double bill musicals. A double bill of Hello Dolly and Hoyts wanted to make it an art house. I bought a coffee-lounge in Balwyn which
and The Sound of Music ran for three Sundays The late Friday supper shows were moved to was very successful. After I sold it I was
until the Sydney head office raised questions. the Athenaeum when the prestigious Regent approached by Maurice Scott (senior house
We even had MGM films (after MGM sold the (South Yarra) closed in 1970. manager) at the Victorian Arts Centre. I
Metro Malvern to the Dendy chain) and people joined in 1987 as a casual manager at the
came from far and wide. The 360 white light bulbs outside the theatre Playhouse Theatre but later became the
were replaced with yellow globes which made manager. I was later moved across to the
I suggested to Hoyts that they twin the New the theatre more prominent. I had done the same Concert Hall as manager. I was there until
Malvern and gave them an idea as to how it at Malvern, and being located on a major corner 1996 when I decided to retire.
should be done. They looked at my plans and the theatre really stood out. As the Athenaeum
also came up with their own; but the costs were was working well I was moved back to the New I later came out of retirement and took casual
too high and the idea was dropped. Whilst at the Malvern to build it up again. employment in front of house at live theatres
New Malvern I had a second job with the Hoyts such as the National (St Kilda) and Her
adverting office for a few years in the 1960’s. Majesty’s (City). I also had casual work at
I was involved with designing and placing the newly re-opened Regent Theatre (City)
theatre advertisements in the Herald, Sun, Age with the opening of Sunset Boulevard and at
and Newsday papers for both Hoyts city and the Crown Casino Showroom.
suburban theatres.
I then decided to fully retire.

Ronald K. Smith
Member, Cinema Pioneers

As told to Gerry Kennedy (CATHS) from interviews with
Ronald Smith. May 2008 and Sept. 2009.

Photos from the collections of R. Smith & K.Adams.
Hoyts “New” Malvern. Ronald Smith - Theatre Manager.

CINEM AREC ORD 2012 31