Page 32 - CinemaRecord #77C

2012 - From the rear gallery.

Crown demolition 1972. Cinema and theatrical interests of Boland
and/or Wollongong Theatres Pty Ltd [WT].
The last known licensed seating is shown first in the
information accompanying each name.
In 1976 Greater Union came to the district Antrim, Kiama (988 - opened by A G Carson June
with the triple-screen Town Cinemas 1924; WT purchased February 1948; sold to G Parkes
February 1966; closed April 1970).
complex in Wollongong, and later the
multi-screen Greater Union Cinema Arcadia, Thirroul (1800 - opened by Yardley Bros June
1923; WT purchased September 1926 but operated
Complex in Shellharbour. as dance hall, roller skating 1943, and rubber factory
1946; sold to Hardie Bros Oct.1949).
Hoyts also opened a multi-screen complex in Connors-Paul Theatres, Sydney and Melbourne
Regrettably preservation of company records Warrawong in 1988. (vaudeville shows - 1931 to 1933).
as local history was not high on the agenda Crown, Wollongong (2361 - opened by Bennington’s
of the directors or shareholders at the time. Some might argue that Wollongong Theatres October 1911; WT leased 1912, purchased October
I understand that they vacated their office and Pty Ltd had thrown in the towel far too early. 1924; closed October 1965).
boardroom attached to the darkened Crown I believe the company may even have made Empire, Coledale (658 - opened by G Phillips
Theatre, leaving many items, including tentative steps to preserve some viability by September 1916; WT purchased September 1926
and sold June 1928; others continued to Feb. 1959).
photos of the founder and directors, to the investing in a local television station, but that Empire/Amusua/Whiteway, Port Kembla (1145 -
vagaries of time and vandals. did not stop the rot. opened June 1915; Boland leased 1914; WT leased
June 1936, purchased March 1955 and closed April
While the theatre had closed in October 1965 One wonders how Herbert Boland, who had 1965; re-opened by other exhibitor July 1965 and
it took another seven years before G J Coles revived vaudeville in the 1930s, would have closed early 1980s).
bought the property. handled the situation in the 1960s. Friendly Societies’ Hall, Bulli (Seating unknown -
opened September 1905; Boland leased 1920).
Just prior to demolition in December 1972 I think it unlikely that he would have wasted Globe/Savoy, Wollongong (900 - opened by
an intrepid cousin of mine crept into the time trying to determine the success or H Marriot July 1911; Boland leased 1917; WT
purchased June 1924; rebuilt as Savoy opening
silent building and discovered that 1920 failure of an opposition cinema by secretly December 1936; closed September 1964).
fittings still existed behind the 1937 plaster counting customers exiting the building, as it Kings, Thirroul (1560 - opened by WT under lease
walls. He also came across several glass is rumoured one company director did after October 1935; purchased 1955; closed Dec. 1965).
slides of company theatres abandoned in the opening of the Wollongong Regent just Lakeline Drive-in, Dapto (750 cars - opened
the projection box; sadly many had been around the corner from the Crown. H by Southline Drive-in Co. Nov. 1967; closed
smashed, but some were rescued; many of March 1986).
these were later included in my 1995 book Municipal Hall, Coniston (400 - opened Nov. 1943;
on local cinemas. leased by WT from September 1949 to April 1956).
Municipal Hall, Unanderra (423 - opened Feb 1901;
Sources: Gauffered Velour. A History of motion leased by WT from November 1952 to cApril 1960).
After the company collapse other exhibitors picture exhibition and picture theatres in the
continued bravely in Bulli (Vista), Corrimal Illawarra District of NSW 1897-1994. Oddfellows’ Hall, Kiama (690 - opened 1890;
(Roma), Kiama (Antrim), Port Kembla Robert Parkinson. ATHS, Campbelltown, 1995. WT purchased February 1948 as dance hall;
sold December 1957).
(Whiteway) and Warrawong (Odeon/Gala). Addenda to Gauffered Velour.
Robert Parkinson, 1996 [Unpublished].
Astonishingly South Coast Theatres, which Picture Shows in the Marrickville and Newtown Princess, Corrimal (723 - opened 1912; leased by
WT from 1923 to July 1925; re-opened by H W Jones
had been established by Herbert Wyndham Districts 1898-2012. November 1930; renamed Roma December 1965;
Jones in 1936, persisted with the construction Robert Parkinson [author and publisher], 2012. burnt down September 1971).
of a hard-top cinema, the Wollongong Regent Australian Cinema – the First Eighty Years. Princess, Woonona (1000 - opened by J Glass Jan.
G Shirley and B Adams. A & R, Sydney, 1983.
which opened in December 1957 and closed Les Tod. Various websites about 1912; Boland leased from c1914; WT leased from
in January 2004. the history of Wollongong. Aug. 1925 as dance hall & storage until sold 1946).
Regal, Dapto (537 - opened by G Parkes December
1937; WT leased from 1949; purchased January
1957; closed January 1961).
Wollongong Savoy demolition.
Royal, Bulli (1509 - WT opened under lease
September 1924; closed April 1964; re-opened by
other exhibitor as Vista Aug.1968; closed Jan 1987).
School of Arts/Literary Institute, Albion Park (340 -
opened Jan. 1929; WT leased 1949 until July 1958;
other exhibitor continued to December 1959).
School of Arts, Thirroul (670 - opened May 1913;
Boland leased December 1913 to early 1914; other
exhibitors operated until c1924).
Southline Drive-in, Fairy Meadow (682 cars -
opened by Southline Drive-in Company October
1957; closed March 1984).
Strand, Corrimal (976 - Boland opened under
lease November 1921; closed March 1965).
Temperance Hall/Empire, Shellharbour (197 -
opened March 1883; WT purchased November 1949
and closed June 1960; sold September 1965).
Theatre, Crows Nest (1817 - opened by Boland
with others 1929-33; continued as cinema; Hoyts
leased from 1937 until closure 1965).
Town Hall Theatre (1694 - opened by Wollongong
Council December 1927; WT/Union Theatres leased
from 1929 to June 1938; re-opened by H W Jones
as Civic October 1939; closed January 1964).

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