Page 18 - CinemaRecord #79
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The abandoned drive- in site with the new cinemas at the left.
The Siemiginowski family was aware of the Prior to the opening of the new cinemas, the
rapid development of multi-screen cinemas Orana Drive In and the Albany Town Hall
and decided to build a twin cinema at the Theatre operations were closed and some
front of the Orana Drive-In property, facing equipment was transferred to the new project.
the Albany Highway. This necessitated
convincing the town council to change the In July 1997 another parallel auditorium
land zoning to enable them to build outside of was opened and the theatre was renamed the
the towns central business district. Albany 3 Cinemas.
Derelict Orana Drive-In.
The Albany 2 Cinemas opened in April Again in 2004 another parallel cinema
1993. This new twin was of tilt-form concrete auditorium was opened which featured a
construction and the auditoriums were of an “Mega-Screen”, and a small capacity balcony
innovative design with the dimensions of the called “Bogart’s” – complete with associated
Cinema One/Albany Town Hall Theatre private lounge, bar and toilets. This cinema
auditorium used as the model for the new was also equipped with satellite equipment to
theatre’s design. screen major sporting and opera events. At the
The parallel auditoriums were wide, with well- time it was one of the eight locations (Australia
Town Hall seating. spaced seating set well back from the screens. wide) accessing the “Regional Digital Screen
The reclining seats also had a good width Network”, a national government project
(585mm), whilst row spacing was a generous which funded the necessary equipment and
1.3 metres (back to back). installation. The venue was renamed the
Orana Cinemas Albany.
Town Hall screen.
Albany Twin Cinemas. Additions to the twin built to the right.
Abandoned drive-in with
cinema buildings top right.
18 2013 CINEM AREC ORD
