Page 16 - CinemaRecord #79
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Over the years Orange was served by a number With the advent of television the Strand closed
of single screens; the early Star, Monarch and first. In the late 1960’s the Century closed and
1928 Floods Stadium Pictures, then the Theatre Orange was sold to Frank Alcorn who was the proprietor
(1926) and the Strand (both in Summer St), of the building next door.
the Australia and later the Western Drive In He hired the theatre out to local theatre groups
Theatre. and traveling entrepreneurs. Speech nights
The latter three hardtop cinemas ran as were also held in both the Strand and Century
independent houses which were later acquired by theatres.
Western Theatres, a subsidiary of the Snider and
Dean circuit. The opening of the Western Drive In, in the
1970’s further damaged the operations of the
These theatres were upgraded for the introduction hardtop screens. The opening film at the drive-in
of Cinemascope and the Theatre Orange was was Airport.
renamed the Coronet and the Australia became
the Century.
The two theatres were given a typically 1950’s
makeover, both internally and externally,
resulting in most attractive venues. Daddy
Longlegs was the first scope film screened at the
Coronet whilst Three Coins in the Fountain held
the honours at the Century.
1951 Ad.
16 2013 CINEM AREC ORD
