Page 26 - CinemaRecord #79

uch has been written about Geelong
Ex Theatre Royal and Hotel 1902.
Mechanics interior 1907.
26 2013 CINEM AREC ORD
Mover the years, as it has played a
prominent role in the history of southern
Victoria. However, it also has a rich history
of theatres and cinemas, almost since its 1853 ad.
beginnings in 1836 to present times.
In March of 1856, the Mechanics Institute
opened on the site currently occupied by the
In writing this article, I have tried to give a brief,
chronological overview of each of the major Geelong Performing Arts Centre and, by the
theatres (and some of the minor ones as well). following year, its concert hall was completed to
There have been a number of other smaller become the venue for many live performances
before the Exhibition Building opened in 1880.
enterprises but, because of lack of information
about these venues, they have been omitted.
Maybe that might form the basis for a future In 1927, the Mechanics Institute was damaged
project. by fire, and was repaired, given a first floor and
reopened as the Plaza Theatre in 1928, seating
around 1000 over two levels, and offering
The earliest recorded live theatrical performance movies and live entertainment to Geelong’s
in Geelong was held on October 5 1843, in the
Geelong Theatre on Corio Street (not the later theatre hungry public.
Geelong Theatre which was later converted
into the Village Twin, and then later again into However, by 1939, audiences had dwindled,
and the theatre closed with the final screening
the current Village 11).
being a double feature program of Winterset
and The Life of the Party. A diary of the then
However, it was not until 16 December 1847
th
that the first real theatre opened in the town. projectionist, James Fenton, states that “the
It was the also the first brick building to be Simplex projectors were moved to Colac”
(presumably to the Colac Regent at the time).
constructed in Ryrie Street, and was called The
Australian Theatre. It was owned by a John
Hassett, but was later converted into shops.
In 1848, the Theatre Royal opened in Malop
Street at a cost of 3000 pounds, and by 1883
had become the Salvation Army Barracks. It
was demolished in around 1960 to allow the
construction of a supermarket on the site. That
supermarket was eventually converted to house
the present Officeworks outlet.
Mechanics.