Page 35 - CinemaRecord #79

The evening of February 19 1938 saw the
official opening of the new Corio Theatre
by Melbourne cinema operators, Sloman and
Moggs. (For more history of the Corio Theatre,
see Mike Trickett’s article in CR#65 2010.)
The projectors were Kalee 11s, with arcs
purpose built by Sloman and Moggs’ chief
engineer. The resident manager was a Leslie
Raphael. However, on March 11 1939, Raphael
resigned as house manager to take up a new
position as general manager of Regent Theatres Top and Right: Corio Theatre.
Pty. Ltd., comprising the Regent Geelong, the
Regent Colac and the West Park Theatre in
Geelong.
The last projectionist at the Corio was Lex de
The new manager of the Corio was a G.L. Vries, who has generously supplied many of the
Strickland. On November 29 1940, after photographs used in this, and previous articles
working at Melbourne’s Majestic Theatre, in CinemaRecord.
and the Chiltern Star before that, Harold
Newton started as the Corio’s projectionist and, On November 18 1979, the Corio Theatre’s
apart from 4 years’ absence on military duty, then manager, Day Pledger, passed away at the
remained at the Corio until January 20 1955, age of 67. Day could often be seen walking from
when he transferred to the new Star Drive-In his home at Rippleside, around the Bay to the
Theatre in Moolap as its first chief projectionist. Corio Theatre, accompanied by his pet boxer.
Assistant projectionist, Ian Patterson, took over
as projectionist. At the theatre, the boxer was always to be found
comfortably settled in the rear, curtained off
In 1955, the Corio installed CinemaScope, but section of the ticket box. Unfortunately, the
retained the Kalee 11s. Around the mid 1960s, animal had a problem with flatulence, much
the original Kalee 11 projectors were replaced to the annoyance of the female ticket sellers.
firstly with a pair of Bauer B11s, then later with Because the dog could not be seen by patrons
a pair of Bauer B14s, which remained in service as they purchased their tickets, it was the ticket
until 1982, when the theatre closed and was seller who was often blamed for the malodorous
demolished to make way for construction of the atmosphere. (Well, that was her story, anyway!)
new Geelong Market Square shopping centre.
On March 18 2008, the Corio Theatre’s former
projectionist, Ian Patterson, passed away at the
age of 76.
On December 1 1945, The Embassy commenced
film screenings in the building known as Sladen
Hall in Russell Street, Chilwell. The building
was originally constructed for 700 pounds by
public subscription in 1899. In the later 1940s,
the theatre changed its name to The Astor,
but burned to the ground on the evening of
November 17 1957.

Astor after fire.

Corio
Bio Box.

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