Page 36 - CinemaRecord #79

West Geelong’s Pix Cinema auditorium.

In 1952, a newcomer from Penshurst in the
Western District, Rupert Barras Brownbill, On May 5 1978, Bass suddenly passed away
(known as Bass to all in the industry), applied at the age of 69. The theatre was sold three
to the Geelong West Council for permission to times over ensuing years, never achieving the
construct a new cinema at 21 Elizabeth Street same success as it had as a small suburban
in Geelong West, on the site of a former biscuit independent. Finally, the theatre was purchased
factory. Permission was granted, and the Pix by Village in 1993 to fill the gap whilst the
Cinema opened in 1953. Village Twin was being converted.
Pix West It was later referred to as the Pix West to
bio-box.
differentiate it from the Pix Belmont, which After the Village 11 opened in 1995, the Pix was
was also operated by Brownbill. closed, and an embargo placed on it being used
as a cinema ever again. The next owner removed
The projectors at Pix West were Simplex on the raked floor, so that the building could be
universal bases, with Western Electric sound used for ballroom dancing. That venture failed,
and Calder 10” arcs. On Saturdays, double and the building is now being used as a church.
features at matinees and evening performances As already mentioned, the Pix West also
were switched with the Pix Belmont. operated the Pix Belmont. This was established
in the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Hall in
Over the years, Bass did battle with the film Regent Street in 1956.
exchanges to secure first run screenings on a par
with Village. In 1965 he succeeded in exhibiting The projectors were Standard Simplex with
the only Geelong run of The Sound of Music. Kalee arcs. The projectionist was Arthur
That ran for 6 weeks, 2 sessions a day. He also Kishere who also operated a floor covering
screened the world premiere of Mick Jagger’s business in Geelong at the time. He was an avid
Ned Kelly at the Glenrowan Hall in June movie equipment collector, and the first floor
1970 using a pair of portable 35mm Shinkyo of his shop in Moorabool Street was a treasure
projectors. trove of projector heads, arcs, spools, film, in
fact you name it, it could be found there. His
In late 1969, Bass set about replacing the house in Buckland Avenue, Newtown, was even
Simplex machines with a pair of refurbished named “Goldwyn”.
Kalee 19s and Peerless Arcs. However, before
installation commenced, he found a better deal, Films were switched between the Pix West
and exchanged the Peerless lamphouses for a and Pix Belmont, with Saturday matinees at
pair of GK President lamphouses. both theatres always screening film suitable for
children. At the time, the author was working
After the Saturday night screening, the as spool boy at the Pix Belmont, and the car
Simplex projectors were removed, later to be bringing the second feature matinee film to us
installed at the Anglesea Cinema, which was broke down. Since there was no way film would
also being operated by Bass over Easter and arrive in time, Arthur decided to screen the
Christmas holiday seasons. By Monday night, support film for the night session in its place.
a new suspended ceiling had been installed in
the projection room, by Tuesday new floor Unfortunately, that film happened to be a 1954
tiles had been laid, and installation of the new horror movie entitled Them, about giant mutant
Kalee’s commenced on Wednesday under ants killing citizens left, right and centre. There
the supervision of Malcolm Ford of National must have been a few hundred children who had
Theatre Supplies in Melbourne. nightmares that night.

This was completed by late Friday night, then The Pix Belmont did not last long, and closed in
aperture plates were cut, being finished by 4am 1958. The first projectionist I ever worked with,
on Saturday morning. The first screening with Arthur Kishere, passed away on June 28 1980 at
the new machines took place at the matinee that the age of 76.
Former Pix Belmont. day, with The Battle of Britain.

36 2013 CINEM AREC ORD