Page 6 - CinemaRecord #79

WAGGA WAGGA: Having opened on June 29,
The Darlinghurst Tabernacle is being
converted into a live theatre.
North Sydney Independent. 1960s.
Paramount Theatrette being refurbished.
Redesigned new Imax building.
Bandbox Cinema.
6 2013 CINEM AREC ORD
1963 the Civic Theatre celebrated its 50 year
th
with a nostalgic display in the foyer and a range
of special functions, displays and performances.
DARLINGHURST: The heritage listed,
former 1887 Baptist Tabernacle is currently
being converted into the Eternity Playhouse,
a state-of-the-art live theatre and home for the
Darlinghurst Theatre Company.
CLOVELLY: The freehold of the former RSL
Club, housed since 1962 in the (1939) art-deco
Kings Theatre has been offered for sale with
the possibility of adaptive re-use or residential
redevelopment. Expressions of interest closed
on August 4.
NORTH SYDNEY: The Elizabethan Theatre
Trust has sold the Independent Theatre KOTARA: Newcastle Council has approved
in Miller Street to the Wenona School who controversial modified plans for a new cinema
have been long-time users of the venue as a complex at the Westfield Shopping Centre.
performance space. It originated as an 1886 Updated plans provide increased floor space as
cable-tram depot, converted into the Coliseum
Theatre in 1911 and reborn as the (live) an entertainment and leisure area in the cinema,
Independent in 1939. but also allow a cut of 250 required car
parking spaces which locals residents worry
LAKE HAVEN: Wyong Council is will create further parking congestion in nearby
investigating entering into a partnership streets.
agreement with Metro Cinemas in an attempt
to attract a major cinema development and bring TUMUT: Digital projection finally replaced
social and economic benefit to the area. film in July at the Montreal Theatre with the
installation of a unit that had previously been
SURRY HILLS: Plans for a rooftop cinema installed at Wagga.
above the former offices of Paramount Pictures
were scrapped due to local objections. Instead, NAROOMA: Re-roofing of the historic
the operators of Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinema
spent some $500,000 to transform the interior of Kinema building over a two week period
the building into a trendy bar which also utilises commenced on August 26 thanks to a $30,000
the original 60-seat Paramount Theatrette. grant from the NSW Government’s Community
As the new boutique Golden Age Cinema and Building Partnership program. Evening and
Bar the venue opened on September 6. weekend screenings were not interrupted.
AVOCA BEACH: A community group opposed BLACKTOWN: The Greater Union Twin
to the expansion of the Avoca Beach Theatre Drive-In Theatre recently re-opened Field 1
into a 5-screen venue, have called for financial with a smaller replacement screen next to its
support from locals to enable the engagement of new motel neighbour, closed again in August
lawyers. Operators of the (1948) single screen for an extensive 50’s-themed refurbishment of
feel they must grow to survive in todays market.
the cafeteria – due to re-open in October.
DARLING HARBOUR: The proposed
redevelopment of the Imax Theatre site MANLY: A Pittwater councillor is calling for
has been redesigned to now be a much larger a change of the council’s own G-PG only film
20-storey building soaring up to 93.5 metres policy so the council can screen M-rated movies
high, three times the height of the current at its open-air cinema events in the summer
building. Expected to take three years to build, months.
the updated proposal includes 41,470sqm of
office space and 7300sqm for retail, a function BANKSTOWN: The new $20 million
centre and entertainment space, and an all new Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre
Imax Cinema. currently under construction will contain a 300-
seat theatre that will be named after actor Bryan
NIMBIN: A local cultural centre, the Bush Brown who grew up in the area.
Theatre was closed mid-year and put up for
sale by its operators of the last 2 years, stating
harassment from certain neighbours, disrespect BIRMINGHAM GARDENS: Work is nearing
and a lack of community support. completion on the refurbishing and renovating
of the Regal Cinema, which has been closed
KEMPSEY: The 33-year old Bandbox Cinema since 2006. Digital projection equipment and an
closed on August 25 due to the prohibitive cost upgraded sound system are yet to be installed
of converting to digital projection. and a Manager/Programmer appointed.