Page 24 - CinemaRecord #81

A love for the old drive-in and the town was The outrage at this callous event, along with
symbolised in the ‘I Love Alice’ JUDI¿WL WKDW KDG the further bulldozing of the screen mobilised
been painted down one side of the screen face. the community. Within weeks the engineer had
Sentiments were so high that the old drive-in GHFODUHG WKH VWUXFWXUH ¿W DQG %ODWKHUVNLWH 3DUN
was heritage-listed in 2005. Showground had been secured as the venue
where the screen could be re-sited.
In 2009 a new consortium bought the site and in A team of volunteers disassembled the screen.
2010 they successfully had the heritage listing The frame was cut into sections and moved
revoked. Community anger was raised at the using the developer’s $15000.
prospect of the old theatre being demolished,
however appeals to have the drive-in re-listed In a positive twist Harry, the Blatherskite Park
were unsuccessful. groundsman and park Trustee turned out to be
one of the original projectionists from both
In 2012 the developers offered the old drive-in the Pioneer Walk-In and Pioneer Drive-In.
screen for ‘tender’ at the new owners’ expense. Employed by Snowy Kenna, Harry was there in Vandalised
After a lack of takers they offered $15000 to the heyday both! ƉƌŽũĞĐƟŽŶ ƌŽŽŵ͘
assist in its relocation.
There were two main issues raised about the The screen now lies in four sections at
SRWHQWLDO GULYH LQ GHPROLWLRQ 7KH ¿UVW EHLQJ Blatherskite Park awaiting the funds to bring it Transported
ŝŶ ƐĞĐƟŽŶƐ͘
history and sentiment. Community members back to life. As Harry rattles off the dimensions
reminisced about lining up through the Gap in and the throw required for the projectors we
old Landrovers, folding chairs, eskies, blankets, inform him that this time it will be digital…
Chico-Rolls, the odd few kids hiding in the boot
for a cheaper night out. Harry is enthused!

The other issue was the loss of the materials; the
craftsmanship of 1950’s construction, solid steel Right: Harry Cook.
and the manpower that would have gone into
welding up the huge frame. In a town where a
VLJQL¿FDQW SURSRUWLRQ RI UHVRXUFHV DUH LPSRUWHG There is a strong tĂŝƟŶŐ ƌĞƐƵƌƌĞĐƟŽŶ
at its new home.
it seemed criminal to send structures such as this and current family
off to the scrap heap. history with this
screen. The Kenna family did a lot of the
In June 2013, whilst folks were out of town construction themselves, Reg Harris installed
enjoying the Finke Desert Race, the old drive-in the electrics and the Bonanni Brothers (local
screen was pulled down in one piece and left brickworks) laid the footings.
IDFH GRZQ LQ WKH GLUW 7KH GHYHORSHUV FRQ¿UPHG
this was their doing. The new context of the screen being in an
accessible, multi-purpose recreation space
Citizens for an Outdoor Cinema (a local lobby should bring success to this new chapter. Many
group set up around saving the drive-in) had of the facilities and utility required to run the The Pioneer/Starline Drive-In site has been
been in conversation with the developers in screen as a drive-in already exists at the park. lost to redevelopment, the old Capitol burnt
April the same year and had a guarantee that The screen will also become a community asset, down years ago, and after closure the Pioneer
there was time before the screen’s fate would used for diverse purposes. Walk-In became a market in 1983 - and is now
be decided. The group had an engineer’s a back-packers hostel.
assessment underway.
With so much local heritage already lost, it is
commendable that part of Alice Spings cinema
history may now live to see another day – and
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the stars.

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Photographs ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ͗ ƌƵĐĞ
Richmond; Maree Axford, Alex Kelly, Kim Hopper,
/ŶŐůŽƌŝŽƵƐ ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ Ͳ ƉƵůůĞĚ ĚŽǁŶ ŽŶ ƐŝƚĞ͘ Robert Brackenbury and Mike Gillam.
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24 2014 CINEMAREC ORD