Page 30 - CinemaRecord #81

There were further changes made some time in
the late 1920’s. Another shop was added to the
left of the building. The toilets at the back of the
building were removed and the angled walls on
either side of the stage were built.

The toilets were now relocated to the yard
between the railway line and the main building
behind the shops, built on the fence line
separating the property and the railway. Access
to the toilets was from a side door from the stalls,
and from a staircase added on to the side of the
building leading from the dress circle.
It must have been very unpleasant using this
facility in inclement weather and when a train
was rattling past!

Advertisements in the local newspaper during late
1929 and early 1930 indicated the Paramount
screened movies on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, with a matinee on
Saturday. Oddly there were no screenings on
Tuesdays and Friday nights. The owner/builder
of the Paramount Rosina McDonald passed
away in August 1929 and ownership passed to
her sister Ivy Ethel Knibb in May 1931.

In July 1930 the Paramount closed for
renovations and conversion to “talkies”. The
theatre was completely remodelled during
the three weeks of closure. A new stage and
proscenium was constructed, and a Celotex
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insulation and acoustics.

The bio box was moved from the upstairs dress
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stalls “to ensure a perfectly clear and bright
picture” and featured the installation of the
world’s greatest All-British A.W.H (Harris) talkie
equipment”. Ticket boxes were added to either
side of the foyer.

30 2014 CINEMAREC ORD