Page 32 - CinemaRecord #81

Harold Kitchen was a member of the Australian
Imperial Force during the First World War and
took over his father’s local dairy business, Bay
View Dairy, in 1919.
He is mentioned in the CAARP (Cinemas and
Audiences in Australia) database as having
formed the previously mentioned Oakleigh
Talkies Pty Ltd. Kitchen, and his family, was to
be involved with the Oakleigh theatres for over
30 years.

Kitchen’s wife Beatrice was listed as exhibitor
for the Plaza 1947-1961, son Ronald was listed
with J H Kitchen as exhibitors of the Paramount
1962-1967 and son Douglas was the manager

of the Plaza in at least 1948 according to their
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At this time Australia was in the grip of the
Depression and to remain viable Kitchen
rationalised the operation of the theatres.
The Paramount was to continue to screen
The Paramount made the big announcement nightly with a change of program twice weekly
in May 1931 that it was “now one of the Great whilst the Plaza was to only open on Saturdays.
Chain of Hoyts Theatres” and promoted the
event by dropping 100 complimentary passes Kitchen immediately found himself in trouble
from an aeroplane. with the Oakleigh Council as it appeared that
In taking over the lease further alterations were the structure housing the new speakers at the
promised with more comfortable seating and rear of the theatre was built without a permit.
various other improvements to be added shortly.
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On 11 April 1933 the Melbourne Argus
However, the lease to Hoyts ceased in November UHSRUWHG WKDW D ¿UH KDG RFFXUUHG DW WKH Plaza
the following year and the Paramount again WKHDWUH 7KH ¿UH ZDV WKRXJKW WR KDYH VWDUWHG LQ
closed for alterations. D VWRUH URRP EHQHDWK WKH FLUFOH ÀRRU DQG DERXW
New Western Electric sound equipment VHDWV DQG VTXDUH IHHW RI WKH ÀRRU RI WKH
was installed and the stage was extended circle were burnt.
considerably making it possible to put on
stage numbers. To enable this it was necessary The Melbourne Argus on 30 July 1933 reported
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to build a “house” at the rear of the theatre that J H Kitchen, manager of the Paramount
for the two enormous speakers. A new and Theatre at Oakleigh, was charged at the
H[SHQVLYH VFUHHQ ZDV DOVR ¿WWHG 7KH OREE\ ZDV Oakleigh Court on Thursday with having failed
UHGHFRUDWHG DQG QHZ GRRUV ZHUH ¿WWHG to attach to a picture “The Child of Manhattan”
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The Paramount re-opened a week later on approved by the censor for general exhibition.
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12 November 1932 with the announcement 7KH SURVHFXWLRQ ZDV WKH ¿UVW XQGHU H[LVWLQJ
that both the Plaza and Paramount theatres regulations. Kitchen pleaded guilty and was
were now under the management of Mr (John) ¿QHG WKH PD[LPXP IRU D ¿UVW RIIHQFH
Harold Kitchen who had acquired complete
interests in both houses. In July 1938 a heating system was installed at the
Paramount consisting of about 480 footplate
warmers applied to all seats in the centre block
dŚĞ WĂƌĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŝŶ ϭϵϲϮ͘ of the stalls, and all seats in the lounge and dress
circle. Hearing aides were also provided.

From the mid 40’s the Paramount joined the
Plaza in the Independent Theatres columns, and
then from the mid 50’s both were listed under
the heading Regional Theatres.

Plans dated 1948 detailed further remodeling
to the Paramount. A hallway was added on to
the left side of the building leading to the front
stalls. Off this hallway new toilets were built
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circle foyer, including toilets, was added on to
the left side of the dress circle. The refreshment
area adjacent to the foyer gave way to a new
staircase leading to the circle foyer, and a
second emergency exit stairway from the back
of the dress circle to Warrigal Road.

32 2014 CINEMAREC ORD