Page 22 - CinemaRecord #83

TRARALGON’S

VALLEY THEATRE /LATROBE CINEMA

Revisited By Gerry Kennedy

y movie going began in Melbourne, in
Mthe late 1940s. I fondly remember going
to matinees as part of the neighbourhood gang,
and being awed with the architecture of Hoyts
Glenhuntly and New Malvern theatres as well
as the Embassy (Metro) in Malvern.
In 1949, my family moved to Traralgon
(160km east of Melbourne) in the Latrobe
Valley region of Gippsland. There I
experienced one of life's disappointments: the
only movie theatre in the district was located
in Yallourn (25km west). Movies were
screened in Traralgon’s Town Hall on 5-6
nights per week, with a Saturday matinee. The
Town Hall Committee acted as the
entrepreneur, and traded as the "Town Hall
Talkies”. Mr. E. (Ted) Conchi was the
Manager for some 25 years.
The Valley Theatre shortly after opening c. 1952
The Latrobe Valley area includes the towns of THE VALLEY THEATRE AT A GLANCE
Moe, Yallourn, Yallourn North, Morwell and Lawrence Brothers Theatres decided to build
Traralgon, spread along a strip of 30 km. The a new cinema in Traralgon. Architect: Cowper, Murphy and
area was the centre of the State Electricity Associates (Melbourne)
Commission's brown coal mining and power The Valley Theatre was built at 29 Grey Builder: Harris Bros (Melbourne)
generation activity, as well as other developing Street, on land purchased from the adjoining Plasterer: James Lyall (Melbourne)
major industries. Yallourn was a fully planned Ryan's Hotel. The construction of the theatre
SEC company town, and its facilities included commenced in 1949, and was built in two Opened: 19 December 1951.
an attractive two level theatre (opened in 1939) stages over the following two years. This was Closed: 8 May 1973 (as Valley)
equipped for live shows as well as film due to the post war shortage and rationing of Reopened: 21 June 1973 (as Latrobe)
screenings. Films were screened in halls in the building materials, the bureaucratic permit
Closed: January 1978
other towns. system to acquire them, and an unsympathetic
local council. Theatres were not considered to
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the be essential in a time of shortages. Apparently imported. Two contracts were let: one for the
region's population grew rapidly, aided by commercial developers could not obtain a steel fabricated arched framework of the main
immigration and a large, transient construction single permit to build to completion, but rather auditorium, and one to complete the building,
workforce. In response to this population a series of permits was required. Due to the including stage house, façade, roofing, side
growth, and the need for more sophisticated priority of house construction, materials for foyers and fitting out.
entertainment facilities, the partners of non-essential buildings often had to be
The construction of the theatre was not without
controversy, and local civic and community
dignitaries were open in their opposition.
There were common or sympathetic links
between the Shire Council, business leaders
and the Town Hall Committee (the Committee
screened films to help pay for the construction
of the Town Hall, built in 1925). The failure
to obtain the second stage building permits
delayed the project by fifteen months. In
frustration, Alf and Josh Lawrence turned to
the local business community for support: they
attempted to gain signatures to a petition to
force the issue with the Shire Council.
However, rather than gain support, they
generally encountered opposition. They were
forced to seek political intervention to acquire
the second stage permit, which was granted
when it was realised that £5,000 had been
expended on the frame-up contract.

According to council records, the “Consent to
Commence Building Operations” form,
relating to an application (dated 3 May 1950)
The traditional European workers’ good luck dummy hangs from the to complete the building, was approved on
Quonset style roof line during construction 18 October 1950.

22 CINEMARECORD # 83