Page 9 - CinemaRecord #84

A GRAND LADY LOST:

The Rose Bay Wintergarden

By Les Tod
ne of Sydney’s most prestigious “NEW PICTURE THEATRE OPENED AT
Osuburban theatres, and also one of the ROSE BAY
largest, the Wintergarden, was built at 614 Everything about the new Wintergarden
New South Head Road, on a site extending Picture Theatre at Rose Bay, which was
from the street back onto Rose Bay itself. opened by Mr. W. Foster, MLA, last night,
before a large assemblage, is in excellent taste.
The Wintergarden was said to be the The interior is distinctly luxurious. The first
brainchild of Dr. Adrian Lawson, a thing that struck people entering the theatre
Macquarie Street heart specialist, who last night was the fact that cool breezes were
conceived the idea of a truly beautiful, city blowing in through the lattice work, which
style cinema for Rose Bay, and commissioned formed a large part of the side walls. [The rear
top architect Henry White to design it. of the theatre backed onto Rose Bay and a
small sandy beach]. The lighting of the
It is also believed that another top theatre auditorium proved to be soft and restful. At
architect, G. N. Kenworthy, had input into the first the finely proportioned carving above and
design since, at the time, he was the Managing on either side of the stage, interspersed with
Architect of White’s practice and signed pairs of lofty pilasters, was admired in an
several of the documents. ordinary white light. Then, when the orchestra
began to play, the section above the stage
suddenly burst into a rich glow of cerise and
Mr. J. Lawson wrote to the Chief Secretary
rose, with touches of blue, and the designs on
in early March 1928, a few weeks before the
opening, advising that it was intended to use either side stood out against a background of
clear shell pink. The resources of the
the Wintergarden as a cinema theatre, and switchboard were shown further later. The In June 1929, Rose Bay Police advised that
that it would seat around 2,000 persons.
orchestra is under the baton of Mr Lionel Hart. “the installing of Talkies is in progress. Two
The two films shown were “Gigolo” featuring new machines have been installed. Four new
Ironically, the Wintergarden was not Rod La Rocque, and “The Magic Flame”.” holes have been cut through the wall, two for
complete when it was opened. The lounge
projecting and two for observation. Talkies to
foyer and toilets had not been built, and would The Wintergarden was certainly one of be shown on Monday 10 June 1929”.
not eventuate for some years. Temporary Sydney’s grandest theatres. The enormity of
staircases had been installed to access the its auditorium and its huge proscenium arch,
dress circle. This would cause some conflict its gigantic chandelier and back-lit decorative The Herald reported:
both with the local council and also the Chief wall panels, its ceiling dome and recessed
Secretary’s Department Architect. archways flanking the proscenium and stage “THE TALKIES. AMERICAN FILMS FOR
made it a theatre of refinement and elegance. THE RAYCOPHONE.
The Wintergarden opened on Monday 19 The exterior on New South Head Road was
March 1928. The Sydney Morning Herald imposing with its huge back-lit archways, and The management of the Rose Bay
reported: the theatre dominated the streetscape. Wintergarden Theatre, where the
Raycophone talkie apparatus has been
installed, has announced that five of the chief
distributors of American films have
arranged to supply this theatre with their
pictures. These distributors are Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, First National-Warner
Bros, United Artists, Universal and Fox
Films. This announcement is confirmed by
Mr. E. J. H. Wilson of the Democratic
Theatre, South Kensington, where the
Raycophone plant is to be ready on
Thursday week.

This means, they point out, that the chief
American distributing agencies, with the
exception of Paramount, have consented to
the exhibition of their films in theatres
equipped with an Australian talkie
apparatus, the Raycophone…

“Alias Jimmy Valentine” will be the first
picture shown as the Rose Bay Theatre
under the new arrangement.”

Image: Les Tod

CINEMARECORD # 84 9