Page 19 - CinemaRecord #85

Ben De Luca also programs the Munro
Theatre at Babinda in Far North
Queensland. «

References:

(1) Much of the history of the theatre was
found in an unsourced and undated
local newspaper account of the
Summergarden.

(2) Interview with Ben De Luca.
Additional material supplied by Ben De
Luca
(3) The Motion Picture Annual Directory.
1956/57.

Images:
All images by Bert Clements
Introduction sourced from:
www.discoveraustralia.com.au/northe
rn_territory/australia_the_movie.html

Overview of the projection room. Platters are now utilised for other purposes!

The projection area is accessed from the entry generally entertain the cast and crew when the
foyer and the residence. The original Baz Luhrmann blockbuster Australia was Details at a Glance
projection room on the ground floor is now a being filmed in Bowen.
maintenance room.
The theatre and its owner were featured in the Location:
The Summergarden Theatre is the oldest Graham McNeice production Saturday Night 40 Murroona St., Queens Beach,
continually operating cinema in North and at the Movies, a three part series featuring Bowen. Queensland.
Central Queensland – a vast area. In 1983 the historical theatres of Australia recently
theatre was chosen to play a major role in the screened on Foxtel. Built: 1948
making of The Slim Dusty Movie.
During school holidays the cinemas operate on Officially Opened: 19 October,
In 2007 the theatre was invited to supply props, a seven day, multi session, day and date policy. 1951, after a lengthy delay in getting
screen “rushes”, run private screenings and In the off period screenings are dropped on a licence.
Monday and Tuesdays.
Popular budget prices The theatre is still operating.
operate all year round.
Current Owners/Operators:
Ben and Phyl De Luca, since 4th
The Summergarden
outlived the two cinemas May, 1962 – nearly 53 years.
in Bowen’s central
business district, the Tivoli Seating:
and the Grand, which Cinema 1- 340 seats
Cinema 2- 87 seats
were operated by Far
Northern Theatres of
Cairns. The local
Whitsunday Drive In (on
the Bruce Highway),
closed in 1996, the day the
opening of the second
screen at the Bowen
Summergarden Cinemas
was announced.

The Cinemas have now
been converted to digital
projection, but are still
equipped to screen 16 mm
and 35 mm film.

Left: Five tier platter
Right: A long-retired
Raycophone projector on
display.

CINEMARECORD # 85 19