Page 28 - CinemaRecord #85

The former Beacon Theatre is now retail
THE BEACON THEATRE
OTHER VENUES

The Beacon Theatre is a South Fremantle cinema, and is located on
the corner of Wray Avenue and Hampton Road, although, as its name Films have also been screened in the Fremantle Town Hall and the
suggests, it's almost in the adjacent suburb of Beaconsfield. Fremantle Prison. I'd be surprised if films had not also been shown in
Victoria Hall, in High St. as well.
The Beacon was designed by prominent theatre and cinema architect
The Richmond Cinema was on the corner of Silas St and Canning
Samuel Rosenthal. Its Art Deco/Moderne style is reflected in the
asymmetrical massing of its streamlined vertical and horizontal Hwy, East Fremantle. There are currently three cinema complexes in
elements, stylised lettering and other decorative details. Fremantle: Hoyts Queensgate with six screens (NOW CLOSED),
Hoyts Millennium with four screens, and the independent Luna on SX
with two.
When Rosenthal received the commission it was to be known as the
Astoria, but by the time the building opened in August 1937, the
The Film and Television Institute (FTI) in Adelaide St, had occasional
directors of the venture had decided to name the building the Beacon
Theatre. This alternative title was chosen from over 400 others as a screenings sometimes outdoors in the park between FTI and Port
result of a competition conducted by "The Advocate". Cineaste.
As of May 2014, FTI is leaving Fremantle for the Northbridge Cultural
The name deriving from the local district of Beaconsfield. The theatre
was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor of Fremantle, Mr F.E. Precinct, after more than forty years in Fremantle. When it was first set
Gibson. The building includes a row of shops, one of which occupies up, it was called PIFT, (the Perth Institute for Film and Television.)
the corner site. Despite the conversion of the cinema into a supermarket,
the original interior and exterior detailing and decoration is still apparent. There is one former cinema which is (just) still usable: the 150-seat Port
Cineaste in Adelaide St. It has been occasionally used for events, and
from 2009 until recently, it was the home of the Harbour Theatre . It
The building is classified by the National Trust and is a landmark in
South Fremantle is under the control of the City of Fremantle. «
Below: The 150 seat Port Cineaste undergoing a make-over and the auditorium. Images: Garry Gillard

28 CINEMARECORD # 85