Page 37 - CinemaRecord #85

THE WORLD’S VERY FIRST ODEON THEATRE
Lavers Hill Hall 1980s. Image courtesy MIV collection
Not in England, not in Germany, not in Australia –

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LAVERS but in Athens, Greece. by Les Tod
HILL HALL
t the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Epidaurus
At the inaugural meeting of a band of citizens Adirectly below the famous Parthenon, sits Romans later went on to copy Greek theatre
of Lavers Hill in 1933, it was resolved that, the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, a huge stone design and performance, and today we owe
a new hall be built on land to be purchased amphitheatre, built in 161 AD and still in use the antecedents of our own live theatre to the
from Mr. P.D. Hampshire. today. Its seating capacity is 5,000. Today it is ancient Greeks – not to mention our
more commonly known as the Odeon, or democracy, many of our English words and
A Committee was formed to secure the block sometimes as the Herodeon. even women’s rights.
of land and obtain particulars from the Otway Odeon is an ancient Greek word meaning a
Shire Council as to terms of a loan to help place of performance for musicians or poets. One of the largest ancient open air theatres
ever built is in the Greek countryside at
finance the project. And no, it does not mean Oscar Deutsch Epidaurus. A healing sanctuary was
Entertains Our Nation – that was a publicity established here 400 BC with temples, baths,
At a further meeting in March it was decided slogan invented for the famous Odeon theatre accommodation for pilgrims, and the massive
to ask additional citizens to become members circuit in Britain. 15,000 seat open air theatre, praised for its
and additional guarantors of the loan. A loan symmetry and beauty, was built in 340 BC.
of £700 was eventually negotiated through Herodus Atticus was a wealthy Athenian
the Commercial Bank merchant who built the Odeon in memory of Despite later raids by pirates and others, not
his wife, Aspasia.
to mention two major earthquakes, the theatre
By May 14, tenders were received and a survives today. The original layout was
decision made that Mr. Frank Watson's tender It originally had a huge roof made of Cedar of extended by the Romans to double its size.
Lebanon timber, but the theatre and the roof
of £535 be accepted.
were destroyed in 267 AD and after that the
Odeon, like the Acropolis above it, stood as a The superb acoustics are still obvious today,
The hall was erected in less than six months, ruin for centuries. the theatre being used for the annual
a Grand Opening Ball was held on October Epidaurus Festival. These acoustics permit
14, 1933. Later, in 1936, it was decided to In the 1950s the Odeon was restored, although almost perfect intelligibility of spoken words
rename the Hall a Mechanics Institute. This the roof was never re-instated. It became the to all 15,000 spectators. Even a match can be
had the effect of excluding it from paying venue for the Athens Festival, featuring Greek heard to light.
rates. It also saw the inclusion of a Mechanics and international artists, and slowly began to
Institute Library with several hundred books. build up a reputation as a major theatrical venue. The theatre at Epidaurus is located on the edge
of a huge and beautiful wooded valley.
The Hall was in constant demand, so much Maria Callas performed there, as did Frank People sitting in its rows can look out to the
so that some organisations had to negotiate Sinatra, Nana Mouskouri, Luciano Pavarotti distant hills and trees – even today there is
for the allocation of a single date in a year. and Vangelis, Elton John, the Tokyo Ballet, nothing to obstruct their view.
Diana Ross, Andrea Boccelli and Liza Minelli.
Early in 1953, the Lavers Hill Hall Theatre The theatre at Epidaurus, built 340 BC, is
Committee was formed. Two projectors and Its massive stone forecourt is a popular place difficult for Australians, with our short
for wedding photographs. Today it has an European history, to comprehend. But its
a slide projector were purchased and regular
picture shows were held. At the same time, international reputation and is in regular use, peace and serenity is still obvious over two
230 volt power was installed. Films were but one needs to remember to bring a cushion! thousand years later. «
presented each week until competition from
a commercial operator at Beech Forest
("Talkie" Bell) made it uneconomic to
continue.

Acknowledgements:
Otways Districts Historical Society

Mechanics Institutes of Victoria Inc. (MIV)

Editorial comment:

The CATHS venues database shows that Mr. William
“Talkie” Bell screened at several locations in south
western Victoria.

CINEMARECORD # 85 37