Page 17 - CinemaRecord #86

Another draft proposal theatre was eventually opened on 7
was put forward to the December 1954 with the new additions. The
PHC on 11 March 1952 theatre was likely called the Roxy from this
for more extensive time. 2
alterations and
additions. These On 29 April 1958 a new seating plan for 370
proposals were for a seats was submitted but not approved. Over
brick, cement or the years seating approvals had decreased
cement sheet extension from the initial 350, with 290 being allowed
(19’6” deep x 31’9” in 1953.
wide) to provide for an
enlarged entry foyer Nulty advised the then
and a managers office Department of Health
on right hand side. A (DoH) on 29
masthead with a ticket A p r i l
box in its base, opening
to the outside, was
The Victory 1936 included in the
plans. The
entry porch. This area was accessed by an name of the theatre was also
internal staircase, located on the rear wall of the clarified in this
auditorium (left hand side, viewed from the correspondence; it 1958, that
stage). was to be called the the building had
Victory. been purchased from
The theatre was leased to the Nulty Family from H.F. Ingwersen at the time of
the start. An application, signed by J. Nulty, to Plans were the alterations (c.1953).
open the Victory Picture Theatre was sent to subsequently drawn by
the PHC on 17 August 1936. Approval was Carleton and Henderson of It is thought that the Star (Town Hall)
given on 20 August for an opening on 346 Swanston Street, Melb competed with the Victory into the 1940s,
7 September 1936. It would appear that the ourne, and submitted to the PHC. The after which the Victory required additional
actual approval to open was not formalised until inadequacies of the projection room access /exit seating to cope with demand. It would appear
1
23 June 1941. The seating capacity was 350 . were addressed. An external staircase was to that the management included additional,
be constructed on unauthorized seats; this gave rise to
the south side of threatened legal action by DoH. Eventually,
the building the owners applied for a new seating plan
leading to a that was approved on 25 May 1959; 370
gangway across seats were allowed.
the flat roof of the
foyer extension. The Nulty’s cinema interests grew over the
An exit ladder years to include the operation of an extensive
was to be fitted on circuit serving remote towns and a drive in
the north side of theatre in Robinvale
the building.
Cement blocks Television arrived in the area in the late
were to be used; 1960s, providing strong competition for the
these were to be few film exhibitors in the remote areas. The
rendered on the Roxy finally ceased screening in 1971. For
interior walls. In many years the former theatre was used as a
addition extra plumbing supplies shop and workshop.
seats were
proposed as the

The Victory Interior 1936 (composite photo)

The Victory was renamed the Mecca in internal staircase to the
correspondence to the PHC c.1947. There was projection room would
correspondence to/from the PHC over various be removed. F.J.M
issues, including the construction of a second Nulty signed the
exit from the projection area (for safety building application
reasons), concerns regarding the external toilets, dated 22 August 1952.
and the installation of three-phase power. This
correspondence occurred over the years As theatre regulations
between the late 1940s and the early 1950s. had changed since the
During this time the names Victory and Mecca construction of the
were used. theatre, a separate film
rewind room had to be
In 1952, the letterhead used by the operator provided adjacent to
stated Nulty’s Pictures as “The Voice of the projection areas. The
North”. This letter proposed that various plans were therefore
external walls be constructed to provide for a not approved. Altered
second exit, by ladder, for the projection room. plans were resubmitted,
The PHC gave permission for the Mecca to and were approved on
undertake these works on 27 February 1952. 17 February 1953. The Nulty’s Roxy c1954

CINEMARECORD # 86 17