Page 19 - CinemaRecord #86

LOCAL IDENTITIES: VICTOR CLAUDE DURRAN

By Jim and Joy Durran (as related to Richard Twentyman)

Jim, and Jim’s wife, Joy, and is is a nice sewing machine you have bought for
managed by their son, Ross. your wife!” Vic set him straight by telling him
it was a film projector. The officer then
One of Vic’s friends, Bob Keddie, informed him that he would have to pay
had a small home theatrette, and it is import duty. However, after finding out that
thought that Vic’s interest in cinema Vic would be using it to show films at St.
was triggered as a result of this Augustines Orphanage, the customs officer
friendship. In around 1950, he waived the duty, because he himself had been
purchased a film strip projector, and brought up in that very Orphanage.
entertained his children by passing
movie film, frame by frame, through When the Debrie projector was used in the
the projector, stopping whenever Kindergarten, the supply spool was mounted
there was a change in picture. on the wall above the projector and held a
complete program on one spool. The takeup
Bitten by the movie bug, his next was on the floor beneath the projector,
purchase was a Victor 16 mm movie thought to be belt driven from the projector
projector. With help from another above.
friend, Ern Winkler, Vic converted
the garage at 217 High Street into the Over the years, Vic was assisted by many of
“auditorium” for a small cinema, his friends in various aspects of running the
hanging the screen on the back of the Kindergarten cinema. However, after the Pix
garage door. The theatrette had 15 Theatre in Belmont opened in December
fixed seats, (thought to have come 1955, Vic found it increasingly difficult to
from the West Park Theatre in West obtain film other than from the distributor of
Geelong), plus another 15 loose RKO product, and so screenings at the
seats. A tool shed abutting the rear Kindergarten eventually ceased. In later years,
wall of the garage was fitted out as the Kindergarten relocated to a new facility in
the projection room, housing the Kidman Avenue, Belmont, and the existing
Victor projector as well as a projector building was demolished to make way for the
ost of the articles written for this to show 3-1/4” glass slides. For the next five new Belmont Senior Citizens Club.
Mmagazine relate to the medium to large years or so, he would invite neighbours in for
commercial cinemas which have existed over movies and supper, providing a welcome In 1955, Vic’s son, Jim, was at Timbertop
the years. However, we tend to forget about source of entertainment for all concerned. (Geelong Grammar School’s camp in
the small, entrepreneurial exhibitors who Victoria’s high country). Jim distinctly
provided entertainment in those areas without Vic was involved with the Belmont remembers his father bringing a projector to
a full-scale cinema venue. Community Kindergarten which, in the late Timbertop and screening a film about Jim
1940s, was located in the St. Stephens’ Thorpe, who was an American-Indian athlete
One such person was Victor Claude Durran Anglican Church Hall in Thompson Street here in Australia for the 1956 Olympics.
(known as “Vic”), who was born at Geelong but, by 1950, had relocated to a new building
in 1910. Vic was the Victorian Sales Manager further south in the same street. He was The Durran family always holidayed at
for the South Australian Brush Company instrumental in arranging for the construction Indented Head on Victoria’s Bellarine
(SABCO), and lived at 217 High Street, of a small projection room as part of the new Peninsula. In one particular year, Vic built a
Belmont (a suburb of Geelong, located on the building so that he could screen regular screen in front of his boat shed and screened
south side of the Barwon River) with his wife, 16 mm movies as a semi-commercial to holidaymakers 3-4 times a week during the
Thelma, and children Jim and Ken. enterprise, thereby providing the Christmas holiday season, free of charge. One
Kindergarten with a source of funding. In of the holiday makers was involved with
By 1936, he was becoming dissatisfied with addition, he screened films regularly at Bethany Childrens’ Home, and so the cinema
his job, and the opportunity arose for him to St. Augustine’s and Glastonbury orphanages was often used as a fund raiser for that
purchase the Geelong Brush Company from in Belmont, the local Cement Works hall in charitable organisation.
its two English owners. At that time, the West Geelong, and the Progress Association
Company was operating from premises in hall in Marshall, another small Geelong Vic’s cinema screening activities ceased in
Ryrie Street, Geelong but, in 1945, moved to suburb further south-east of Belmont. around 1960 and the projector was sold by the
a new building constructed by well-known early 1960s. Jim believes that it may still be
Geelong Builder Len Bell Pty. Ltd., based on During an overseas trip, he purchased a rusting away somewhere in Indented Head.
a handshake and with no contracts being Debrie 16 mm projector which he installed in
exchanged. The Geelong Brush Company still the Kindergarten Hall. When coming through Vic passed away in 1981 at the age of 71. «
operates, is currently owned by Vic’s son, customs, the customs officer commented “this

The Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of Australia Inc. Is proud to have the Sun Theatre Yarraville as our major sponsor.
Many thanks to member Michael Smith, the owner of the Sun Theatre, for providing the venue and staff for CATHS meetings and events.

For program and venue hire enquiries, Tel: 9362 0999. www.suntheatre.com.au info@suntheatre.com.au

CINEMARECORD # 86 19