Page 26 - CinemaRecord #86

NEWCASTLE THEATRES

A REPORT ON THE CATHS 2015 TOUR

By Tony Tibballs

ewcastle is 160 km north of Sydney, and We continued with a walking tour of past CBD
Nis the largest NSW population centre cinemas. Further along King St, the well-
outside of Sydney. It is still in a state of preserved 1903 Central Hall was an early
transition after the closure of the steel venue for picture show companies, though by
production plants. The 1989 earthquake also the early 1920s was mostly used for concerts
had a major impact with many buildings
damaged, including significant theatre Before lunch, we briefly stopped for a photo
buildings. Recently, the rail transport system opportunity in the suburb of Carrington to view
into the CBD ceased, giving rise to new the restored facade of the former 1929
development on the city waterfront to revitalise Everyone’s Theatre (now converted into
the area. apartments) which closed in 1962. Then it was
a short drive to the suburb of Islington, for a
A well-attended CATHS tour of past and visit to the market in the former Regent
present Newcastle city and suburban theatres Theatre, a large 1600 seat theatre built in 1928
on 7-8 March 2015 showcased the prosperity with a distinctive curved entrance on the corner
of the region in its movie-going heyday of the
1930s to the late 1950s. It also highlighted
changing cinema trends of the current and meetings once purpose-built cinemas
population, with a very competitive pricing began to appear. Since its closure, it has been
policy by the multiplexes and single screen used as a ‘live’ theatre and various
cinemas. restaurant/bars. However the ornate internal
balcony is still preserved.
As our tour progressed, we realised there were
still plenty of highlights for the cinema and A short walk around the corner in Perkins
theatre enthusiast and historian. Street is the now boarded up, 1891 Victoria
Theatre building – a once impressive ‘live’
Early on Saturday morning, the two mini-buses venue that gradually converted to a full-time
with our tour guides - Crosley Carpenter (from cinema by the early 1920s. It was closed by site. Despite being closed since 1964, much of
the Newcastle region) and Les Tod (Sydney Hoyts in 1966. Sadly, it has been disused and the ornate interior survives, attracting plenty
theatre historian) – transported us to the central of photos.
CBD for our first stop at the Greater Union
(now Event) Tower Cinemas. This venue is The afternoon schedule began in the suburb of
now the last remaining operating cinema in the Lambton, where the former intimate Kings
CBD. After a warm welcome by Greg Donnan Cinema is now a dinner and ‘live’ music venue
(current long standing manager with a detailed known as Lizotte’s. The small balcony and
working knowledge since its opening in Easter some internal features remain, but a highlight
1976 - and a CATHS member), we inspected was the former theatre’s insignia of the
all three cinema auditoria and projection ‘crown’ etched on a surviving glass pane in the
rooms. Many of us noticed the striking original entrance doors.
resemblance to Melbourne’s (now demolished)
Russell Cinemas. In the close-by suburb of New Lambton, the
derelict for the past 10 years and has a former 1937 Savoy (closed in 1963) is another
• See colour image on back cover. precarious future without a major injection of striking Art Deco/Moderne style building on
capital. How much of this, (probably) the a corner site. The building has been
oldest surviving NSW theatre’s original sympathetically restored and converted for use
internal features remain can only be speculated as a Community Centre since October 1985.
on but, despite neglect, may be mostly intact. The compact main auditorium still retains the
proscenium/stage and low-key decorative wall
Nearby is the Lyric Theatre, a Masonic Hall plasterwork.
which became a cinema, with a somewhat
chequered history of several closures and name Perhaps the surprise of the first day (and last
changes. In 1997, two new cinemas were on the itinerary) was the visit to the
added to the adjacent building, and Below: The former Savoy Theatre, New Lambton
the venue renamed Showcase
Cinemas. Since its closure in
2008, it has been disused.

The tour continued on for an
inspection of the former Theatre
Royal, later known as the Royal
Twin on Hunter Street. Now a
Hillsong Church, our Hillsong
guide showed us the relatively
intact ‘Art-Deco/Moderne’
features from architect Charles
Bohringer’s 1939 remodel, despite
having been ‘twinned’ in 1980.

26 CINEMARECORD # 86