Page 33 - CinemaRecord #86

In the Midst of the Jungle. The Proprietor was
James Henry Black (1860-1915). The stage
was at the rear of the building, with the screen
at the street end, the projector being mounted
on the stage – a common layout at the time. It
is recorded as closing in 1917, the building
being acquired by the New England Motor
Company as their bus maintenance and
storage area. The building still stands today,
somewhat altered, but still recognisable as a
former theatre.
In 1927, the South Lismore Public Hall
(believed to have been located in Phyllis
Street) was licensed to an early picture
showman, Frank Bolton, and was known as
the Tivoli. Bolton was a pioneer in the
operation of a touring circuit which included
Woodburn and Broadwater. The Tivoli was of
timber framed construction, with corrugated
sheeting on walls and roof. The façade of the
building was in pressed Wunderlich style
ornamental sheeting, common in picture
Full House at the Star Court Theatre

northern NSW. In 1921, there was an
announcement that the theatre was to come Star Court Cinema today
under the Union Theatres management,
adding to their circuit of some 80 theatres. T.J.
Dorgan remained associated with the theatre.

Although the 3 rd Star Court Theatre at
126 Molesworth Street did not open until
18 July 1921, newspaper advertisements dated
30 October 1920 list Diggers Theatre and
Star Court Theatre functioning as two,
separate theatres with different programs.
Dorgan’s cinema at Federal Hall was, in fact,
temporarily named the 2nd Star Court
Theatre as the Windsor Gardens/1 Star
st
Court had, by then, been closed.
Interestingly, single newspaper
advertisements between 1922 and mid-June
nd
1924 list 2 Star Court Theatre and Diggers
Theatre as now operating “in conjunction”,
playing the same programs and obviously
switching film between the two sites. After
that time, newspaper advertisements only
rd
referred to the 3 Star Court Theatre. The
Diggers Theatre faded away with vaudeville
around 1927/1928, eventually becoming retail Another of Lismore’s early theatres was the theatres of that era. The ceiling was mainly
premises. Octocrescent Pavilion on Union Street at the wooden lattice for ventilation purposes, and
approach to the bridge across the Richmond there was a stage with a dressing room on each
(The full history of the Star Court theatres River, its name being derived from the side. On the left of the building was a supper
will appear in Part 2 of this article in a future octagonally shaped timber floor. It opened on room, which extended almost the length of the
edition of CinemaRecord.) 10 October 1912, featuring the silent film building. At the outset, it was equipped with a
small projection room located above the lobby
Palace Theatre c 1934. (Originally the South Lismore Public Hall) and ticket box. Cloak and refreshment rooms
were also provided. Dimensions were given as
92ft x 52ft, with a stage area of 24ft x 16ft.
There was no gallery, and seating was set at
400.
By August 1928, the hall was only used for
roller skating, dancing and boxing matches. It
wasn’t until March 1934 that it was again used
as a cinema, named the Palace Theatre,
operated by Sid Russell, possibly on lease
from Frank Bolton. Mr. Russell obtained his
film product from one of the smaller
distributors who had a number of British film
titles. Mr. Russell also paid a local bus
proprietor to provide free transport to South
Lismore from outlying areas. Sound

CINEMARECORD # 86 33