Page 20 - CinemaRecord #87

CINEMA SURPRISES

Ian Smith

Above: Orana multiplex, Geraldton
very holiday is an opportunity to observe whether film screenings still have pulling
Epower in a particular town. Here are some recent observations from a trip up the west
coast of Western Australia.

History at the Roundabout

Back in the 1920s, when a new cinema was set to replace the first now inadequate version,
the smart newcomer was usually located some distance from the old. Not so in Geraldton
(420 km north of Perth), where three generations of cinemas are clustered at the one
roundabout.

The smart Orana multiplex 4 is the current working version. Directly opposite is the side
wall of its predecessor, a large Art Deco building with wrap-around shops on two sides.
Even with its entrance walled up, this building still radiates the once unassailable power of
cinema as the king of entertainments. Film Weekly 1957/58 lists it as the Radio, seating
860 persons. It was one of ten cinemas controlled by Goldfield Pictures Ltd. Not surprisingly,
considering the company name, their holdings included screens in the major goldfields
towns.
The back of the former Radio faces what must have been the first enclosed screen in
Geraldton, a rudimentary iron barn. Its appearance is now made worse by the addition of a
boxy frontage for some other business, now also defunct. No disguising however the original
purpose of the building.

Above: The former Radio Theatre Of Feathers and Films.
Below: The former King’s Theatre
Further north at Kalbarri, the combination of a parrot breeding sanctuary and outdoor cinema
under the one management must rank as one of the more unlikely combination ventures.

The parrot enclosures are located amidst semi-tropical greenery. Visitors wend their way
along zig-zag pathways, passing waterfalls and lily ponds. Every bend conceals another bird
enclosure. Many birds fly freely in a walk-through aviary. Breeding endangered Australian
species is a priority, but the birds on show are not limited to Australia.

Built directly beside the bird sanctuary is Parrottiso’s Outdoor Cinema. It has 80 deck
chairs, offers bean bags, and patrons can bring their own seating. Equipped with digital
projection, it can seat about 200 people. It is a licensed venue and the snacks on offer include
wood-fired pizzas.

The cinema was built about six years ago after the bird park was sold to its current owner,
local business man Mr Kevin Kelly. Screening nights are during school and public holidays,
but there is no guarantee of that. If insufficient patrons turn up, no show that night..

Note that the name of the bird park cinema misses a fine opportunity. It should be Cinema
Parottiso.

20 CINEMARECORD # 87