Page 26 - CinemaRecord #87

product. ‘What do you think about this one,
Joe?’. We would have filled the book with
Fox product, but I had to quietly remind him
that the other exchanges had films that were
available so we left the Fox counter and
walked the few feet across to Paramount with
a similar announcement and reception. I am
sure after we left both bookers would have
had a good chuckle. A visit to Columbia,
Universal, BEF and Metro through the day
had filled the diary.
Paddy carried a cheque book. He was an
honest man and always wanted to keep his
account in credit. This was not a requirement
of the exchanges but he reckoned paying in
advance could give him some advantage when
the new films were around. I did not object
when he handed me the book and said ‘What
we give, Joe - fifty pounds?’ He signed and
handed the cheque over to an amused booker.
It was late 1963 and business was booming
with a Wednesday double feature, Thursday The C&W projectors c. 1958
Italian films, Friday and Saturday another
double feature and cinema club on Sundays.
There was lots of film coming and going and men and women running onto footy grounds The show was not the best and it was hot in the
all had to be hand wound and made up into and appearing in shopping malls. We got two hall, the kids were restless and a couple of seat
programs, quite a job. The Italian films were on a cold winter’s night in June, 1963. rows had been tipped over. I was especially
old and sourced from independent suppliers. I edgy as the tourist component of the crowd
remember one film called ‘Salvatore I had noticed a car with two blokes on board was not used to this sort of behaviour and I felt
Guiliano’. It was the story of an Italian pull up in the yard at the side of the hall. They some responsibility.
hero/villain, and highly political. We packed got out suitably undressed. We were about
the place, however after the show there were half way through the second feature and I was Tom who was still with us had little success in
differences of opinion about this folk hero and ready. I knew them both, one big fellow about controlling the various disturbances, one fight
arguments broke out in front of the show with 18 and as hairy as a Canadian bear, while the had broken out in the front stalls and the ‘Jaffa
one group after Paddy for bringing the film at little bloke was called Crunch and was as rolling competition’ was well under way when
all. The police were called but Paddy had white as a sheet. I waited, watching from the I decided to stop the show and address the
disappeared for a few days. port until I saw them start to run down the left crowd from in front of the screen. The lights
aisle, They had picked the wrong one. I put the went on and I walked down the aisle and
I got to know the suppliers of the Italian house lights on and stopped the show as they announced ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot
product and found enough to screen a made a run for the side door that I knew was continue until some sort of decorum is
different show each week. There would be full jammed. restored.’ Everyone sat quietly looking
houses always. innocent. As I walked back to the bio a few
All hell had broken loose, it was mayhem. tourists seated near the aisle congratulated me.
It was during an Italian show that the one and People stood up for a better look while the I restarted the show again but alas the ruckus
only lot of streakers got in. At that time intruders tried to pull up the pad bolts that was on again with no hope of resolution. The
streaking was some sort of a sport with naked were jammed on the double doors. They were show finished and Tom came up to the box
jumping up and and said there were two visitors who wanted
down to the delight to see me. I reckoned they would at least want
of the crowd. their money back or would threaten me with
Many old Italian some sort of penalty for a spoiled night so I
women were hastened down the staircase, only to be
shocked and greeted by a smiling couple. The gentleman
screamed loudly said, ‘Mate, I just want to thank you for the
but the majority of best night of fun we have ever had. The live
the crowd loved it. entertainment far exceeded the shadows on
the sheet. We will be back again next year.’
Summers always
brought extra The local taxi operator would always park in
screenings and the front of the show at the finish, anticipating a
summer of 1963- fare. In early 1964 he equipped his cab with a
64 was no two-way radio and his wife would call him
exception. With with directions for jobs. I had suspected
lots of campers something wrong for a while with strange
and tourists in interference in the sound during screenings. It
town to enjoy the did not take long to wake up to what was
natural attractions, causing it - the cab radio transmissions were
the picture show being picked up by the old valve amplifier and
saw many new broadcast slightly below the volume of the
faces during these sound track, but still audible. One Saturday
periods with a full night, it was a long show. We had gone past
house on one eleven and the taxi was waiting, I remember it
Paddy’s Hall interior Saturday night. was a religious film and the final scene

26 CINEMARECORD # 87