Page 38 - CinemaRecord #87

grin to change a reel and put on the main
feature while you're buying your Clinkers.
Where, because the movies shown are often
old and much loved, there are sometimes
short breakdowns, intermissions which are
taken in good humour by the ever increasing
clientele, because we can hear the
projectionist, who was often Andrew, belting
into the fray, perhaps even charging up the
isle (sic), to fix the damn thing. It's part of the
entertainment. Where one of the projectors
was lovingly/hatingly called "Projector B for
Bastard" by Andrew for sometimes emitting
a speaker belch mid film."

"The Palace has become more than a
cinema. It has become an important refuge
from the banal, bustling big business life
outside."
"The Palace Independent in its short life has
become bigger than any of us, an important
Cairns cultural institution, but Andrew and
The projection room c. 1997, showing the Zeiss Ikon projectors, not often used in Australia
Kim Gunst were the essential ingredient."
cinema had 520 seats and operated with but to chat with friends and to acknowledge Following Andrew's death, Kim tried to keep
35 mm as well as 16 mm projection for a common desire to encourage freedom of the cinema operating. However competition
Australian Institute festivals and for speech and compassion for others and to see from Birch Carroll & Coyle became too great
documentaries. good films." and the cinema closed on Saturday
15 November 1997.
Andrew was a scuba diving instructor who "The Palace has the touch of home to it, with
tragically died on 8 November 1996 in a K2, the popcorn-eating cat, chasing its End Credits Film Club used the cinema until
diving accident while holidaying in Vanuatu. favourite rubber rat among the patrons in the the Cominos family sold the building in
foyer and where you're sometimes served 1999.
The following extracts are from an article cups of coffee if you're tired.”
written by Steve Baker (a friend of Andrew Much of the upstairs of the Palace building
and Kim). “Bring the cup out at the end of the film, was remodelled to accommodate Global
please. We find it difficult to find the cup in Palace Backpackers (now known as The
"Andrew and Kim created a special type of the dark when we're cleaning.” Global Backpackers Central Cairns). The
enterprise. In a world increasingly shopping arcade remains downstairs. ê
becoming impersonal and cold, the Palace is "The Palace is the sort of theatre where the
a family cinema, a family business, the projectionist is also the popcorn seller and
celluloid version of the old family store, where the usher also sells the tickets, where References:-
where many go not just to see quality film, the projectionist will rush from you with a
Geoffrey Gunst (father of Andrew Gunst and
CATHS member).
Former Palace Theatre shown here as Global Backpackers Central Cairns
Trove, The National Library of
Australia for information from
Cairns Post editions dated
19/12/1914, 5/01/1918,
18/10/1924, 18/03/1936,
19/11/1938 and 17/08/1940.

Steve Baker.
Cairns Historical Society.

Cairns Information Centre.
Cairns Regional Council
Heritage Survey 19/01/2012.
Heritage Alliance.

The Douglas Shire Historical
Society.
Images:
Geoff Gunst
Gerry Kennedy
State Library of Queensland

38 CINEMARECORD # 87