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THE THEATRES OF LISMORE, NSW (Part 2)

By William Gray

Following on from Part 1 of the Lismore story
in CinemaRecord #86, this part delves into
more detail surrounding the Star Court
Cinemas.

n April 1920, a prospectus was issued by
Ithe Star Court Arcade and Theatre
Company Ltd., in which the owners of the
business conducted as the (1 ) Star Court
st
Picture Theatre, in Woodlark Street, would
transfer ownership of the old Star Court
business, plant, equipment and theatre licence
to the new Company for payment in shares
and cash. The Directors of the new company
would be Messrs. Michael O’Neill, Frederic
Lance and Alan McLean.

The Prospectus proposed the erection of “…an
up to date picture theatre, together with all
accessories, and to carry on the business of
picture show proprietors in such theatre,
pending the erection of such theatre, presently
carried on at the Star Court Picture Theatre
in Woodlark Street”.

The site of the proposed new theatre would be
impossible to beat, the entrance being in the
busiest part of Molesworth Street with a depth Star Court Theatre c. 1925
right back to Carrington Street and having a
lane from Magellan Street running parallel
with Molesworth Street. This would allow the excelled. Quite an innovation to the Lismore weather. Seats were often timber benches or
theatre to be constructed well back from picture world was the house lighting dimmer, canvas. The new Star Court was built in a
Molesworth Street, leaving an entrance which which provided one of the novelties of the classical style common to that period, and
could, at a later period, be converted to an evening. The Lismore Philharmonic Society boasted amenities that no theatre before it had
arcade of shops. The theatre itself was to be was conducted by Mr. Herb Williams, who featured in Lismore – spacious foyers, a dress
built of brick and designed to seat 1500 also sang a solo, while Mr. H.S. Thomas circle, ventilation, and impressive lighting. In
persons. The large seating capacity would conducted the Lismore Orchestral Society, 1921, it would have been the epitome of
avoid the need to turn away patrons at holiday and Miss Dorothea Woodlands played a luxury and appointments.
times, as Star Court Pictures frequently had violin solo.
to do. The arcade itself was estimated to Around 1921-1922, the Star Court was
produce additional revenue from shop rentals. The exterior of the building bore many of the associated with Union Theatres, but remained
trademarks of the architectural design of operated by Mr. T.J. Dorgan. By allying
The new theatre’s licence was issued on Kaberry and Chard, including two castle-like himself with Union, he would have assured
turrets on either side, flanking the bio box,
rd
22 April 1921, and the new (3 ) Star Court with an arched entrance to the vestibule
opened on 18 July 1921 with a seating below. There were two windows at ground
capacity of 1500. The theatre cost £11,000 to level, one each side of the doorway, that
build, the Architects being Kaberry and featured stained glass patterns. Eventually, the
Chard. The Last of the Mohicans was the open arcade received a roof to protect both
opening film, accompanied by the Star Court shop and theatre patrons from the weather, but
Orchestra, Lismore Orchestral Society and the later the entire area was built over as a
Lismore Philharmonic Society.
shopping and office arcade, and was then
totally obscured from the street. Today, the
The press reported on opening night: “If the Star Court façade can only be viewed in an
huge concourse of people which taxed to its altered form from a back lane. The Star
utmost the seating accommodation of the new Court was not a flamboyant picture palace.
Star Court, at its official opening last evening, This type of building was only just starting to
may be taken as an indication of the emerge in the cities, with the building of the
patronage which is to be meted out to great picture palaces yet to come in the mid to
subsequent entertainments presented by the late 1920s.
Management of this provincial amusement
palace, the success unqualified from every Lismore residents had only been served by
standpoint will attend the enterprise. The hall open-air cinemas up until this time, or by old
itself was tastefully decorated, the halls which had not been built to take large
architecture of the interior was singularly crowds and exhibit films. The open-air shows
striking, while vocal gems rendered later in were cold in winter and subject to inclement
the evening proved that its acoustic qualities

CINEMARECORD # 88 11