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The Victory Theatre, St Kilda c. 1940

I had a brilliant projectionist, Ernie Kershaw. dedicated technicians to their craft. At Hoyts theatre, the Balwyn, after years as
He just loved presentation and we became Ivanhoe, my dear friend Reg Oldham, a projectionist at Hoyts Preston Drive-in and at
good friends. During my 25 years as a Theatre master projectionist, and his assistant, John other locations in Western Australia. Today, if
Manager, I have always had the highest regard Sevier, were both highly regarded. John is you want the best in cinema presentation, you
for the projection staff who, in the main, were now Manager/Operator of my old local can't go past the Balwyn Theatre. John
Sevier is meticulous in the art of good
The Shore, Williamstown c. 1938 presentation.
The nearest I ever came to working at the
mighty Regent Collins Street, was a short
time as relief manager at Hoyts Athenaeum,
right opposite. But alas, by then the Regent
had closed its doors. My swan-song in the
cinema business was ten years working at the
Capitol in Melbourne. I shall never forget my
first night there - a sold out house for
Towering Inferno, being screened in 70 mm
exclusively at the Capitol. The visual and
audio effect in that theatre was an experience
to behold.

Fortunately, I still have a “foot in the door”
working as a casual relief manager in live
theatre at the Victorian Arts Centre.

I must confess that I am not in tune with films
today. The stories are mostly shallow, with an
emphasis on special effects, pyrotechnics and
violence. Cinema complexes are utility
venues designed for maximum serviceability,
but lacking in atmosphere. Maybe my age is
showing. ¬
Images:

CATHS archive

CINEMARECORD # 88 35