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Many silent films were featured at the Palace The Lyric Theatre
and, during World War 1, the screening format
usually began with a newsreel, followed by a The Bega Picture Palace was later known as
supporting movie, intermission and then the Lyric Theatre. The Bega Standard last
finally the main feature film. advertised the Picture Palace on 19 November
1921 and on 22 November 1921 it was
On 2 August 1912, the proprietors of the advertised as the Lyric Theatre.
Picture Palace advertised that the “operator
and staff were to take leave for a holiday”. Neither newspaper article made reference to
They celebrated a “grand re-opening” on why the theatre had changed names, or if the
31 August 1912 and promoted “two [film] business was under new management. The
changes weekly”. Although still trading as the Lyric was described as having a “beautiful
Bega Picture Palace, The Bega Standard lattice ceiling” and this reportedly caused the
advertised the theatre as the “Pioneer Picture theatre goers some discomfort because the
Theatre”. “possums who lived there used to do their
business on the patrons”. The Lyric Theatre
While the movie house was named the Picture introduced sound in 1931 and Bega was
Palace for many more years, referring to the reported to have been “having a gay time” with
theatre as “the Pioneer” (used here in the “no sign of the Depression”.
adjectival form) could suggest that there was
another theatre in Bega. However, the Picture Then NSW Governor, Sir Phillip Game, had
Palace was one of the first cinemas in Bega opened a successful Bega Agricultural Show
and regarded as a pioneer establishment. in 1931 and there were reported “record
takings” with crowded pavilions and even the
A further point of interest occurred the picture theatre had to “turn patrons away”.
following year, in May 1913, when proprietors
Jardine and Spence placed a notice in The In 1935, the King’s Theatre opened almost
Bega Standard titled, “Only a Rumour”. The directly across from the Lyric Theatre in
notice was to dispel a myth that the theatre was Bega’s main thoroughfare, Carp Street.
described as being “built originally for Messrs experiencing troubles and that it was to be
Jardine and Spence and passed on later to sold. In W.A Bayley’s “History of Bega”, it is
[E. R.] Burcher, an open air establishment intriguing to note that King’s Theatre was not
with crude and hard seats at the front. The Jardine and Spence wrote that: “Silly stories listed in the “Chronological Table of Bega’s
awkward seating at the theatre resulted in have been circulated that the undersigned had Development”. King’s Theatre was quite a
some patrons apparently bringing cushions approached a certain Bega individual begging spectacle when it opened (as will be seen
with them for protection”. him to take management of the Bega Picture further in this paper) and it is puzzling why
Palace, and that they were also (illegible) of Bayley did not include King’s in his list of
In 1911, the Bega Picture Palace advertised selling the business. We wish to state that there “important progress.” Perhaps Bayley omitted
that they were “located in the School of Arts is not a particle of truth in the foolish rumours. the event from his records as a silent protest
for the winter months” and this was an Bega Picture Palace has been in existence for because King’s eventually drove the Lyric out
establishment boasting, “Where the Good two and a half years, is stronger and better of business. After King’s was built, the other
Pictures are”. than ever, requires no reconstruction and has theatres were documented as being “put to
come to stay. Like different uses”. Bernice Smith also
Tennyson’s brook, ‘Picture documented that over the years, the Lyric “was
shows may come and go, let out for balls, ‘Movie’ balls and other fancy
but the Bega Picture dress balls”. The Lyric closed overnight in
Palace goes on forever’”. 1936 and King’s Theatre was then left
without competition.
The Palace did go on, for
another healthy eight years.
The “silly rumour” is
interesting, because one
wonders whether it was
generated by the
competition (The Star
Theatre). Whoever
dispersed the rumour and
why they did so is perhaps
irrelevant today, but it was
enough to motivate Jardine
and Spence to place the
advertisement in The Bega
Standard. Underneath the
rumour notice was the
Picture Palace’s usual
weekly program notice and,
funnily, the movie for that
week was titled Every Inch
a Man. It was as though
reassurance of the Picture
Palace’s certainty and
strength was underlined by
the absurdly phallic film
title of that week.

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