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JERICHO DRIVE-IN

Central Queensland

By Gerry Kennedy

J ericho is a small rural town situated on the Capricorn Highway, Western Queensland, some 540 km west of Rockhampton. The population of the region is 369.

Films were screened in the small (120 seats) Jericho Picture Theatre/Broadway until its closure in around 1961. Some years later, a dedicated film venue in the form of the small Jericho
Drive-in was opened. The Drive-in was built on a small house size block of land next to the Local Hall on the Capricorn Highway. It is claimed to be Australia's smallest drive-in and is
still operating.
The then Jericho Shire Council decided to build a drive-in theatre for the benefit of the Shire’s small and scattered population. The theatre was opened on 26 July 1969, screening the
blockbuster The Sound of Music. Various managers ran the theatre on behalf of the Shire Council, the first being Les Salisbury from the Longreach Roxy Theatre, 196 km west of Jericho.
The Drive-in has capacity for 34 cars with further accommodation for some 32 patrons seated in bleacher style seating to the left and right of the projection room.
The Drive-in is currently entered from Pasteur Street, behind the town hall. The ticket box and candy bar were built at the back of the hall. The screen is located at the front of the block,
behind a line of trees. One of the original 35 mm projectors is on display in the bleachers, the other one is still available for use in the projection room. The field is a well maintained
grassed area.

The Council has always appointed managers to operate the theatre, including Les Salisbury, Dallas Vale, Pearce and Burgess and various community groups, including the State School's
Parents and Citizen group.
In 2013, the now Barcaldine Regional Council, in a joint initiative with the Queensland Government, undertook an upgrade of the Jericho Drive-in buildings and equipment. Digital
projection and updated sound was installed and the buildings and surrounds were improved.
Main stream, free to air television arrived in the area c. 1977. Up until then, the Jericho Drive-in happily screened to the small population two to three nights per week. Following some
closures and re-openings, the theatre now generally operates on a monthly basis, using voluntary labour. ¬