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The Talkies, Picture Palaces, the 1930s and the Depression

By Bernie Halperin

he era that saw the greatest changes in
Tcinema/theatre history in Melbourne
actually started in 1929. Everything changed
permanently with the opening of Australia’s
largest, most elaborate cinema, Union
Theatres’ State Theatre in Flinders Street,
almost beside the then flagship of the circuit,
the Majestic Theatre.
The State, seating 3450, was the third picture
palace built by Stuart Doyle in Australia for
Greater Union, the first two being the Capitol
in Sydney and Ambassadors in Perth.
Another had been planned for the West’s
Olympia site in Adelaide, but never
eventuated because of the looming
depression. Union Theatres, with the building
of the State Theatre in Sydney in 1929,
concluded the building of fantasy atmospheric
palaces.

Hoyts had been building the Regent circuit in
opposition. These were elaborate semi gothic
style palaces. After rebuilding Sydney’s
Hoyts Deluxe into the Plaza Theatre in
1930–1931, Hoyts ceased their program. By The State Theatre, Melbourne
this time, 20th Century Fox had bought into been delayed in Melbourne by a year (after the centre for first release film. Bourke
the Hoyts circuit as a major shareholder and, release at Sydney’s Prince Edward). Street’s first release houses had been the
by 1929, had already opened Regent Theatres Paramount, Hoyts De Luxe and the Strand.
in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane, each Eight weeks later in May, the elaborate Second run houses were the Melba,
seating over 2000. Spanish style Hoyts Plaza, located under the Britannia, Star, Empire and Hoyts Gaiety.
Regent, opened with a 12 week season of The Regent and Plaza were built in Collins
In 1929 in Melbourne, the war for secure film Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s Alias Jimmy Street on the first site of the Argus newspaper,
supply was on between the two circuits. The Valentine. Both the State and Regent’s directly opposite the Town Hall and the
race between opening the Regent and State screening policy was weekly program Athenaeum Theatre. They were also near the
theatres, each claiming to be the largest, most changes. The State relied on Paramount and Auditorium (later Metro Theatre) and
elaborate in Australia, was won by Union MGM releases. The Regent screened Fox, almost diagonally opposite the Capitol
Theatres with the opening of the State with United Artists, and MGM product. Theatre in Swanston Street, the leading
Paramount’s The Fleet’s In in February. Four extended season independent palace in
weeks later, Hoyts opened the Regent with These theatres permanently and drastically Swanston Street.
Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky in United changed the Bourke Street main theatre scene,
Artists’ Two Lovers, the release of which had Melbourne’s Great White Way, from being At the same time, talkies had arrived in
Melbourne. In January 1929 the Athenaeum,
until then a live theatre, had been leased for
four years by Union Theatres. Warner
Brothers. The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson,
opened a very successful 18 week run. In
opposition, the Auditorium (a Williamson
Theatres - Hoyts associate company) was
taken over by Hoyts Theatres and opened The
Red Dance (Fox) a sound film for a four week
run, coinciding with the opening of The Jazz
Singer. It was then followed by the Fox talkie,
Mother Knows Best, followed by MGM’s first
talkie, The Broadway Melody.

The week the Plaza was opened by Hoyts,
Union Theatres converted the Flinders Street
Majestic to talkies, with Paramount’s
Independence (the first British talkie) for a
seven week season.

Prior to this, the Capitol Theatre had
converted to talkies in March with Fox’s In
Old Arizona for a 13 week run, followed by
MGM’s first talkie The Broadway Melody.
Left: The Majestic Theatre, Melbourne

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