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with revivals by Paramount until October films. After about two years, it
1931. The Empire was then taken over by was incorporated into the circuit.
Hoyts Suburban Theatres as a sub-run house.
The Empire temporarily closed and then re- In 1932, during a break in its
opened with a move-over, successful three- irregular concert program, the
week run of The Sentimental Bloke after a Auditorium introduced
record six weeks at Hoyts Deluxe. It finally exclusive two week sessions of
closed in 1933 (no details can be found of the Chinese films (first shown in
exact date and final films) and demolished in Geelong) and a Russian film
1936 prior to the construction of the Malcolm Turksib (released by Union
Reid furniture store. Its success as the last Theatres). In 1933, the
silent house in the 1930s was basically Auditorium re-opened as a
because of its patronage by the Chinese in the weekly second release British
Little Bourke Street area, with their poor film house for a lengthy period,
understanding of the English soundtracks. lasting until after the Christmas
break.
The Strand was renovated and re-opened in
November 1933 as the Mayfair, a British It was renamed the Crystal
House, with Jack Hulbert’s I’m Alright Jack. Palace by the lessee, but reverted
The theatre under Hoyts management was to the Auditorium after six
successful at first, but faded within a year. weeks. After closing in January
One of its last films was the world premiere of 1934, within three months it had
F.W. Thring’s Clara Gibbings which ran been gutted, the three levels
three weeks. A few weeks later, it closed and reduced to two levels, rebuilt
ended up as another department store site, internally with rosewood
Treadways. Until recently, the former Village panelling and re-opened as the
Centre sat with Cinema 2 covering the Metro in April. The opening Hoyts DeLuxe c. 1938
Strand site. (Clara Gibbings was not shown attraction was Libelled Lady for a three week
in Sydney and most prints of it disappeared). season. It resembled MGM’s London Empire By the end of 1933, Bourke Street’s theatres
Theatre in many ways. The Metro was under consisted of the Melba, Hoyts De Luxe,
The distributors Metro Goldwyn Mayer, the strict control of MGM’s New York based Lyceum (ex Paramount), and Times
United Artists, Paramount, and RKO were the parent company, Loews, who dictated Theatrette. The live theatres were the Tivoli
principle rebels against the Amalgamation programming and the length of seasons. and Palace. Bourke St had passed from being
Agreement and were boycotting supply. (The the flourishing theatre street into a street of
agreement was for 5-10 years, but only lasted In the amalgamated system, Hoyts Theatres Department Stores awaiting Fuller Theatres’
until 1937). Eventually, after about 6 months was the dominant partner. The Regent had the plans for the gaping, former Bijou / Roxy site
of negotiations, they agreed to supply films. cream of film choice. Its original policy of next to the Lyceum.
Grand Hotel was the first MGM film and weekly doubles carried through until the
opened in June-July at the Regent under a MGM contract in June 1933. The Plaza, as Union Theatres, in bankruptcy, rallied under
new extended season policy, running for a originally opened, remained its successful the restructuring by the new director, Norman
limited three week season. Sub-runs were long run season house. Union Theatres State Rydge, an accountant replacing Stuart Doyle
limited as well as suburban runs at the on the other hand operated as a semi action, on the board. Union Theatres became Greater
exchanges’ discretion. weekly house until 1938. The Athenaeum Union Theatres (GU) on the slow road to
operated on its British policy until 1937, then recovery. GU relied on Universal, BEF and
The Memorial in Acland Street, St Kilda, was under Hoyts’ mixed policies until early 1940s, MGM first release and revivals. GU also ran
the only theatre in Australia run independently then continued the British policy until the its own film exchange for British, Republic
by United Artists, opening in 1932 and Road Show long runs began to take over the and Monogram films. When Paramount
sharing Paramount as well as United Artist movie scene. relinquished the lease of the Capitol theatre at
Christmas 1940, their film product gave the
GU circuit a new lease of life. The State and
Majestic theatres in Flinders Street became
the New State and New Majestic, sharing the
spoils from Sydney’s Paramount release
house, the Prince Edward. The New State
became a full time extended season house.
The Liberty (formally the Melba), after its 20
week re-run of Gone With the Wind, became
GU’s weekly first release house as a result of
the New State policy.
By the 1940s, GU was a vibrant separate
entity again, but it was at least one cinema
short for many years, as some of its product to
screen ended up at Hoyts Bourke Street
outlets in years to come. ê
Images:
State Library of Victoria
CTA Collection
CATHS Archive
Ed note: This article was written by the late Bernie
Halperin some 10 years ago. There may have been
some changes to current references in the interim.
Left: The auditorium Capitol Theatre. Melbourne.

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