Page 34 - CR-90

the circle”, and “New supper room on DC
level”.
29 August 1942: Fire causes slight damage,
presumably in bio room. The cause was said
to be using old damaged film. (We have the
hint here that the Palais must have been
showing the cheapest films in the city).
Mr. Slack lists approximate attendances, but
does not say which nights are for films and
which are for dancing: Wed and Thurs 230;
Friday 500/600, Sat 550-700. Slack now lives
at 11 Grandview Rd. Drumcondra.

There is now a long gap in the records. The
place is adapting to changed entertainment
moves.

July 1965: Palais used for wrestling. Health
visits and observes that some doors were
obstructed by what we would call a pin-ball
View from the gallery looking towards the original proscenium. Note: Wrap-around balcony. machine. They call it a “Football machine”. A
proposed new seating plan is for “in the
Operating a cinematograph without a licence 15 August 1932: Mr Slack has made the round” or “stadium” basis, ie. the ring is in the
- fined one pound, no costs. Operating an building compliant with all the centre of the hall.
unregistered building - 10 pounds, with Commissioner's requirements, which include
2 pounds 5 shillings and one penny costs. making that ladder access somewhat safer. In 12 August 1965: Lawrence Gordon Slack
a letter 19 December 1932, the registration fee signs correspondence as proprietor. This is on
Unlicensed junior - Palais fined 3 pounds. No of 5 pounds was explained to him as follows: a letterhead:
costs. No finding against the lad himself. “As it is by no means unusual in dance halls
to have the seats occupied during dancing, Palais Royale
22 May 1930: Mortgagees foreclose and offer and also at times by persons standing around Geelong's Leading Ballroom
premises for sale June 25. A Mr F.J. Slack the dance-floor, possible dancers must be Pictures - Floor Shows - Concerts
wishes to lease for five weeks until the sale. added to the seating accommodation. In this DF and LG Slack
He plans to use it as a skating rink, but case the total accommodation so computed is
because building is unregistered, Health says over 1,000 persons”. This file never has an Two aspects of this. Firstly, I suspect that the
no. accurate statement of how many seats exist in father has made way for his sons to take over,
the balcony. and secondly, “Pictures” was crossed out by
Lawson and Tudehope refused to accept the hand. But films could have ceased long before
Warrants of Distress - they are returned nulla 10 May 1940: Frederick John Slack, Owner, 1965, and they are simply using up old
hona (seems to be the action of Health to get of 33 Myers St. Geelong, applies to convert stationery.
their money from the court case). Turned over part of the building to a supper room. How this
to the Law Department which says it will do fits in the building is a mystery not well Ownership is getting more complicated. In
all it can to collect the penalties. explained on the file. There is a drawing February 1966, the owners are stated as
showing the balcony in plan view and the Donald F. Slack, Lawrence Gordon Slack and
18 June 1930: Health admits “its only interest space that we would call the lounge (in front Mabel Lord St. John.
now appears to be the re-use of the premises of dress circle and up to balcony railing) is
as a public building”. Slack pays 5 pounds to shown hatched with the text “New floor over”. In 1968, the Slacks tell Health: “Toilets in
register the premises (the fee for a building It is variously described as “an extension of circle not used for years. Dress circle never
holding more than 1,100) and apparently he is
the winning bidder at the auction. (This is not The Palais auditorium, now operating as a Bingo Centre
clear; perhaps it doesn't sell at auction, but he
is allowed to lease beyond that date). In July
1930, he tells Health that he will later re-
introduce pictures and dancing. From the
Geelong Advertiser of 28 and 30 June 1930,
Health has cut out small ads for skating and
pasted them on the file.

1 September 1930: Browne's Electrical Store,
99 Malop St, opposite the Union Hotel,
inform Health that they will be installing a
motor generator for use in projecting pictures.
It will be three phase and provide DC power.

Health assesses the bio conditions. Bio is in
the roof space over the dress circle. Access is
by a catwalk, leading to a steep ladder-stair,
with inadequate head room down to the
Circle. There is no film rewind room. This is
done outside the cabin in the roof space over
auditorium and without fire-isolation from the
auditorium and elsewhere.

34 CINEMARECORD # 90