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as a background music and whilst the reels
were being changed. At many places, dances
were run after the pictures at no extra charge.
In fact there were some holiday periods when
groups of people with musical talent went on
tour with the family and a marvellous time
was had, not only by the audiences, but by the
people who travelled around with the Nulty
family in the van. Just about the time that
talkies came in, Mr. Jim Nulty toured
featuring the silent version of Phar Lap's last
race at Agu Caliente in Mexico. This film had
been made as a sound film, but could also be
used as a silent movie, the only problem
being that someone had to get up on the floor
of the hall and give a vivid description of the
race In a memorable effort, Mr. Jim Nulty
learnt the race off by heart and gave great
enjoyment to the crowds that flocked to see
the film by describing the whole race from
start to finish, probably far better that the The Victory Theatre, Ouyen, 1935
American commentator did in the sound
version. So popular was the actual fifteen
minute film that people asked for it to be Victory Theatre, seating 300 people in a semi which were being screened by Mr. Morgan,
shown a second time on the night. Naturally, open-air building. Its design was based on that was taken over by a Mr. O'Loughlin but, due
it drew a lot of people and was quite a of a semi-tropical theatre after (it is alleged) to poor business everywhere, Mr. O'Loughlin
financial success. Mr. Ingwerson had been impressed by a made a deal with the Nulty family in which
similar theatre he had seen whilst holidaying the equipment from the Public Hall was
At Ouyen, the Nulty family eventually in northern Queensland. The Victory had purchased.
cushion seats and deck chairs, and was lined
opened an open-air theatre on a skating rink
next to Cons Cafe in the main street. with caneite, a material which helped the In 1955, a “Wydascope” (1.85:1) screen was
sound quality to a great extent. Here again, the installed at the Roxy. To show off the
Although there was a local picture show run
by Mr. Joe Morgan in the Public Hall pictures were operated in conjunction with the difference that the larger screen made, it was
opposite, it only screened on Saturdays, so screenings around the North-West of Victoria. decided to show the first film, Rusty Saves a
Nulty's pictures screened every Tuesday Life, on the standard 1.37:1 screen, and the
night at the Mayfair Open-air Theatre, In 1938, every Sunday night was devoted to main feature, On the Waterfront, on the new
where a projection room and tin screen were the broadcast of immensely popular screen.
built, and the audience relaxed in canvas deck community singing through Radio 3SH
chairs. (Swan Hill), which was run from the Roxy The Roxy Theatre was also sometimes used
Theatre. It was at a time when, if anyone was as a venue for the Ouyen High School speech
able to hear the performance on their radio, it night.
This was a tremendous success but, in winter,
it became so cold that a hall had to be found, was an outstanding achievement. Community
singing was so popular that a large number of Eventually, the Nulty brothers went their
and it was here that the show was relocated to letters were written to Mr. Nulty, who different ways. Len Nulty moved to Charlton
the Fire Brigade hall. Although this was a
very small hall, it was fitted out quite well, conducted the singing with Mrs. Nulty and ran the Roxy Theatre there from 1957 to
playing the piano, accompanied by various
1960. He then moved to Mildura and ran the
and movies were screened every Tuesday artists. Crossroads Drive In and Cinema Deakin on
night in conjunction with the screenings behalf of a Mildura based company.
around the North-West of Victoria. In around 1948, a front section was put on the
In 1935, Mr. Hugh Ingwerson, who owned the theatre and it was renamed the Roxy. Before In 1955, Mick Nulty moved to Robinvale
Fairy Dell Cafe in Oke Street, built the
this, in 1940, the local Public Hall pictures where he built the Roxy Cinema, opening in
1957 with the The Dambusters. He also
opened the Robinvale Valley Drive-in Theatre
in 1963.

Jim Nulty died 1967 and Mrs. Nulty in 1974,
both being interred at the Ouyen Cemetery. ¬

Credits:
Information supplied by Mr. E. T. (Mick) Nulty,
Robinvale, Mrs. Coral Bell Healey, Mildura, and Mr.
Sam Nightingale, London.
Reproduced with the permission of the Ouyen
District History and Genealogy Centre.

Extract from Entertainment during the War Years
article from Local History Resource Centre - Ouyen.
Images:

CATHS archive collection
Cuttle’s Garage was converted to become the Roxy, Robinvale, opening in 1957

CINEMARECORD # 91 23