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Geelong Theatre auditorium c. 1940 Projection switchboards and amplifier c. 1940

balcony on the Ryrie Street frontage was dome was the feature. Heavy timber large dressing room below the stage in a rather
enclosed to incorporate a new projection surrounded the entrances to the stalls. dank, smelly basement, accessible by stairs at
room, thereby freeing up space within the Staircases off the left and right side of the the south-east corner of the stage. Scenery
auditorium. Evidence of the archway still foyer led to the dress circle, although the left flying was available over the stage area via
exists in the projection room of the Village 11 staircase was closed off in later years, and was hand-hauled hemp lines from a fly floor along
Cinema 4 today. used solely for access to the Manager’s office the east side of the fly tower. The rolling roof
which, by that stage, had been relocated to the ventilation structure was also operated by
Internally, the walls of the auditorium were of first floor with a knee-level window to allow winch from the fly floor. In later years, the
a rather plain, dull brown finish. The curved, a view down into the foyer. suspended screen for film presentation was
decorative ceiling with its ornate pendant light also hoisted into the flies by means of a hand
fittings provided some spectacle, as also did Beyond both side walls of the dress circle operated, ratchet winch at fly floor level.
the multiple-coved proscenium arch, with were disused sections of corridor which had
each cove containing lighting. The ceiling, originally served as access to the circle. The official opening took place on 26 May
although now painted black, is still present in Following provision of a new upstairs foyer in 1913 to a capacity audience who were
Cinema 4. the 1930s, the east side corridor became a entertained by world famous contralto, Dame
store for the projection room, and the west Clara Butt and her baritone husband,
In the foyer, a centrally positioned, marble- side corridor became a locker/change room Kennerly Rumford. The following evening
clad, island ticket box beneath a lit ceiling for the usherettes. saw the Geelong Theatre opened to the
public for the first time, the feature film being
The stage house measured approximately Tigris - a rather unusual choice, given that this
20 metres wide x 15 metres deep, with two was an Italian film released in 1913 by Itala
dressing rooms at stage level and a single, Film, Italy. The film starred a French actor,

Super Simplex projectors c. 1940 Marble clad ticket box c. 1940

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