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The new Village Twin opened on 7 December
1973 with The Poseidon Adventure, and
continued as a successful twin venue until
1993 when it was closed for a further upgrade
to an 11 screen cinema by Construction
Engineering Australia Pty. Ltd. By now, the
Corio Theatre had been closed, which meant
that the only outlet for Village exhibition in
Geelong was the Pix Theatre in West
Geelong, and the Village Drive-in in Ballarat
Road, Bell Post Hill.

Cinemas 7-8-9 projectors at the Village 11 prior to conversion to digital projection
During the construction period of the Village The Village 11 cinema is now completely management of the two theatres exhibited at the
11, Village took over the former Pix Theatre equipped for digital projection. ¬ Plaza Theatre. The returns had been prepared, but
in West Geelong. The Pix, together with the Footnote: they had not been signed by Mr. Fowler. Each
Corio Theatre in the CBD, allowed Village Company was fined £1 on each charge.”
to continue providing cinema entertainment to In the Geelong Advertiser of 5 September
Geelong residents. 1935, the following report appeared:- At the time, there were three different
companies operating the Geelong, Regent
The new Village 11 opened in December “In the City Court on Wednesday, the Regent and Plaza theatres, respectively, so it is a little
1995 with the latest James Bond movie, Theatre Pty. Ltd. and the Geelong Theatre Co. Ltd. mysterious as to why Mr. Fowler of the
Golden Eye. As part of the renovation, the were charged with having on March 15, and also on Regent Theatre would have been submitting
Ryrie Street façade reverted to its original April 15, failed to furnish to the Chief Secretary returns on behalf of the two opposition
form by the removal of the white cladding and returns for the months of February and March, as venues. Maybe some of our readers can throw
being given a new paint job. Internally, the provided for under the Censorship of Films a little light on this perceived anomaly.
Regulations 1933. Senior Plain-clothes Constable
décor is very colourful, and an escalator and F. Milne said that on May 24 he interviewed
lift have been installed for patron movement Mr. Wheatland, manager of the Geelong Theatre, Major Theatres of Geelong:
to the upper cinema levels. The former
about the returns, and Wheatland said that he was
Cinema 1 upstairs has now become Cinema 4, under the impression that the returns had been 1903: His Majesty’s
Cinema 2 downstairs is now Cinema 1. furnished. He also interviewed Ronald S. Hills,
Cinemas 2, 3, 5 and 6 are all within the former Secretary of the Regent Theatre Company, and Hills 1914: Joy Ark, Geelong, Sun
Geelong Theatre stage house, and Cinemas stated that the returns had been prepared, but Mr.
7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are located in an extension Fowler, the person authorised to sign the returns, 1924: Geelong, Regent, West Park,
to the original building, abutting the rear of was busy preparing for a tour overseas, and had His Majesty’s
the original stage house. overlooked signing the returns. Mr. E. E. Wilson,
who appeared for the two defendants, said that the 1935: Geelong, Regent, West Park, Plaza,
Palais
The facade of the former Geelong Theatre as it appears today, as the Geelong Village 11 multiplex.
1945: Geelong, Regent, Plaza, Corio,
Embassy, Palais
1958: Geelong, Regent, Plaza, Corio, Pix
West, Pix Belmont, Thompson,
Star Drive-In
1973: Village Twin, Corio, Pix West,
Star Drive-In, Village Drive-In
1995: Village 11

2000: Village 11, Reading 8
Credits:
Geelong Advertiser
Trove
Victorian Heritage Database
Personal recollections of the author
Images:
Lex de Vries
Mirek Spacil
Mike Trickett

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