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WHO WOULD WANT TO WORK AT THE PICTURES?
(Part 3)
By Steve Maggs

cinemas were also side by side and seated 643
in Cinema 1 and 561 in Cinema 2. Cinema 1
was on the left with Cinema 2 on the right. The
cinemas were natural brick in treatment with
CATHS’ Queensland Convenor, Steve Maggs, buffer panels along the walls to assist sound
has a long history of working in the cinema quality. Cinema 1 had blue seats whilst Cinema
industry. In 1995, he produced a book which, 2 had red. Above the foyer was Mike's Bar. In
in his words, was “…not intended to be the mid-1982, after several owners, the High
greatest story of all time. It is simply a flow of Street Twin closed for internal changes. These
events that happened to me over a number of cinemas were not “square” and had strangely
years.” Continuing on from CinemaRecord positioned exits which made the cinemas
Issue 88, the following is a reproduction of almost L-shaped. To even them out, the last
chapters from Steve’s book “Who Would Want five seats from the right side of each row were
to Work at the Pictures?” removed and a new false wall installed. This
made great improvements to both cinemas, as
first saw the High Street Cinemas during the screens were now centred and the sound
Ian inspection of Penrith's theatres, arranged quality improved. The spaces behind the new
by the Australian Theatre Historical Society, walls became storage areas. Seating had been
in 1987. The complex of twin cinemas was reduced to 342 in Cinema 1 and 336 in Cinema
modern, comfortable, but plain in appearance. 2. In 1983, the High Street complex was
The cinemas had bare walls, ceilings that were acquired by Hayden Theatres.
painted black with a few lights hanging from
them and stage curtains that appeared red due This gave the company four screens in Penrith
to coloured lights being shone upon them. The and necessitated a name change. Since both
cinemas were numbered 3 and 4, even though complexes had Cinemas 1 and 2, it was Hayden Cinemas 3 & 4 High Street, Penrith
there were only two of them. decided to call Lawson Street 1 and 2, with the problems of having to re-number all of the
High Street becoming 3 and 4. Lawson Street other theatres. The complexes were later re-
This strange situation needs explanation. The was officially named Hayden 1 and 2 and named, and became known as Hayden
cinemas opened in 1979 as the Penrith Twin High Street was named Hayden 3 and 4. In Lawson Street and Hayden High Street.
Cinemas. Located on the first floor of a new High Street, the former Cinema 2 became the Before I began working for Hayden Theatres,
shopping centre, the complex had a small set new Cinema 3 and the former Cinema 1 I always referred to Lawson Street as Hayden 1.
of doors in High Street (almost across the road became the new Cinema 4. In 1987, it was
from the long since demolished Dungowan decided to add a third screen to the Lawson Penrith became my regular place for seeing
Theatre site). Once through the doors, a Street complex. Mike's Bar was converted to films after leaving Parramatta. Whenever I
lengthy staircase took you to the foyer. Each the intimate Lounge Cinema. Due to the small went to see a film at Parramatta I ended up
cinema seated exactly 400 people. The cinemas space available, and its location in relation to talking to my old friends and missed half of
were side by side with Cinema 1 on the right the projection room, the Lounge was given rear the film. Penrith always screened the same
and Cinema 2 on the left. projection, the projector virtually beside the films as Parramatta and often had double
theatre. It throws onto a mirror, which in turn, features. Another theatre that did this was at
On 18 December 1981, Hayden Theatres reflects the image onto the back of the screen. Richmond. It was a nice old large theatre
opened a twin cinema complex in Lawson Seating for the Lounge was acquired by taking which was also being operated by Hayden
Street. The opening films were Winter of Our the front few rows from the other two theatres, Theatres at that time. Hayden Theatres had
Dreams and Roar. The official opening of this reducing the capacities to 542 in Cinema 1 and their Head Office in that building, so I would
complex was not until February 1982 when the 511 in Cinema 2. The Lounge seats 147. By usually visit Paul Dravet before watching the
State Premier, Neville Wran, opened it. These calling this new cinema The Lounge, it saved film.

I mention Richmond because it plays a part
later in the story. I hope that you are not totally
confused by the history of the Penrith
complexes. All you need to know is that when
I began working in Penrith, my theatre was
called Hayden High Street. I started work at
this complex in August 1990. Again, it was a
Friday night. My first session was in Cinema 4,
the film being Air America starring Mel
Gibson. My first thought was how much of a
coincidence it was being in Cinema 4 with a
Mel Gibson film, since this was the same
combination when I began my ushering career
at Parramatta.

There was a huge difference between the
Penrith and Parramatta complexes. Firstly,
having two screens in Penrith and unreserved
seating meant that there were nowhere near
enough staff. In fact, there were only two
ushers. (Often on a Saturday night in
Hayden Cinema 3, Penrith Parramatta there would be up to thirteen

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