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The General Manager of Hayden Theatres,
Paul Dravet, chaired the meeting. We were told
there were no definite plans for Penrith at that
time. At the end of the meeting I took Paul
down to High Street and showed him the
storage spaces between the cinemas. I
suggested that by re-aligning some walls, the
two theatres could be made into three. Paul felt
we could possibly fit four cinemas in that
space. He was concerned that if High Street
ever closed, someone else could run a 4-plex
in opposition to Hayden. The rumours became
very strong after this. We felt that High Street
would close and that the extra screens would
be built at Lawson Street.

An advertisement was placed in the daily
papers stating that Hayden 8 Multiplex
Penrith would be opening for Christmas. The
staff were not told of this plan. Eventually, we
were told that an additional two screens would
be built at Lawson Street and High Street was
telephone Tom and get him out of bed. Tom the ceiling to allow Tom to get his footing. He going to close. The extra theatres would be
lived in the same suburb as I did, which was then climbed back down the ladder. He was built by cutting the two large theatres in half.
about a 20 minute drive to the theatre during badly, shaken but not hurt. Had he fallen, he A wall was to be built across the centre of each
the quiet times of the day. It was due to this would have been killed. I have mentioned that theatre. In effect, it would look as if the screens
situation that I was taught how to operate the Tom and I lived in the same suburb. At the end were being moved closer to the projection
curtains and the slide machine, so if Tom was of the evening, Tom and I would race each room. This would make Lawson Street a
late I could at least put something on the other down the M4 freeway towards home. 5-plex. Further screens were to be added at a
screen. I was also taught how to do a "change- Tom usually won these races, as he was willing later time. The High Street staff were
over" as the films were on different reels and to go faster than I was. Whilst we did not drive devastated. We were a team who really cared
not joined as one as they are today. At times, like hoons, we did slightly exceed the speed about the complex. From that time, we had to
both of the films were due for a change-over limit. continue working knowing that we only had a
at the same time. Since there was only one short time left. It was unlikely that we would
projectionist, I would have to assist. Tom The Manager's husband was a stirrer. He often work at Lawson Street. This caused obvious
would do Cinema 3 and I would do Cinema 4. made prank phone calls to us. One time he friction between staff at the two complexes.
called and made an usherette run all over the High Street staff did not want to lose their jobs
I was surprised at how simple the technique foyer looking for a lost child. I found myself and the Lawson Street staff were worried that
was to perform a change-over, yet how easy it looking for a lost wallet in the cinemas. After the High Street staff might move up and take
was for things to go wrong. A change-over some time I could recognise his different their shifts.
relies upon the projectionist turning off one voices and therefore would not be fooled.
projector whilst turning on the other, giving The conversion of Lawson Street to a 5-plex
the audience a continuous screening. If the Helga was one of our Candy Bar workers. She was very quick. The back half of the “old
change-over was in the middle of a was great to work with, and claimed her theatres” was quickly converted to smaller
conversation, a word in the dialogue could be choc-tops were the best in Sydney. theatres so they could remain open whilst the
missed if the projectionist was not quite on new theatres were being constructed in the
time. You are guided by the small circular There had been plans at one time to expand the front half. In High Street, we had lots of
markers that occur in the top right hand corner High Street complex into the Venture store complaints about the two new theatres. The
of the film at the end of the reel. You may see that was located next to the cinemas, and make patrons told us that the new screens were too
these markers next time you sit down to watch it a 5-plex. An entrance to the foyer from the high, too close and the theatres were too small.
a film. My change-overs usually went well, rooftop carpark was also suggested. This Many told us they would never go to Lawson
apart from having to focus the second would have been a nice little complex had it Street again. They would only see films at
projector. Often I would have the film in happened. Business became bad in 1991/92, High Street. When they were told we were
soft-focus for about thirty seconds before and there was a rumour that Greater Union or closing, they were quite disappointed. One
making the image sharp. Village Theatres were going to take us over. person even complained that they were
Another rumour centred around Greater Union destroying the theatres because they were in
One evening, Tom almost killed himself in the planning to build a brand new cinema complex the Western Suburbs, and that they would
foyer. He had climbed a very high ladder to inside the Plaza shopping centre. This never never do that to the city theatres.
remove a roof panel in the foyer to get to a light eventuated.
fitting. The distance from the foyer floor to the When the new Lawson Street cinemas were
ceiling was two stories. However, Tom was Hayden Theatres had sold the High Street nearly finished, seats were taken from the front
working at the top of the stairs which meant complex a few years earlier and were only now rows of the High Street cinemas to go into the
that there were the two stories to the foyer floor leasing the building. We had heard the rumour new theatres. This left a huge space between
plus the distance down the stairs to the ground of increasing the number of screens in Lawson the front rows and the screens. It looked as if
level. In total this would be almost four stories. Street and closing High Street. Economically, you could fit a tennis court in that space. One
I was working in the box office when I heard this made sense as under the two complexes projector from each theatre was also taken up
a shudder and a yelp. Suddenly the giant ladder structure, two full sets of staff were paid, plus to Lawson Street.
began to topple and fall down the stairs. I the cost of leasing the building in High Street,
looked up to see Tom's legs dangling from the made it a very high cost business. This was The 5-plex opened for the school holidays in
ceiling panel above the foyer. It turned out that only a rumour at the time but it appeared to January 1993. High Street was to remain open
there were live power lines in the ceiling and have some truth in it. A meeting was arranged for the rest of the holidays. This caused some
Tom had touched one, giving himself one big at Lawson Street for all Penrith staff to discuss confusion with the patrons as there were now
electric shock. I quickly ran from the box the future of the cinemas. I took the afternoon two Cinemas 3 and 4. People would buy their
office, grabbed the ladder and raised it back to off school and attended the meeting. tickets at Lawson Street, see that the film was

CINEMARECORD # 91 35