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finish and, as the patrons exited, they all said
goodbye and thanked me. Some waited until
last so they could be the final paying customers
in the theatre. The staff stayed on for a few
hours. When it was time to leave, I did the final
check of the cinemas and toilets. Then, for the
last time, we turned and looked across the now
darkened foyer and locked the doors. We all
said our farewells and planned a reunion in the
future. Tom and I walked to our cars, shook
hands and for the final time raced each other
down the freeway.
After the theatre closed, it was quickly stripped
of all fittings and equipment in the hope that it
would never re-open. The building was taken
over by the group which operated the theatre
restaurant next to the cinemas. They converted
them into a larger theatre restaurant and
function centre. I drove past the old theatre a
few times after it closed and it seemed very
strange without its “Now Showing” signs and
posters.

Some of the full-time staff from High Street
in Cinema 4 and then walk down to High in the papers did not mention that we were were employed at Lawson Street. I would
Street, (where Cinema 4 had always been closing. None of the patrons that evening were occasionally go to visit them and to see a film
located), only to be sent back toLawson Street. aware that they were going to be the last people in the new theatres. My old entrance sign from
to see a film in those theatres. I had asked to above the doors had been moved up to Lawson
As I have said, the staff at High Street were a be the last usher to work at the centre and was Street and attached to the outside wall. It was
team. We were so keen to save the theatre that given that task. That night, most of the staff strange seeing it there.
we planned to take it over and operate it in came to have a farewell party. Many former
opposition to Hayden. A local businessman staff members also attended, along with Paul A few months later, I heard that the Regent
was going to support us. We were told that the Dravet. The final films were Accidental Hero Theatre at Richmond was being twinned. This
owners were keen to keep the theatre and were in Cinema 3 and Fortress in Cinema 4. At the was the theatre that I regularly attended before
willing to reduce the rent and build the beginning of each film, I walked to the front working at High Street. I took my girlfriend
entrance to the carpark. I then saw my empire of the audience, welcomed them and told them to see Into the West, starring Gabriel Byrne.
growing. I thought that I could run High that we were closing. I thanked them for By co-incidence, this was the opening weekend
Street, take over the Regent Theatre in coming and hoped they enjoyed the movie. The of the new twin. The film was screened in the
Richmond, (which was a former Hayden audiences gave me a genuine round of former stalls theatre which retained the old
Theatre) and, if business was good, triple the applause. It was very moving. The rest of the proscenium, wall decorations and entrances. I
former Katoomba Savoy and restore the group partied in the foyer. Since I was sat down and said to my girlfriend, "These are
Trocadero (which was located under the working, I still had tasks to perform. I had to my old seats." I turned and looked towards the
Savoy) to make a nice art-deco 4-plex. I would take down all of the posters and the signs. On newly built projection room. "That's my old
call this company Showcase Cinemas. the display awning above the entrance doors I projector", I yelled. It turned out that Hayden
Unfortunately, the businessman changed his wrote THEATRE CLOSED. MOVIES Theatres had sold all of the equipment from
mind and we were unable to continue with the CONTINUE AT LAWSON STREET. After this, High Street to the Richmond Regent. This
plans. we all gathered in the foyer whilst one of our meant they could twin the theatre quickly and
staff members (who was an excellent singer) at a reasonable price. The lights were dimmed
The final screenings at High Street were on performed a tearful version of “The Rose”. It and a trailer appeared on the screen. However,
Wednesday 2 February 1993. The advertising was a very sad time. The films were due to the film had been threaded into the projector
back the front so that the soundtrack appeared
Savoy Theatre, Katoomba at the side of the screen and all of the credits
were backward. The film stopped and the lights
came up whilst the projectionist re-threaded
the film.
I kept in regular contact with my former
manager. I had told her that I would still like
to be working in theatres. She suggested that I
contact the Orpheum at Cremorne as they
seemed to go through a lot of staff. I had
already met the Orpheum Management since
it was also a Hayden Theatre. I sent a letter to
the theatre asking for work. Within a few days
I had received a phone call from the manager
offering me a job. I began work at the
Orpheum exactly six months after High
Street had closed. As I expected, there were
lots more interesting times ahead at this new
theatre. ê
Images:
Steve Maggs
CATHS archive

36 CINEMARECORD # 91