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CIVIC THEATRE ASHBURTON

by Gerry Kennedy

On May 28 2016, our President, Gerry
Kennedy, lost his battle with cancer, leaving
CATHS with a feeling of emptiness that will be
hard to fill. But even in his last months, Gerry
was still busy with his passion for researching
old theatres, one of which was the Civic
Theatre in Ashburton, and he sought our help
to ensure that the article on this theatre was
completed. We, the Editorial team of
CinemaRecord, are pleased that we were able
to finish the article, and even more pleased to
publish it in this edition of our magazine.

Amongst many of Gerry’s files of notes and
pictures, articles in various stages of
completion about other theatres were found,
and it is our goal to complete these documents
as Gerry would have wished. Over future
issues of CinemaRecord, we intend publishing
these stories as a means of keeping our
memories of Gerry alive, and as a reminder of
the dedication and passion with which he Civic Theatre c. 1952 during re-release of 1935 Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”
served as our long-term President and friend. and the original builder made some must have been ignored because, on
improvements. A compromise must have been 31 October 1931, the Department issued a
reached because, in August 1929, an Show Cause Notice why the lessees should not
he Melbourne suburb of Ashburton is application was submitted for the conversion be prosecuted for failing to comply with the
Tlocated approximately 12 km east-south- to sound films, at which stage the proposed Order to Close. Structural changes must have
east of Melbourne’s CBD (as the crow flies). seating capacity was 474. The Department been carried out, because the case was
At the corner of Johnston and High Streets, provided advice on requirements for the bio withdrawn on 28 July 1932.
the very comfortable and welcoming, but box, and so it is assumed that film screenings
sadly now demolished Civic Theatre proudly proceeded. The Public Records give no further indication
once dominated this prominent position. of what happened with the hall for the next
Promises to improve the facility must have four years. Then, on 15 May 1936, the lessees
In 1927, the original Ashburton Hall was been hollow, because the Department issued sought permission to re-open for film
erected on the site to be later occupied by the an Order to Close on 23 June 1931. The order screenings.
Civic Theatre. Mr. Gordon Hargreaves, of
Gordon Hargreaves Pty Ltd, Estate Agents of December 1955 program, typical of that issued regularly by the Civic
243 High Street, acting for Mr. F. Charlston,
of “Blair Athol” on High Street, East Malvern,
applied to the Commissioner for Public Health
to register the hall for public purposes. After
inspection, the Department wrote to
Mr. Hargreaves on 5 December 1927 to
advise that the roof construction was
dangerously weak, denying the application
until the recommended changes had been
carried out.

This rebuff did not deter Mr. Charlston. The
Department learnt that a dance had been held,
and that the hall was taking bookings for
Church Services. An explanation was
requested, and Charlston admitted that one
dance had been held at the instigation of
Hargreaves. He apologised, and asked that the
Church bookings be allowed to proceed,
citing inconvenience to the community if they
were to be cancelled. The request was denied,

6 CINEMARECORD # 91