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Maurie, my off-sider once the theatre opened, the risque English comedy, Carry On Up The
helped me paint chain to be looped between Jungle, for one night only. Public screenings
guide posts. It was a monotonous job, so I commenced the following night with The
suggested, "Moz, why don't we dunk it into Love Bug Rally as the main feature, and The
the can of paint?" He readily agreed with what Money Jungle as the support.
sounded like a good idea and within minutes
we were unholy messes, having failed to allow Immediately after the screening, I should have
for paint dispersal in the can or where to hang been at the hotel reception greeting guests, but
wet chain. My brother, who painted nearby first George and I celebrated with a beer-toast
posts, didn't have to say anything, his look of in the projection room, elated at having
disgust was enough. achieved what many people said couldn't be
done. At the age 28, my life had taken a sharp
We fared better painting speaker stands, right hand turn, leaving the safety and comfort
making each row of pipes a different colour of my Cobram home to face the world by
and then individually marking the white bases myself.
alphabetically and numerically as required by
the state authority. The Stargazer site had been an overgrown,
The opening night feature twenty acre paddock, the home of a large
With the final inspection just a day away we tabby cat we called Gazer. The evening after
eyes. The tractor driver had wisely driven off rushed to have everything completed in time opening night, the feral feline strutted into the
at full throttle and, upon reaching the public but, at the eleventh hour, catastrophe struck ticket box, making himself at home by curling
road, wasn't stopping for a chit-chat. With the when the tanker carrying bitumen for my up in front of the bar-heater, a spot he
drama over I felt empathy for him, it must roadways and ramps flipped over on the commandeered every cold night for almost a
have been terrifying with tons of metal highway at what was locally referred to as decade.
squeaking above his head. "roll over corner". The asphalt delay meant it
was a nervous meeting with the licensing In the warmer weather he sat on the serving
"Can you do it again?" the TV camera man inspector from Sydney, who arrived with a bench, sometimes observing customers in
asked, having arrived too late to film the local policeman in tow. The grand opening their cars through the window; at other times
raising. Withering looks told him where to go was just two days away and, with tickets ignoring them to preen himself, or nap.
and what to do with his equipment. pre-sold for charity, not being permitted to During the first movie, he enjoyed tit bits
operate would be a huge embarrassment. when the car hops and I ate supper sent from
The rest of the day was spent jacking the legs the cafeteria and, when we closed the ticket
into place and bolting them down; the back "I like your colourful speaker stands," the box, he secured a warm spot in the projection
ones as well as the front as they'd broken adrift inspector said, his relaxed manner giving me room while the second film played. At the end
of the hinges. hope. "Everything checks out except for the of the show, he selected cat delicacies like
sealing, which you say is happening hamburgers, chips and Chiko rolls from
After the buildings were completed, George tomorrow?" When I assured him it was, he discarded food on the ramps.
installed the rectifier and projectors into the granted the licence pending the policeman's
bio box, uttering plenty of "Oh, my Gawds," confirmation that it took place. So, on Gazer had idiosyncrasies by the paw full, one
while relying on cigarettes and strong black 5 October 1972, my Stargazer Drive-in being a preference for men over women. He
coffee to sustain him over the long weeks of theatre at Albury was officially opened by the purred contentedly whenever the car hops or I
after-midnight toiling. Mayor of Albury, Alderman T. Pearsall with petted him, but females were unwelcome to
The screen was constructed entirely on the ground, and raised as one structure, claimed to be the first time done this way in Australia

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