Page 38 - CR-92

It was during the second half of the evening
that odd noises started to interfere. There
would be a rattle of lolly packets, crumpling
of brown paper bags, and popping of soft drink
bottles. Right towards the most serious part of
the main feature, somebody would drop their
packet of Jaffas, or their empty soft drink
bottle, to hear them roll down along the
wooden floor all the way to the area in front of
the screen.

Some of the films that come to mind starred
John Wayne, one in particular was The
Fighting Seabees, about the Construction
Battalions (CB’s) of the US Army in the
Islands during the war. There were plenty of
westerns and romantic films. One oddball film
was The Body Disappears, about a couple
who, with an injection, could become
invisible. Another one was an aircraft film
called Spinner Magee, about a rogue operator
who caused a few pilots’ deaths, but when a
Stinson airliner got into trouble, he did the
manly thing and crashed his plane into power
lines in front of the Stinson as it crash landed. Projection room at the Victory
The movie that I saw the most people walk out
of was William Shakespeare’s Henry V, - Lloyd’s duties included sweeping out the negotiated the purchase of the theatre and
uneducated lot! theatre and putting up posters all over the adjacent house as a site for a service station.
place, travelling by bicycle with a bucket of Not directly involved with the site
Films were usually shown at Taringa six to paste, brush and rolls of posters. Lloyd worked redevelopment, he was somewhat surprised to
twelve months after they were shown in city for Mr. Chesterman until 1948, when his receive a telephone call from Head Office one
cinemas. Of course there are too many movies father (the local Taringa policeman) was day, directing him to take charge of a situation
to mention all. transferred to Gladstone. Lloyd continued his which had arisen. The partially demolished
cinema work there at the Civic Theatre. front facade was leaning precariously out over
After the main feature finished, or even before, Moggill Road under the influence of strong
people would start moving towards the exit In 1956, television broadcasts commenced in winds from an approaching thunderstorm, and
doors, sometimes several hundred people Australia, at first down south then, in 1959, in was threatening to collapse. Police were in
leaving “to get out before the rush”. Brisbane. Slowly the crowds going to cinemas attendance and Moggill Road had been partly
dwindled as people stayed at home to watch closed to ensure public safety.
Out on Moggill Road there were crowds the small screen. Cinemas became
everywhere – some walking, some waiting for uneconomic, and many closed permanently. After assessing the situation, the demolisher
a bus from town, some going to catch a train. Taringa’s Victory closed down in the early had unfortunately allowed open slather
The time would be past 11 o’clock, but it 1960s and, sadly, was demolished, putting an removal of materials from the theatre,
seemed safe in those days to walk home, even end to those pleasant nights out. Strangely, the reducing its structural integrity. Fred arranged
in the war years. Regal at Graceville, and the El Dorado at for the facade to be pulled back into position
Indooroopilly have managed to keep going using what was to hand - ropes and a motor
The “Taringa Pictures” as we knew it, but against all odds – the El Dorado being vehicle.
actually the Victory Theatre, was owned by upgraded several times. These two cinemas
a chain called Liberty Theatres who also had are still operating. ★ All went well until the front wall’s momentum
cinemas at Graceville, Prospect Terrace, pushed it just past its tipping point the other
Kelvin Grove and Windsor. Local identity, way. The arched trusses went down like a pack
Lloyd Crank went to work for Liberty in 1944, of cards, threatening the house behind.
first at Graceville, then swapping to Taringa Supplementary Comment Fortunately, the only damage sustained was
as he lived just along Moggill Road. to a gutter and downpipe, which were hastily
Indooroopilly & District Historical Society repaired before the owner returned from
After the war, the Victory was sold to Arthur member Fred Whitchurch recalls the holiday.
Chesterman - ‘Chesty’ as he was known - who demolition of the cinema quite vividly. At the
I think took out some of the canvas seating at time he was working for the Caltex Oil Images and drawings supplied by Eric Marggraf.
the back and installed upright leather seats. Company. Several months earlier, he had

38 CINEMARECORD # 92