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had been extensively damaged
by vandalism and was
considered beyond repair. The
cinema would feature the latest
in screen and sound technology
as well as neon lighting effects
in the style of the 1930s. The
name of the new complex was to
be the Aurora Picture Palace,
although one media source stated
it was to be the National Picture
Palace. (19)

Although some preparatory work
was begun, Mr Taranto was
unable to proceed due to
economic conditions prevailing
at the time. The name Aurora
had been suggested by an
associate of Mr Taranto.
(Ironically he would use the
name in 2011 when he reopened
the George Cinemas in St Kilda
as the Aurora, and closed them
a few weeks later).
The auditorium as seen from the screen The National was sold again and
approval given to convert the old
thus hiding the old wall and piers and was Boy On A Dolphin, which did phenomenal cinema into shops and offices. The theatre was
providing space for the air conditioning ducts. business to packed houses. (17) gutted completely in 1998, although the façade
The duct outlets flanking the proscenium had remained. In 2015 a proposal was submitted
a curved and fluted back, with trough lighting Peter Yiannoudes had emigrated from Cyprus for total demolition to build multi-storey
for decoration. (14) in 1956 where he had worked in cinemas. He apartments, but a controversy arose about
acted as an agent for Greek film companies keeping the façade of what locals remembered
The exterior had also changed slightly, but at and screened his first films in Melbourne Town fondly as ‘the old Greek Theatre’. ★
what date is not known. From the appearance Hall. He established Cosmopolitan Theatres
it would seem to have been in the late 1920s and, over the years, his circuit increased to
but it could have occurred during the 1939 include cinemas in Brunswick, Albert Park, References:
alterations. A series of pillars across the façade Oakleigh, Sunshine and Yarraville. (18)
that seemed to support nothing in particular 1. See notes under NATIONAL OPEN AIR
were the only decorative feature of an But with the introduction of SBS ethnic ELECTRIC PICTURES
otherwise nondescript façade. television, and home video recorders, the 2. The Age, Thursday 26 October 1911, p6
3. Ibid
demand for screening continental films
4. Richmond Guardian, 9 November 1912
In 1953, it was reported that the theatre had diminished. The National continued to screen
5. Richmond Australian, 1 April 1911
installed a wide angle lens along with a screen films until it closed its doors on 18 January 6. Richmond Australian, 4 November 1911
the full width of the proscenium to produce an 1984 with two Greek films. 7. Richmond City Library. 12/1986 PHD to
impressive panoramic effect. This was used on Town Clerk, 4 June 1912
The Greatest Show on Earth and it was stated By 1993, it was disused and in very poor 8. Richmond Australian, 2 November 1912
that the audiences were lapping it up. (15) condition throughout. The seats in the stalls 9. Richmond Australian, 13 April 1912
(Certainly the train wreck sequence would had been removed to allow for dancing, but 10. Richmond Guardian, 20 May 1916
have been impressive). those in the dress circle remained. The screen 11. Ten Years of Progress in the Motion
Picture Industry. Union Theatres, c1922
remained also, but lighting and speaker support
12. The Film Weekly Motion Picture
CinemaScope was installed in August 1955. rods had been erected around the auditorium Directories, 1937-71 and The Age, 15
(16) and a temporary timber stage built. The theatre March 1926
survived on limited band shows, usually on 13. The Age, Monday 11 January 1926 p5
The National continued its career against the Friday and Saturday nights. It was during one 14. Building, 24 June 1939
Globe and Crown Theatres and Hoyts of these engagements that damage and 15. The Argus, Wednesday 18 March 1953
Cinema. The Richmond Theatre had long vandalism occurred to the theatre’s interior, p53
closed and the Oriental had vanished from the and a fire to the stage area in August 1983 16. The Film Weekly, 18 August 1955
17. Greek Cinema Across Australia. Peter
scene altogether, as had North’s Open Air made matters worse. Yiannoudes, self published, 2010.
Theatre. But a worse competitor was soon to 18. A Sentimental Cycle. The Age, 13 May
arrive: television. Around that time it was sold to Ralph Taranto. 1996. Interview with Peter Yiannoudes.
He planned to convert the premises into a twin 19. Information from John Love, 1996. The
With audiences dwindling due to television, cinema and restaurant. He engaged the services Melbourne Times of 15 December 1993
the theatre was sold to Peter Yiannoudes and of prominent theatre designer, John Love, to mentions the name Richmond National
Cosmopolitan Theatres on 15 January 1962. design a conversion into a twin, to operate Picture Palace.
He decided not to alter the programming at that along the lines of the very successful Hayden
stage to an exclusive Greek policy, as they did Orpheum in Cremorne, Sydney. John Love’s
not have enough films to maintain it. Efforts proposal was for a large 500-seat cinema to be Researched by Les Tod
to get first release films resulted in access to built in the dress circle and a smaller 300-seat Additional research by Ian Smith
MGM product and also some from Paramount. screen in the stalls. The stalls would be
Peter Yiannoudes relates in his book that they extensively excavated to improve sight lines Images:
had also acquired several English films with and a new proscenium built out in front of the CATHS Archive
Greek sub-titles, and the first of these to screen old. This was because the 1939 proscenium

8 CINEMARECORD # 92