Page 12 - CR-94

The Amusu Theatre, Manildra NSW

by Richard Twentyman

he township of Manildra (pop. 500) is wheat producer in Australia. The name towns. One of these travelling picture shows
Tlocated midway between Parkes and Manildra is an aboriginal word meaning was Allan Tom’s “Amusu Touring Talkies”.
Orange, about 250 km west-north-west of “winding river”. Between 1923 and 1937, he and three mates
Sydney. It is the home of the Manildra Flour travelled from their homes in Manildra for up
Mill (largest in the Southern Hemisphere) With a lack of permanent cinemas in the mid- to six weeks at a time, carting projectors,
which commenced operation in 1952 and has west of NSW, the public relied on travelling generator, tent and portable seats to distant
since expanded into the largest industrial picture shows for bringing the movies to their towns such as Byrock, Canbelego, Nymagee,
Merriwagga, Carrathool and Binda, where
they would screen the latest box-office hits to
capacity audiences.
Born in 1902 at Parkes, Allan always had a
keen business sense. At the age of 12, he left
school to work in the family’s garage and
bicycle shop, which still stands today in
Derowie Street, Manildra.

It was in 1923 when Allan and a bank clerk
mate were having a beer on the verandah of
Manildra’s Imperial Hotel when they had the
idea that a travelling picture show might be a
good business proposition.

The local publican offered to loan them £600
($1200) towards the venture, and so Allan and
his brother, Jim, went to Sydney to investigate
projectors. On their return, they found that the
publican had changed the terms of the loan so
that Allan had to repay the whole amount in
12 months with 10% interest.

Their first show took place in November
Allan Tom
1923, with two silent movies – Cappy Ricks

12 CINEMARECORD # 94