Page 15 - CR-94

Ken Annetts and Roy Pollock then took over
the Amusu.

Martin Ryan struggled through the Great
Depression, eventually purchasing the
Centennial Hall, demolishing it and building
the Liberty Theatre on the site.
Preddey, sensing an improvement in the
economy, set about reconditioning the
Amusu, including the raising of the roof by
6 feet. Preddey beat Ryan by re-opening the
Amusu before the Liberty in 1934.

Ken Annetts purchased the Liberty when
Martin Ryan pulled out of the business,
thereby acquiring control of both cinema The Fiesta: Above, circa 1957. Below, circa 1990.
venues. Annetts then approached
Frank K. Bardsley, who had other theatre
interests, to take over the Moruya theatres.
Bardsley purchased the Liberty and leased
the Amusu from Preddey.

Bardsley modernized the front of the Liberty,
improved the interior and installed 120
Dunlopillow chairs. The Powers projectors
were moved up from the Amusu. The Liberty
was then renamed the Orion and re-opened in
early 1940. The Amusu became a dance hall.

The Orion screened Wednesdays and
Saturdays (matinee and evenings). In 1949, a
second hand pair of C&W projectors with
RCA sound and amplifier was installed.
In 1950, F.K. Bardsley died and his son in law
William (Bill) Smith took over the business
operations. Soon after visiting the Orion, Bill
Smith started thinking of a new theatre. After
several proposals were considered, and opening of the Fiesta, the Orion was transferred from the Orion to the Fiesta, and
refused by the council, eventually in 1956, a demolished and the front space was laid out were equipped to screen magnetic as well as
proposal to build a new theatre behind the old with gardens. optical sound films.
building, which would then be removed, was
approved. The building frontage was constructed in The Fiesta had one unusual feature, and that
11 inch thick poured concrete to the facade was a second kiosk (located under the
The Fiesta and the projection room, whilst the auditorium projection room) which opened out to the
was steel framed and cement sheet clad with a front of the building via a roller shutter over
The new Fiesta Theatre was built behind the gable roof. The interior was clad with the counter. This kiosk was used as an
Orion in Queen Street. Bill Smith gambled on patterned 4 ft x 3 ft Masonite Leatherboard overflow facility when the theatre was busy
the local economy growing as the justification sheets. Some acoustic tiling was used to face and, in later years, it serviced the mini golf
for building the new theatre. It was a budget the rear wall of the auditorium. The theatre patrons. The Fiesta seated 550 on flip up
priced venue built on the stadium principal. opened with a latest CinemaScope screen. seats, including some double "cuddle seats".
The builder was A.T. and W.A. Smith, Bill’s Full width curtains were used instead of a
father’s business. proscenium. A "Climatemaster" ventilation The Fiesta closed in 1984 (with the advent of
and heating system was installed. The visual the video boom) and, from then on, operated
Access to the cinema was via a covered way effect achieved was typically 1950s. in fits and starts with a variety of operators
that ran the full length along the right hand until its final closure in 1988. It was then
side of the old Orion theatre. After the The theatre was entered via a right hand side converted to an amusement centre with a mini
foyer. Black and grey vinyl tiles covered the golf course located in the front yard.
The Fiesta from the rear c. 2010 - now demolished
floor. The ticket box
and candy counter The building was used as a joinery for some
were located time, with some of the original features
immediately inside retained. However, the property was sold in
the entrance on the 2011, and now forms part of the next door
left hand side. The medical centre. ✶
auditorium was
entered half way Credits:
along its left. The
better tiered seats Shows — Showmen — Through the Years.
were to the left, with A.V. Colefax.
the stalls to the right.
Picture Shows of the Far South Coast of NSW.
Robert Parkinson
The Gaumont-Kalee
projectors were Supplement to the Moyura Examiner 12 July,1957.

CINEMARECORD # 94 15