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Over following years, there was a growing
trend in the Cinema Industry towards multi-
screen complexes with smaller auditoria
rather than large single cinemas. By the late
1980s, it was felt that the Piccadilly could be
made more commercially viable by dividing
the large theatre into three smaller cinemas.
Having spent around $1.2 million on restoring
and upgrading the theatre up until this time, a
proposal to convert the historic theatre was
submitted to the Adelaide City Council in
October 1988, expecting approval to go
ahead. Instead, they met with opposition from
the National Trust and various Heritage
groups who argued that the Piccadilly was the
last remaining intact cinema of its era.
Wrangling over the issue continued on well
into the next year. Eventually, various
Heritage concerns were settled, and the
project was allowed to proceed.
Guests at the 70th Birthday celebrations. L to R:
Margaret Wills, Bob Parr, Anne Wills and John Thiele. Corresponding fairly closely with the 50th
Image: Michael Cant. Anniversary of the theatre, the revamped three
Thousand Days (24 weeks), The Graduate the Academy Cinema Centre in Adelaide, screen Piccadilly opened to the public on
(this one ran for 36 weeks!) and Airport (26 three at the Glenelg Cinema Centre, and the Thursday, 15 November 1990. Opening
weeks). Sensurround arrived at the Forum in Chelsea Theatre. attractions were Ghost with Patrick Swayze,
1977 with Rollercoaster. Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, Wild at
The condition of the Forum was fairly Heart with Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, and
After the smaller single level Regent opened dilapidated when Wallis Theatres purchased it. Presumed Innocent with Harrison Ford. The
in 1968, Greater Union continued to operate Six months of work was required to return the change injected new life into the much loved
the Forum as a first release cinema until Piccadilly to much of its former grandeur, theatre.
1983, when they decided to centralise which included restoring and relighting neon
operations in Hindley Street, Adelaide, with lighting which had been covered by curtains In 2010, through an unexpected chain of
the opening of the Hindley 5 and 6 cinemas during the cinema’s life as the Forum, and events, I had the pleasure of becoming
in the former Wests Theatre building. This replacing gold velvet curtains over the screen involved in the 70th Birthday celebrations for
move gave Wallis Theatres the opportunity to behind the original proscenium. Altogether, the Piccadilly. Having discovered the films of
purchase the Forum, change its name back to $800,000 was spent restoring the unique Deanna Durbin a few years earlier, I had
the Piccadilly, and close it down for character to this beautiful cinema. The become a fan and, around the middle of 2010,
renovation and refurbishing. Opening Attraction on Friday 16 December I learned that Robin Dunn had been engaged
1983, a Charity Premiere to aid the Cystic by Wallis management to locate an original
At the time, Wallis Theatres, a South Fibrosis Trust, was the movie Zelig starring daybill for Deanna’s film, First Love, the
Australian company, operated 11 drive-in Woody Allen and Mia Farrow. movie which had opened the theatre in 1940.
theatres, as well as four hardtop cinemas at
Below: The downstairs foyer, as set up for the 70th anniversary. The stairs lead to the upper foyer. Entry to cinemas 2 and 3 is through the doors at right.

22 CINEMARECORD # 94