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amber glow, their gentle music in such an You have done the cinema proud
idyllic setting proved an excellent preparation Bob.....showmanship we don’t see today in
for the screen entertainment soon to follow. cinemas and I agree with your comments on
Just before 4 pm, the by then large crowd “cold” multiplexes.
entered Cinema One for the much anticipated
Birthday show. Following a number of Please congratulate your staff from me
speeches, a series of old advertising slides personally… post this letter if you see fit.
preceded some vintage trailers and a cartoon, Their professionalism, presentation and
setting the mood for an afternoon of nostalgic presence was much appreciated and noticed...
entertainment. and didn’t they look smart!! I can imagine
what it was like to have that many working in
An enthusiastic audience responded with one auditorium in the golden era when
spontaneous applause when the end title patrons were shown to their seats etc.
arrived. The auditorium was abuzz with
excited chatter, as Wallis staff brought out an I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I
impressive supper for all present... Haighs got excited however when I saw Gone with the
Chocolate provided part of the treats, Wind poster as a coming attraction until I
delivered in old style candy trays. Female realised it was part of the set dressing for the
patrons had a further surprise awaiting event ...well done.
discovery that afternoon, too, for work had
just been completed on a stunning restoration I hope the Deanna Durbin corner will remain
of the upstairs ladies Powder Room, returned a permanent feature at the Piccadilly.
to full Art Deco splendour. The gents upstairs
toilet was also part way through a restoration The Piccadilly has now reached its 77th year,
makeover, completed at a later date. The 70th and is recognised as one of the most iconic
Birthday celebration was an event definitely buildings in North Adelaide. Just what the
celebrated in style that afternoon, thanks to the future holds for it remains to be seen.
efforts of Lorna and Michelle Wallis. Recently, there has been a trend in some
One was found and restored to “as new” cinema complexes towards even smaller
condition for use with the upcoming Birthday A gauge of the success of the afternoon can be cinemas, however, I am told one couple was
celebration, and I gained permission to obtain gained from an email received by Bob Parr observed purchasing tickets to one of the new
a copy before it was framed. In return I (Program Manager for Wallis Cinemas) the ones, only to emerge almost straight away,
offered the use of some stills from the movie, following morning from one of the patrons demanding their money back as they did not
which lead to a meeting with Michelle Wallis attending the show, reproduced here by consider going there was worth the price of
and the circuit’s interior decorator. This in permission. ★ the ticket.
turn lead to the preparation of a permanent
display in the downstairs foyer of the Sent: Sunday 24 October 2010 7:29 pm For me, there is still a sense of occasion to be
Piccadilly with the poster as a centrepiece and To: Bob Parr -- Wallis Cinemas enjoyed when you enter the appealing older
a gallery of framed 11”x 14” stills arranged Subject: style foyers of the Piccadilly with their art
around it. Next I found myself involved in the 70th celebration congratulations Bob + team deco fittings and characteristics, and Cinema
actual Birthday celebration on Sunday One still retains ‘trough’ lighting… and even
24 October, which proved to be a very Hi Bob, a curtain across the screen!...all of which
memorable occasion and a delight to me. Still on a big high from today’s celebration @ contributes to a much more enjoyable
Piccadilly. What a wonderful occasion from experience for a visit to the movies.
As for the original opening, this was to be a the greeting by the smartly dressed usher at
charity screening of First Love, the first time the door to the final credits. With the string Sources:
The Adelaide News, The Advertiser, Homes and
in approximately 40 years that one of Deanna quartet in the top foyer the atmosphere was Gardens, Building Magazine, City Messenger.
Durbin’s films was screened in a commercial electric.
cinema in Adelaide. Around 3:15 pm invited Appreciation to Colin Flint and Ross Lange for
guests were greeted in the downstairs foyer by The programme itself was perfect...... the assistance with additional information.
Michelle Wallis who talked about the speeches, the advertising slides, the trailers,
background to the display. She was then the cartoon and the gorgeous main feature Appreciation to Michelle Wallis, Lorna Wallis and
joined by Anne Clifford, daughter of Dan which stood up very well for 70 years young. Bob Parr for their support, and the help and co-
Clifford, for the official unveiling of the Do you know I had never seen a Deanna operation of Piccadilly staff during a recent visit for
display. Following this, in the upstairs foyer, Durbin movie? I thought the response from photography.
musical entertainment was provided by the the audience was splendid… appreciating the
Suzuki Strings. Positioned alongside the spiral humour and just enjoying the sentimental Images: John Thiele (unless otherwise noted).
stairway beneath the glittering chandelier, Cinderella comparisons. A row of young
with amber light streaming through the arrow- people in front of me actually on the edge of
shaped windows flooding the foyer with a soft their seats at one point.

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