Page 31 - CR-94

With the introduction of television and the
resultant fall in patronage, Hoyts closed their
circuit of Red Cliffs, Merbein and Wentworth,
selling the theatre at Red Cliffs. Howard Eden
returned to Adelaide. Rex Bartel from Red
th
Cliffs was moved to the 16 Street Drive-in
and, as SMDC had built a drive-in at Dubbo
in NSW (West Side Drive-in), Rex was
offered the position of manager/projectionist
and moved there to take up that position.
Hoyts brought in Adrian Springbett (possibly
from either Melbourne or Adelaide). He later
moved to Queensland Gold Coast, but
returned to Mildura to work at Cinema
Deakin. Bert Harris had moved to Mildura,
and was offered part-time employment at the
th
Ozone and later at the 16 Street Drive-in.
Chris Mitchell was the assistant projectionist
under Bert Harris The Crossroads Drive-in projection room and cafe.
After closure of the Astor, Roy Hare then
replaced Howard Williamson, who returned to
Adelaide. The Hoyts assistant (Rolf Brozna)
was moved to the 16 th Street Drive-in to
replace Chris Mitchell, who was laid off.
At this time, the Crossroads Drive-in
assistant (Peter Jensen) moved to Adelaide
and took a position with Greater Union at the
Seaton Park Drive-in. (Later, he was moved
to Mount Gambier and later still back to
Seaton Park). Chris Mitchell was then re-
employed at the Crossroads Drive-in as
assistant.
With the closure and sale of the Ozone in June
1971, Hoyts placed a covenant on that theatre,
preventing its future use as a cinema. SMDC
then built Cinema Deakin, opening in 1975.
With the theatre becoming operational, Chris
Mitchell was appointed projectionist, with
Vince Manno as assistant. In January 1979,
th
Hoyts sold the 16 Street Drive-in to SMDC,
who immediately closed the venue. The
Ken Curnow at work in the projection room.
equipment was sold, the projectors going to Following the sale of the cinema, the
Lithgow and other equipment to Griffith in Crossroads Drive-in was also up for sale. The
NSW. new owners of the site allowed Vince Manno
to screen several shows prior to its closure in
Len Nulty and Rex Bartel had impressed the 1984. Most of the land was made suitable for
company with the idea of another drive-in a housing development, with the rest being
theatre in Maitland NSW. The company went sold to the adjoining caravan park.
along with the proposal, and Len Nulty moved
to Maitland. due to a number of issues, his Chris Mitchell then went on to purchase the
services with the company were severed, and Masonic Temple adjacent to Cinema Deakin,
his position was taken up by Ken Curnow. The enabling him to convert the theatre into a
equipment was brought in and installed by 4-cinema complex, using the two existing
George Christie. The projectors were Phillips projectors and the two Cinemeccanica
from the Rivoli in Camberwell (Vic.). Bill projectors from the Crossroads Drive-in. ✶
Tomlins, who had been a projectionist at
Dubbo, was appointed to be in charge at the Credits:
Maitland Drive-in. Ken Curnow would go to
Maitland to relieve Bill Tomlins when on South Mildura Development Corporation
holiday.
Images courtesy of Ken Curnow and David Kilderry
For several reasons, including loss of business
due to television, the directors decided to sell This is one of several partially completed articles
the company assets (drive-ins and cinemas). written by Gerry Kennedy, which have been
Chris Mitchell, with the aid of friends, was able finalised by the editorial team.
to finance the purchase of Cinema Deakin,
which he converted to a twin cinema.

CINEMARECORD # 94 31