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PARAMOUNT PICTURES and

THE AUDITORIUM

A short lived romance

By Bernie Halperin

n 1912, Adolph Zukor, a Hungarian immigrant to the USA,
Ifounded Famous Players Film Company, which subsequently
become Paramount Pictures Corporation.

The Paramount Theatre in Bourke Street opened adjacent to
the Tivoli in 1915, and was launched as being Paramount
Pictures' home theatre in Melbourne. This agreement only lasted
a year and Paramount Pictures moved, showing most of its
product at Hoyts Cinema DeLuxe, situated opposite the
Paramount.

This arrangement continued until 1919, when Alex Lorimer of
Famous Players leased Melbourne’s Auditorium from the Tait
Brothers, making it the exclusive home of Paramount Pictures
in Melbourne.
The Paramount Theatre continued under that name until 1936,
when it was renamed the Lyceum. In 1964, after renovation, it
reopened as the Cleopatra, then became the Paris until it finally
closed in 1970.

The Auditorium Concert Hall, in Collins Street, had been
constructed for the Tait Brothers at a cost of £40,000 in 1913,
and had operated as a “live” venue until that time, having played
host to many famous concert artists.
The Auditorium became Paramount's first release house. They
had a policy of weekly, two-film screenings, but occasionally
ran a two-week extended season for special releases, such as
those by Cecil B DeMille.

From the Auditorium, films immediately moved for a second
run to Bourke Street. The Melba Theatre was chosen for one
year, after which the Empire Theatre just over Russell Street
became the theatre of choice. For move-over screenings, the The Auditorium early 1920s
Empire screened just one film at a time for three
day seasons, except for the special films which
screened for one week seasons.

The Auditorium advertised as Paramount's
Auditorium Theatre. Paramount's tenure of the
Auditorium ended with the opening of the
Capitol Theatre in 1924, screening Paramount's
The Ten Commandments for a record Melbourne
extended season.

At the Capitol, Paramount continued their
weekly two-film screening policy for 41 weeks,
after which the Capitol became independent,
showing such films as Ben Hur. All films had
special long seasons until the talkies began.
Paramount Pictures reverted to Bourke Street
outlets, including Hoyts DeLuxe and
Paramount theatres.

In December 1930 Paramount Pictures began a
10 year lease of the Capitol Theatre, which
The Lyceum, adjacent to the Tivoli in Bourke Street c. 1957 then passed to Hoyts on expiry in December

36 CINEMARECORD # 94