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In the early 1950s, the
Metro Collins Street
lease was coming to an
end, and there were great
difficulties with the
owners renewing the
lease. Because of this,
MGM saw only a remote
chance of retaining the
theatre, which was the
home for top MGM
product. To retain the
Metro Theatre image in
the city of Melbourne, the
company began work on
an alternate theatre. The
St. James, situated in
Bourke Street was to
safely carry the Metro
Theatre name. The St.
James was modernised
both internally and
externally. At the last
minute, a peaceful
settlement was made for
In 1932, the Auditorium screened the first the Metro Collins Street
Russian and Chinese films in Melbourne (each and the lease was
having sound) for two week seasons. renewed.
Union Theatres had an option, which they Metro Bourke Street
never took up, to permanently use the became the home to A-
Auditorium as a talkie house. This was grade movies with a
probably due to Union Theatres' financial state notable two and a half
and eventual shortage of film program. year run of Dr. Zhivago,
Various independent companies took short an Australian record
leases of the Auditorium through to 1933. season. The Collins Street theatre took over the lease of the theatre ended in the mid 1970s.
the general MGM screening policy in place of BEF had obtained the release rights for both
Six months of talkie revivals and second runs Bourke Street and the theatres became Metro MGM and Disney Films at that time.
terminated at the end of 1933 and the Collins Street and Metro Bourke Street.
Auditorium was closed and converted into The theatre was leased by Andrew Gatys of
MGM’s Metro Collins Street by architect In 1970, due to the company's serious financial 7 Key Films, renovated and renamed the
Charles N. Hollinshead. Construction took difficulties, Metro Goldwyn Mayer liquidated Mayfair, which proved to be an unsuccessful
three months, with the new theatre being built its Australian circuit to Greater Union move. Collins Street had changed, and its
within the original auditorium. The upper Theatres, and each of the Metros came under reputation of being the street of quality film
gallery was removed, (reducing the seating different managements. Metro Collins Street centres in Melbourne eventually died. The
from 2200 to 1500), a false proscenium was continued to screen the limited number of Regent and Plaza theatres had closed, the
installed forward of the original performing MGM films still being produced, together with Athenaeum showed anything it could until it
area (not a normal stage). British product from British Empire Films until closed to films, and ultimately the interior of
Below: The former Auditorium, after conversion into the Metro Collins Street the Mayfair was gutted and an unsuccessful
shopping centre, called “The Shop of Shops”,
occupied the building. ★

For further information on the Auditorium, see
article “The Auditorium - Birth of a Showcase” by
Fred Page, CinemaRecord No. 33.

Images:
CATHS Archive
State Library of Victoria

Credits:
CinemaRecord #81 Article on the Kings.

CinemaRecord #82 Article on the Barclay.
CinemaRecord #93 Article on the Capitol.
Advertisements from The Herald, The Truth and
Newsday (from the Royce Harris collection)
Additional material and updating:
Royce Harris, Mike Trickett.

The original article was written by the late Bernie
Halperin c. 2002.

38 CINEMARECORD # 94