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LYRIC CINEMA - APOLLO BAY, Vic.

By Ted Tuckey

Apollo Bay Lyric Cinema 2013 (Image by Royce Harris)

pollo Bay is a popular seaside resort In 1925, the Mechanics Hall Committee made use of the new 230 volt direct current
Alocated on Victoria’s west coast, some decided to raise funds by showing silent electricity supply that he had set up in 1933.
156 kM (as the crow flies) south-west of moving pictures on a regular weekly basis.
Melbourne. Its current population is around The hall caretaker, Mr. George Brown, was In 1935, the Mechanics Hall Committee
1200, but this swells to 15,000 over the peak the projectionist. The type of projector is decided to let a contract to Bell to show sound
holiday season. Its harbour is one of only three unknown, but power was supplied from the pictures in the hall. Film Weekly lists the
safe blue water havens in Victoria, west of lighting plant installed by St. Aiden’s Church exhibitor as being Mr. G. Romage between
Port Phillip Bay. of England next door. 1937 and 1945, then Mr. W L Bell from 1945
to 1970. Bell called the theatre Lyric Talkies,
On Saturday 21 June 1924, the first moving William Leslie “Talkie” Bell came to Apollo and installed his equipment in a new, elevated
pictures were shown in the Mechanics Hall to Bay in 1933 to take up the position of projection booth in the hall. The hall had a
raise funds for the public library. The event seating capacity of 200, and was fitted with a
Engineer for the Apollo Bay Electric Lighting
was reported in the Colac Herald published on Company, and to install the town’s 230 volt roll up screen about 20 feet x 15 feet (6 metres
Wednesday 25 June 1924: x 4.8 metres) which was lowered from above
direct current lighting system. Bell had
the stage for the picture shows. The first row
worked as a projectionist at the Olympia open
“On Saturday evening the 21st June, pictures air theatre, which was located on the site of the of seats was placed about 4.5 metres back
at the Public Hall, Apollo Bay, were shown old Malcolm’s Hall in Kiewa Street, Albury, from the stage.
for the first time. Cr. Leonard Martin JP, and then moved to the Albury Mechanics
opening the pictures, stated that no private The type of projectors used at the time is not
Hall in around 1926. In 1929, when sound
person would benefit by the funds received clear, but the exhibitor at the time of writing
through the pictures being shown, that the film equipment became available, he and a this article, Tony Hill, thinks that they were
partner, a Mr. G. Romage, purchased a sound
whole proceeds would go to the public library probably either Simplex or Cummings &
funds, and that the pictures were being shown film projector and started showing talking Wilson with AC carbon arcs, the arcs being
for the benefit of the public. He said that he pictures in the Victorian towns of Goroke, subject to light output fluctuations due to AC
was asked why they did not extend the hall Edenhope, Harrow and Apsley, as well as the supply. These may have been installed by Mr.
with the £500 spent, but he explained that it South Australian towns of Robe, Kingston, Bell, as they were about his vintage. (Tony
was large enough for general use and that Lucindale, Kybybolite and Frances on a two Hill thinks that the exhibitor operating the
there were only a few times in the year when week circuit. Lyric before him, David Oakley, took them to
it was overcrowded. The main picture was Rupanyup where he ran a few shows for a
“Turn to the Right” which was greatly From time to time, between 1933 and 1935, while.)
enjoyed. A full orchestra played under the Bell used his equipment to show sound
baton of Miss McPhee (piano), Mr. Cameron pictures in Apollo Bay’s Mechanics Hall “Talkie” Bell was still operating the Lyric
McPhee (violin), Mr. Neil McPhee from a projection booth next to the entrance Talkies cinema in the Mechanics Hall in the
(trombone), Mr. Brown (cornet) and Mrs. door (it is still usable today). No doubt both 1950s when I was a boy. My memories of a
Charles Lamour (side drum)”. the silent and sound projectors would have visit to the cinema include watching the

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