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THE AVALON THEATRE, HOBART by Earl Martell

o most people, the name “Avalon” goes In 1932, a group of Hobart businessmen, backs! Tasmanian Amusements had contracts
Thand in hand with the legend of King looking to have a Tasmanian owned and with British Dominion Films, MGM and
Arthur, Avalon being the island where the operated cinema group, formed Tasmanian Paramount, providing the Plaza and Avalon
sword “Excalibur” was forged, and where Amusements, at a time when Hoyts had two theatres with top quality films.
King Arthur recovered from his wounds after Tasmanian theatres (the Prince of Wales in
the battle of Camlann. In Welsh, “Avalon” Hobart and the Princess in Launceston), and
means “island of apples”, so it is rather fitting Greater Union had three (the Strand and His
that Tasmania, the “apple isle”, had a picture Majesty’s in Hobart and the Majestic in
theatre called the Avalon. Launceston). They leased the Academy of
Music in Launceston, changed the name to the
The theatre that was to become the Avalon Plaza and purchased it in 1934. They also
was built in 1890 at 52-54 Melville Street in leased the Bijou in Hobart and changed its
Hobart as the Temperance Hall. It was used name to the Avalon, purchasing the building
mainly for live theatre as well as community in 1947.
events, concerts, lantern shows and variety
entertainments. Its first lessee was a Whilst having a stalls and balcony, the
Mr. J. Saville Smith, who secured a season by Avalon was not a big picture palace, seating
the Cogill Bros. Minstrels, and followed that just 936 overall. The backs of the seats in the During World War 2, proceeds from alternate
with Harry Rickards. In 1918 it was used as a balcony section were just canvas “sling Sunday night screenings at the Avalon went
skating rink. The theatre was renamed the backs”. There was not enough room between to the Red Cross.
Bijou in 1922. the rows to allow for regular padded seat
In June 1951, extensive renovations were
carried out on the Avalon, including the
repainting of the auditorium, fitting of new
furnishings, installation of air conditioning,
rendering and painting of the front and sides
of the building and the erection of a new
illuminated sign out front. 1954 saw the
introduction of CinemaScope at the Avalon
with a reduction in seating capacity to just
756. That year proved to be Tasmanian
Amusements’ most profitable. In 1958, the
company went into partnership with Murray
Collins, leasing the Tatler newsreel theatres
in Hobart and Launceston.

However, the introduction of television in
Tasmania resulted in a dramatic fall off in

12 CINEMARECORD # 96