Page 33 - CINEMARECORD-96

where a council ignored
their new powers, Health
made no effort to
intervene.
Not surprisingly, St.
Kilda’s gambit had a
knock-on effect.
Associated Theatres
wrote to Brighton
Council asking for
permission to allow
smoking at Hoyts Middle
Brighton. Their
argument was that
patronage was affected
because St. Kilda theatres Hoyts screens announced the ban. Image: Ross King collection
allowed smoking.
After a tussle that often generated more heat
In Geelong, the manager of the new Corio than light, theatre staff must have been relieved.
Theatre wrote to the council to make the same Most smokers now spilled out into the street at
request. When his letter was tabled, the Town interval to light-up, and the cleaning bills came
Clerk explained that “as the law stood the down. If patrons had to make a choice between
council could not grant that permission, but if a smoke and a show, only the most incorrigible
the letter was withdrawn the council would take chain-smoker found it impossible to wait one-
no notice” (13) . Another case of wink-wink, and-a-half hours for the next fix.
nod-nod.
With reform assured, the strange twist was the
Some councils took their delegated power destruction of Hoyts flagship, the Regent
seriously. Melbourne City Council, Collins Street on Saturday night, 29 April
Camberwell Council and others upheld the ban. 1945. The likely cause - a smouldering
Table Talk claimed “One of the first things cigarette! ★
noticed in Melbourne by visitors from overseas
out to see the sights is the ban on smoking in
Melbourne’s theatres”. Echoing John Fuller’s * CATHS Research Group members include:
observation, Table Talk claimed that London Peter Benn, Cameron Hall, Ross King, Geoff Gunst,
theatres provided an ashtray attached to the Jo Maxian, Ian Smith, Frank Van Straten, Tony
back of the seat. As for the vocal non-smokers, Tibballs, Eric White and Jim White.
the writer suggested “Give ‘em Gas Masks” (14) .

World War II brought a relaxation of the rules. Credits:
The theatres of the central city, and those in Fiona Campbell, Local History Librarian at East
Melbourne Library and Community Centre, was
St. Kilda, Brunswick, Malvern, Heidelberg,
on smoking does not apply to performers on Port Melbourne, Williamstown and some other especially helpful in finding references. David
Kilderry sought advice from former Hoyts executive
stage. Foyers, cloak rooms, lobbies and stairs municipalities, allowed patrons to light-up. Graeme Hodges, who answered an important
are exempt, because in these places it would be Camberwell Council held to its original question. Others who made an effort to contribute
impossible to enforce the regulations” (12) . decision and Footscray was also anti-smoking. were Lee C. McDonald of the Richmond and
Surely the ban should have extended to cloak Burnley Historical Society, Sandra Suttcliffe at the
rooms! Council properties, including town- By 1945, Melbourne City Council and the MFB Royal Historical Society and Carmel Taig at
halls, were exempt from the regulations, and so were determined to end this free-for-all. In a Footscray Historical Society.
were country halls. wide-ranging and critical report on conditions
in the central city theatres, the two
In a sleight-of-hand, the Health Commission organisations gave the Health Commission the References
delegated the duty of enforcement to municipal ammunition it needed to come out and enforce 1. Michael Cannon (1975), Life in the Cities 3:
councils. St. Kilda Council was elated. Handed a sensible rule. Smoking was only one of a Thomas Nelson (Australia) Limited
the power of enforcement, they ignored it. So number of deficiencies highlighted, but the 2. Rosemary Curry, Kino 45, (1993), quoting
too did Malvern Council, which continued to MFB had the statistics to show that it was a Finn (1935)
allow smoking at the New Malvern. In cases concern. From 1940-44 there were 26 fires in 3. Etiquette for Americans (1898) (web-page
One brand monopolised every Hoyts screen from 1946 15 Melbourne theatres, quote)
4. William Kelly, Life in Victoria in 1858
an average of two fires a 5. The Australasian, 11 Jan. 1908
month, usually in foyers 6. The Argus, 13 Dec. 1881
and lounges, and 7. The Argus, 3 Oct. 1910.
occasionally within the 8. The Argus, 23 February 1917
auditorium (15) . 9. Prahran Telegraph, 13 June 1927
10. Prahran Telegraph, 16 Dec. 1927
Now came a no-nonsense 11. Table Talk, 3 May 1928
declaration to all councils 12. The Dandenong Journal 14 June 1928
– enforce the no-smoking 13. The Argus, 16 Feb. 1938
rule! Loud booing 14. Table Talk 24 Mar. 1938.
greeted No Smoking in 15. The Age, Friday 9 Nov. 1945
the Auditorium in its first 16. Laurie Cunningham, personal
week on the screen at communication
Palais Pictures in
St. Kilda (16) .

CINEMARECORD # 97 33