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name survived in the company name ‘Harry a result. Cairns Palace also remained open. But
Rickards’ Tivoli Theatres Ltd’, which was questions were asked as to why the Tivoli was
established by Hugh D. McIntosh when he allowed to be an exception and to remain open.
purchased the Tivoli business from Rickards’ The epidemic and its effect on theatres is
heirs. worthy of an article in itself.
(3) Both the Tivoli Roof Garden and the
Cremorne Theatre remained open during the According to information in the papers of Roy
influenza crisis, as they were officially Purves, the Tivoli site was purchased by Harry
classified as ‘open-air’ venues. Though the Rickards prior to his death in 1911, and Hugh
Tivoli Roof Garden was roofed, the ceiling and McIntosh, who purchased the company in 1912,
the side walls could be removed for maximum built the Brisbane Tivoli there. Perhaps I should
ventilation. The Cremorne was not roofed until have been clearer on this point. I have not been
Dear Sirs, 1926. able to correlate this with information from
(4) Vaudevillians at the Tivoli: Long Tack Sam, Trove. Rickards had leased the Brisbane
Thank you for CinemaRecord No. 96, a not Long Track Sam; Alfredo, not Alfred. Theatre Royal from 1902, which was regarded
splendid issue. It is encouraging to learn that (5) There is more detail on the Brisbane Tivoli by many as a sub-standard theatre, and later
membership has remained stable and that the in my book Huge Deal – The Fortunes and also provided vaudeville acts to the new Empire
recording of theatrical history of the past, and Follies of Hugh D. McIntosh (2004). Theatre. He had probably purchased the site
the present, is being recorded and preserved. with the intention of later building his own
‘That Man Outside Hoyts’: theatre there, which McIntosh duly did some
The Tivoli Roof Garden, Brisbane, was in a (1) Charlie’s ‘Ghost Show’ was a feature of the years after Rickards’ death. Frank is correct to
very good location and it was understandable entertainment at the Egyptian Hall at say that the Tivoli opened as Harry Rickards’
when the Brisbane Council decided it would 144 Exhibition Street, opposite the Eastern Tivoli Theatre, when in actual fact he had been
make a fine open space in front of the City Hall Market – near, but not ‘in’ Bourke Street. The dead for several years. Perhaps there were some
and made it available as public space. show opened in 1903, not ‘about 1901’. confused members of the public who thought
(2) Carl Hertz introduced projected moving that Harry had returned from the dead!
The picture of the Padua Brunswick on Page pictures at the Opera House in 1896, not 1906.
15 shows a poor picture of front of house The Opera House was demolished and replaced I thank Frank for his corrections and
attractiveness. Were all those painted posters in 1901 by a completely new building, Harry clarifications.
all that could attract persons passing each day? Rickards’ New Opera House. This, not the old
Not much of a sight to attract persons to such Opera House, was the venue that eventually Les Tod, OAM
spectacular attractions as The Hurricane. became the Tivoli. Sydney
Another unattractive sight is the front of the (3) Hoyts opened on 18 September 1909, not ★
Lygon Theatre with only a series of scene stills in 1908.
to fill the large window display on the left front Dear Sirs,
of house. The Great Picture Palaces:
(1) The theatre pictured top left on page 36 is I noted Alan Bell's Letter to the Editor in the
An excellent spread of examples of various Harry Rickards’ [not Rickard’s] New Opera recent CinemaRecord issue 96, and thank him
tickets and associated items including a rare House, which opened in 1901, and is therefore for his comments about my article on the
gem which MGM had the foresight to introduce obviously not the venue where moving pictures Piccadilly Theatre in North Adelaide which
Gone with the Wind as an all programme were first screened. As detailed above, that appeared in the earlier issue 94. He continued
feature. MGM were always steadfast in their venue was its predecessor, the [original] Opera by elaborating on the dates of closings and
devotion to GWTW and it wasn’t until the later House. openings of the Regent and Plaza/Paris theatres
years did anyone interrupt David O. Selznick’s (2) The architect of the Capitol was Walter which I had not detailed. As the prime focus of
devotion to something unique. Burley Griffin – not Burley-Griffin [no hyphen]. my article was the history of the Piccadilly, I
(3) There is more detail on the Opera House in had just included a general statement about the
The Royal Perth’s story, another of Les Tod’s my book Tivoli (2003). closure of the Regent and Plaza/Paris
great stories. On page 26, a poster advertising principally in order to provide background to
perhaps a current programme, if it was a film, I apologise for being a pesky pedant, but the the reason for the name change of the Piccadilly
there were two films with that title, one from magazine is so important and authoritative that to the Forum, not considering it necessary to
Paramount in 1919 and one other of August I felt it worth bringing these to your attention. digress further into the various goings and
1929. comings of those Hoyts city theatres during the
Frank Van Straten, AM time of their redevelopment. Perhaps I should
Let us look forward to a New Year with many South Yarra have worded it differently, as I can see how it
more theatre showcases of the past years. ★ may have possibly given the impression that
both of the theatres were closed for the entire
Sincerely, Dear Sirs, time of the redevelopment, but that was not
William Gray really relevant to the Piccadilly story.
★ In regard to the comments made by Frank Van
Straten concerning my article on the Brisbane He is mostly correct in the more detailed
Dear Sirs, Tivoli in CinemaRecord Issue 96, he is correct information he provided in his letter. However,
concerning the date of opening of the New York since these details are now in print, I would add
I love CinemaRecord and marvel at the work Casino Theatre. It did open in October 1882, that my records would indicate that the Plaza
and dedication that goes into producing it, but but closed almost immediately as it was not was renamed the Paris from February 17th
I feel I must point out a number of errors in completed, reopening on 30 December 1882. 1966, not in 1962 as suggested. And, in the list
three articles in the Issue 96, as follows. Just when the roof garden was opened depends of cinemas operated by Wallis Theatres in early
on what source you look at. Some say 1882, 1983, the one at Semaphore (Ozone) was
Tivoli, Brisbane: others 1890. actually run by Allan Hall in an equal
(1) The Casino, New York, opened on partnership arrangement with Wallis, to be
21 October 1882, not in 1883, but its Roof I deliberately did not mention the Cremorne more accurate.
Garden Theatre was not added until 1890. Theatre remaining open during the influenza
(2) ‘Noted vaudeville entrepreneur’ Harry epidemic, as several other venues did also, Yours Sincerely,
Rickards had nothing at all to do with the Tivoli including West’s Olympia and the Theatre John Thiele.
in Brisbane – he died in 1911. However, his Royal, and were threatened with prosecution as

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