Page 12 - CINEMARECORD-98

PRESENTATION AT THE MOVIES:

WHAT DID, AND WHAT DIDN’T HAPPEN

By Fred Page

here is an old adage attributed to Marcus
TLowe, who was very much involved with
film exhibition as well as being the boss of
MGM. In his role as an exhibitor, he stated,
“We don’t sell tickets to movies, we sell tickets
to theatres”.
In presenting movies in the silent days, prior to
the First World War (USA 1917), there was a
belief that audiences would not endure more
than about two reels of film (approximately 30
minutes at 16 fps), hence stage entertainment
was included in the programs.

There were exceptions, usually presented in
legitimate theatres, a well known example
being Birth of a Nation (1915 - 195 minutes)
which was shown at Melbourne’s Theatre
Royal in May 1916. By 1920, audiences
accepted longer films, but stage attractions
continued in Australia until the late 1950s.
Often the live component of a program decided
which theatre a patron would attend, whether it
be the organ, the orchestra or a stage act.
Hence, a ticket to the theatre rather than a Above: The State Theatre, Melbourne Being in my eighties, I am fortunate to
ticket to the movies. Below: The Capitol Theatre, Melbourne remember some examples of live
entertainment in cinemas. My first memory
was at about the age of 10, when my mother
took me to the Capitol Theatre in Melbourne.
I have no idea what the film was, but clearly
remember a contortionist on stage, and my
mother whispering in my ear, “She must live
on a lettuce leaf a day!”.
My next memory involves the band at the
Melbourne State Theatre in about 1952.
Again, no memory of the film, but the band
played McNamara’s Band, and paraded all
through the huge theatre making noises with
rubbish tin lids, wash boards, etc.
Lastly, in 1954, I was in Sydney at the Prince
Edward Theatre and, as I had a record of the
date, I now know, but didn’t remember, the
film was Three Ring Circus. The stage show
was deeply embedded in my brain, as it
featured the song Cherry Pink and Apple
Blossom White. The band was on stage, the
women in long pink frocks and the men in
white evening dress. The brass instruments
shone like mirrors, and overhead was a net of
blossoms.

12 CINEMARECORD # 98