Page 16 - CINEMARECORD-98

THE CRYING ROOM “NO MORE TEARS”

By Royce Harris

with its own speaker with adjustable volume
The opening program’s descriptions are similar, control according to the noise that may be
probably because most were designed by the made by the crying going on within.
same architects. The programs for the Hartwell Illumination by soft blue lighting does not
Regal and the Hoyts Albury even include the interfere with enjoyment of the entertainment,
same Crying Room illustration. and the walls are decorated with Mickey
Mouse, dwarves, bunnies and other such, dear
A variation is in the advertising for Geelong’s to the infant eye.”
Corio Theatre which
opened in February
1938, and which was
designed by Charles N.
Hollingshead. Its Crying
Room contained only 8
seats but rated a full
page in the program, and
was described as a
“delightful new notion in
theatre construction -
thought of in America
yesterday and installed
in the Corio Theatre
he above article appeared in film industry today.”
Ttrade paper Everyones on 18 March 1936,
a month before Hoyts Windsor Theatre The Crying Room seems
opened on 17 April. The architects, Messrs H. to have been mostly
Vivian Taylor and Soilleux, were the first to exclusive to the larger
introduce this concept into Australia. suburban and country theatres being built in the The same issue of “Building” magazine also
late 1930s. As much of the audience at that time reviewed the recently opened Park theatre in
These architects were responsible for Hoyts would have used public transport, or walked to Albert Park and included this observation: “For
larger prestige suburban cinemas and a Crying their local theatre, it was also important to have further convenience of visitors, the sound-proof
Room, as it was later called, was incorporated room for prams included. ‘Crying Room’ (for mothers with over-
in their next cinemas, the Padua in Brunswick, enthusiastic children) is just inside these (stalls)
the Regal in Hartwell and Hoyts Albury It wasn’t only the theatres themselves which doors; this idea is rapidly gaining in
(NSW), all of which opened in 1937. These were singing the praises of the Crying Rooms. popularity, and is becoming almost standard
were followed by The Park in Albert Park, in “Building” magazine of 24 March 1939 in up-to-date theatres.”
1938, the Ozone in country Mildura in 1939, included this paragraph in their review of the
and the Rivoli in Camberwell in 1940. new Ozone theatre in Mildura: “Evidence of Some existing theatres also included Crying
further thought for the comfort of patrons, the Rooms in their updating. Another prominent
The opening programs for these theatres give ‘Crying Room’ is provided for in what has now Melbourne architectural firm, Cowper, Murphy
particular attention to the Crying Rooms, with become its usual place, at the rear of the stalls; and Appleford, included a Crying Room in their
full page descriptions of their benefits. The from within is obtained an unobstructed view renovation of the Regal Theatre in Essendon
page for Hoyts Albury is headed “Innovation of the proscenium, and the room is provided in 1939. CATHS member Ross King advised
for Mothers” and reads “In the past you have
stayed at home rather than leave half way Below: The Crying Room at Hoyts Albury.
through the show when baby cries. But Hoyts
Theatres Ltd. have solved your problem. A
special sound proof room equipped with sound
and easy chairs has been built in full view of
the screen where you may sit in perfect comfort
when baby cries. Know the freedom of the
modern mother at Hoyts Albury Theatre.”
Contemporary photos of the theatre show rows
of comfortable chairs and a stock of soft toys.

The innovation was an immediate hit and was
particularly popular during the war years. The
Windsor’s Crying Room was recorded as
containing 14 seats, and the Hartwell Regal had
15. The Regal boasted that “your view of the
screen will be equal to that of any seat in the
main auditorium. Therefore, mothers, forget
your worries at the Regal, take the kiddies into
the nursery, which has been specially provided
for family parties.”

16 CINEMARECORD # 98