Page 33 - CINEMARECORD-98

The theatre closed on 10 August 1998 for these
alterations and after the rebuild, the top section's
capacity was now 286 seats. It opened only one
month later on 11 September. The bottom
section took a little longer to complete, opening
6 November 1998 with 297 seats. The theatre's
new seating capacity was now 583.
In 2005 Geoff Stock sold the Victa Theatre to
David and Carol Stonhill who currently manage
it to this day. ★

Footnote:
In November 2012, Both cinemas were
upgraded to 2K digital projection, ending the
use of 35 mm film at Victa Cinemas. A new
“silver screen” was also installed in Cinema 2,
to replace the old deteriorating screen.
Cinema 1 (upstairs) still retains its 35 mm
projector and platter system, allowing it to still
screen 35 mm film, if needed.
In July 2015, 3D equipment was installed in
Cinema 2, now allowing Victa Cinemas to
screen 3D films. The first films to screen in 3D
were Jurassic World and Inside Out.

Credits:
Copyright 2013 Ben Bagshaw
http://auscinemas.flinders.edu.au
1970, Victor Harbour Times, Saturday 28 March.
Geoff Stock, theatre owner, personal
conversation.
1959, Open Every Night, Victor Harbour Times,
Friday January 9, p. 4.
Thiele, J 1999, “The Victa Theatre” Kino
Quarterly, pp. 6-9.
Howard Williamson, theatre manager,
personal conference.
Denison changed the name to the Victa Stock, who had been the projectionist at the Geoff Stock, theatre owner, personal
Theatre when it was reopened during the Port Elliot Drive-in, decided to purchase the conversation, Monday 24 September 2012.
1970/71 school holiday period. During Victa Theatre from Denison in September Footnote details: Victa Cinemas website
Denison's period of ownership from 1970 up 1995. Thus began Stock's long and strenuous
until 1995 it screened Fridays, Saturdays and affair to return the cinema to its former glory. Bibliography:
Sundays and also regularly during the holidays. 1923, "Victor Harbour, A boom in land values,
It was during this period that another Victor many buildings in progress", The Chronicle, 7
Harbor local with a love of cinema, Geoff
April, p.46.
1923, State Records of South Australia,
35 mm projection equipment
prior to conversion to digital GRG67/33/89/1923, Application for Licence -
Victor Theatre.
1928, Victor Harbour Times, February 3, p. 1.
1930, "Ozone theatres Port and Enfield change
to talkies", The Advertiser, 26 March, p.14.
1931, "Fire at Victor Harbour theatre", The
Advertiser, 15 December, p.6.
1931, Victor Harbour Times,25 December,p.1
1934, "New Cinema at Victor Harbour", The
He began by first repairing and repainting the Advertiser, Monday 24 December, p. 1.
exterior and in July 1996 starting work on the 1950, "Founder Of Movie Theatre Chain",
interior. Stock also repaired and re-installed Border Watch (Mount Gambier), 18 July, p.16.
some of the old art deco lighting. Sound was 1951, "Ozone theatres in big merger", The
upgraded and a Dolby sound system was Advertiser, Friday 31 August, p. 5.
installed with Krix speakers in December 1997. 1999 Thiele, J. (1999), "The Victa Theatre"
Kino Quarterly, Autumn 1999, pp. 6-9,
Having to compete with the new multiplex Howard Williamson, theatre manager,
cinemas, he decided to turn the cinema into a personal conference.
dual screen setup. He did this by building a wall 2011, Peucker, C., "Allan Woodard,
up the front balcony thereby creating a smaller
auditorium in the dress circle area, utilising the centenarian of the Victor theatre cinema",
existing proscenium in the stalls area for a Sunday Mail, March 27, p.12.
second auditorium at street level. 2012 Geoff Stock (theatre owner), personal
conversation, Monday 24 September 2012.

CINEMARECORD # 98 33