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East End Cinemas, Bourke Street

By the 1970s, the burgeoning popularity of Japan, Singapore, Thailand,
Malaysia and Hong Kong as holiday destinations for Australians helped
to impart an appreciation of Asian social mores, food, fashion, goods and
entertainment into the Australian experience.
Chinatown Cinema Corporation P/L was formed in Australia in 1971.
The corporation has an interesting and diverse history, not only of film
exhibition, but also film production and distribution of movies from Hong
Kong, as well as the organisation and promotion of concerts.

In the early 1970s, Hoyts Cinema Centre sometimes screened Chinese
films late in the evenings, after the final English language session of the
day. The late screenings were not advertised in the English language
newspapers, but were promoted to the Chinese community.
In the late 1970s, the Mayfair (former Metro Collins Street) promoted
occasional Kung Fu films, courtesy of Chinatown Cinema Corporation.
Hoyts Cinema Centre, Bourke Street
Chinese language films also screened infrequently at the Australia
demonstrations, won her generous plaudits and deference throughout Cinema Collins Street and at the Dendy/Savoy Cinema at 108 Lonsdale
Australia. Mrs Chow expressed her deep gratitude to the Australian Street. During the 1980s, the Dendy Cinema at 241 Collins Street was
people. In a time of great peril she enhanced ties between two countries sometimes utilised by Chinatown Cinema Corporation to screen Chinese
dear to her heart. films.

In the decades ensuing the Second World War, changes to Australia’s CATHS member Ross King recalls projecting Hong Kong films, usually
immigration laws enhanced the integration of Chinese culture into of the Kung Fu and other action varieties, on Saturday afternoons during
Australian Society. the early 1980s, at the Central Hall North Melbourne for Martin Louey.
Martin Louey (1930-2004) owned and managed the Chef Canton
Mayfair Theatre, Collins Street (Former Metro)
restaurant on Little Bourke Street where he hosted many famous
personalities. He was well-known within the Chinese community of
Melbourne as a promoter of cultural activities. His son, Matthew Louey,
was recently interviewed by the Museum of Chinese Australian History.
The survival and whereabouts of his father’s film collection are at present
unknown.

The former Broadway (Cinema 3 at East End Cinemas) at 100 Bourke
Street was another Melbourne venue that exhibited Chinese films. A
surviving advertisement from Broadway Cinema promotes the 1987
Chinese film The Romance of Book and Sword. The film is based on a
th
popular Chinese novel, concerning Qianlong, 6 Emperor of the Qing

Central Hall, North Melbourne

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