Greater Union Russell Cinemas

131 Russell Street,
Melbourne, VIC 3000

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This is the third cinema building built on this site. The first was the 1,376 seat Kings Theatre (1908-1958) a former live theatre that was taken over by Greater Union Cinemas. It was demolished and Greater Union built the 1,054 seat Barclay Cinema which operated from 1958-1976.

The Barclay Cinema was demolished and in its place Greater Union Cinemas built their prestige six screen Greater Union Russell Cinemas. It opened on 23rd November 1978 with Peter Ustinov in “Death on the Nile”.

Each auditorium is given a totally different individual decorative scheme, which range from a normal curtained auditorium, one which has bare brick walls, one lined with wood panelled walls and ceiling, one in a Regency style with crystal chandeliers, one in an abstact style and one in a modern style. Seating capacities in the auditoriums are: 546, 272, 418, 252, 358 and 742.

The complex remains open as a popular city centre multi-screen cinema, totally unaltered from its original 1978 opening.

Contributed by KenRoe