Palatial Cinema
42 Railway Parade,
Burwood,
Sydney,
NSW
2134
42 Railway Parade,
Burwood,
Sydney,
NSW
2134
1 person
favorited this theater
The Palatial Burwood Cinema was the first project of the about to be formed Western Suburbs Cinemas Ltd. a circuit which was headed by A.J. Beszant. Located in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, it opened on 14th December 1921. In 1932, it was the first of Western Suburbs Cinemas circuit’s cinemas to have an organ installed, here it was a British made Christie 3Manual/10Rank which was opened by organist Percy Burraston from the Capitol Theatre, Sydney. Other organists to play here were Denis Palmistra, Bert Myers, Knight Barnett, Charles Tuckwell, Paul Cullen, Owen Holland and Barrie Brettoner. Stage shows were also held as part of the programme in the early years.
The Palatial Cinema closed on 13th March 1971 and was then used for a period of time by the Royal Blind Society. It then became a carpet showroom and was demolished in 1978. Today the Burwood Plaza Shopping Centre occupies the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Thanks Ken for adding this cinema today!
scroll down to page 17 for vintage photo of auditorium:
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Auditorium photos from 1942:
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Exterior:
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Very Nice thanks for posting.
Hi Ken,
Please add Barrie Brettoner to the list of organists for this theatre.
I’ll email you a chronology of dad’s musical activities.
kind regards
Photo is of Paul Cullen sitting at the Console of a Mighty CHRISTIE Theatre Pipe Organ, NOT a WurliTizer.
Paul Cullen played Palatial BURWOOD Theatre from 2/34-1/41 alternating every 6 months with Knight Barnett.
The Cristie Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 2698 (made by Hill, Norman & Beard Ltd.) was a 3/10 (Manual/Rank, Keyboards/Units of Pipes). Originally in 1928 it was installed in Clou Konzert Haus, Berlin, Germany. In 1929 it was supposed to go to Civic, Auckland, N.Z., but it was not sent there. It was installed at the Palatial BURWOOD Theatre in 1932. In 1958 it went to Seventh Day Adventist Church, Wahroonga. In 1999 the console was replaced with a drawstop console. Anyone know what happened to the old console? Any futher news on how the pipes of Opus 2698 are doing at the church?
More photos and info are always welcome!
Manteno, Illinois, USA
MP 47 on IC/CN RR “Main Line of Mid-America”