Prince Edward Theatre
36-42 Castlereagh Street,
Sydney,
NSW
2000
36-42 Castlereagh Street,
Sydney,
NSW
2000
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The Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ from the Prince Edward was purchased by the Theatre Organ Society of Australia (NSW Div)Inc. who installed it in Marrickville Town Hall, Sydney. TOSA continues to own and care for the instrument.
Lady Fairfax had the main auditorium chandelier modified to fit in her New York apartment. I believe the apartment was eventually sold. When it was on the market, it made it into the one of the Sydney papers only because of the chandelier’s history!
The plaster cameo of Prince Edward that used to hang in the foyer is with the organ but alas not on display.
I think the final screening was actually War and Peace with Audrey Hepburn.
Could anyone point to any sources of documentation and photographs of the organist Noreen Hennessey, who played at the Prince Edward theatre in Sydney, possibly up to the 1960’s.
Cheers,
Chris McElhinney
Melbourne.
I have the newsreel of the Bob hope visit. I have saved it for 30 years as I found it in the rubbish and screened it at my own cinema on special nights. I saw a films there was when I was 8 like HATARI. It mostly ran Paramount and Allied Artist films in the 50s/60s. All the Elvis and Jerry Lewis pix too. I think the management hated those and really preferred more “Audrey” sophisticated fare.
The PE was all blue and gold and right up till the last days had a theatre organ played by Noreen hennessy. She would lurch forward and announce “My song for you this session is…..etc” She was lovely and looked like someone’s Aunty – which no doubt she really was. He most infamous claim to fame was the first night of BILLY BUDD and poor young Billy was swinging from the yard arm…as the credits rolled, Noreen erupted loudly with ANCHORS AWEIGH, in an apparent attempt to be nautical and cheer us all up.
The crying premiere audience collapsed with laughter and Noreen made the news. The PE was the first of the major cinema demiolitions and really let us know that if it could come down then anything could. And of course did. The last film was BECKETT but not before a repeat season of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS. All very Prince Edward. Now of couse, we have more shops and offices.