Comments from film

GREG LYNCH SAYS – THE CAPITOL OPEN AIR THEATRE – Leslie Joseph (Snow) Kenna (Picture Show Man) was born in Rockhampton , Queensland in 1897, before moving to Cloncurry, and eventually arriving together with Bill Burton in Alice Springs during 1934. William Cecil (Bill) Burton was born near Winton in Qld, and worked as a projectionist with a traveling picture show. Together they began showing silent movies in the old Welfare Hall. On Thurs, 24 Oct 1935 News Adelaide reported: “Alice Springs is now to have talking pictures. Silent films have been shown here for some months, and now the proprietor’s of the Welfare Hall have made arrangements for a sound installation”. Almost immediately the Underdown family began building “The Capitol Open Air Theatre” on a block of land opposite the already established Alice Springs Hotel, cnr of Hartley St and Gregory Tce, and then looked around for an experienced operator. Snow Kenna took up the challenge, and the lease, and then moved his projection equipment into “The Capitol”, while Bill Burton was to ultimately move on to Tennant Creek with the idea of opening a show there. Neither of them could have been aware of the contribution they were to make over the ensuing decades as they pioneered cinema in Alice Springs & Tennant Creek. Ly Underdown’s “Capitol Theatre” resembled a stockade with four walls. An elevated projection booth was mounted at the rear, along with a motor power generator located strategically on the outside theatre wall to muffle the sound. Rows of canvas seating were installed and poster boards erected at the front entrance. The theatre was finally ready and began screening to excellent crowds. Late 1939 Snow Kenna left the Capitol and decided to build his own theatre. He purchased a block in Parsons street and named it “The Pioneer Walk-In (Open- Air) Theatre & Cafe” with the debut screening in 1942. Now “The Pioneer” and Ly Underdown’s “Capitol Theatre” were facing off as competing cinemas. “The Capitol” became the action house with a predominance of western movies, and then expanded into live sporting events such as boxing and basketball. To quote The Centralian Advocate Fri, 14 Jan 1949 – WIN FOR KUNOTH by Box On – A crowded house watched the boxing at “The Capitol theatre” on Thursday night last. Apart from the cup finals the attraction of the evening was billed as a four two-minute round return bout between Norman George and Ted Kunoth …and then The Centralian Advocate: Fri May 30 1952 reported a riot occurrence at “The Capitol Theatre” of full-blood Aborigines from the Bungalow, under the heading ‘Separate Theatre For Aborigines’ – ‘In the interests of the Aborigines and of the towns people of Alice Springs, a picture theatre should be erected at “The Bungalow”, or some other suitable place specifically for the showing of films to the people from the Bungalow and full-blood Aborigines from other places,’ said Mr. Simon Reiff, well-known Territorian,– this week. He added that he realised that “The trouble was caused because a number of Aborigines had been supplied with liquor. Mr. Reiff says that he believes that films to be screened for the full blood Aborigines should be selected and suitable pictures shown, for example, cowboy pictures and the Walt Disney type of thing seems to be popular among the younger ones and are in no way harmful. The Bungalow” was mentioned in “The Bringing Them Home Report (1997)” as an institution in Alice Springs that housed Indigenous children removed from their families. – The Centralian Advocate Fri 12 Jun 1953, reports “£2,000 CAPITOL THEATRE FIRE” – The projection room at “The Capitol Theatre” was gutted by fire on Wednesday afternoon and the projector and other equipment was ruined. It is estimated that more than £2,000 worth of damage was done before the brigade had the fierce blaze under control. Recently Charlie Poole posted the following … “We went to the Capitol sometimes as they had more Western Movies than “The Pioneer.” It was a shilling for kids and 2 & 6 at “The Pioneer” Ester McGuirk (RIP) and long time barmaid at Underdowns sold the tickets on picture nights, while the late Walter Schnitzer was a projectionist at the Capitol right up to the end. Charlie went on, I can’t remember the exact year, but the final show at “The Capitol” was in 1963/64, after that the whole place was destroyed by fire. The Underdowns operated it to the end. – Fin – This writer is indebted to local Tennant Creek identity & historian, Pam Hodges for her contribution to the history of “The Capitol Theatre”. Acknowledgements:: Charlie Poole – The Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs, NT) – Pam Hodges – Go to Pam Hodges for Tennant Creekers. http://fortennantcreekers.com/places/buildings/picture-theatres/ –

Greg Lynch Says – THE TENNANT DRIVE IN, THEATRE – William Cecil (Bill) Burton was born near Winton in Qld, working as a projectionist with a traveling picture show. He arrived in Tennant Creek during the middle 40’s and almost immediately began establishing his reputation as the local “ Picture Show Man ”. The long running Pioneer Open Air Theatre in Tennant Creek is his Legacy & Epitaph. Bill ran the theatre until his death in Nov 1968, leaving his family to carry on in the general day by day running of the business. Then with much foresight, Bill’s son, Robert Joseph (Bob) Burton carried forward his fathers considerable endowment, and built The Tennant Drive In Theatre located in Peko Road..The new drive In opened in 1972 with a capacity of 250 cars and a Japanese projection plant. This had the result of reducing attendance’s at the Pioneer Open Air, finally forcing it’s closure in 1974. The Tennant Drive In Theatre flourished and the crowds flocked in. The canteen was a single serve hatch and the ticket box was located between two lanes. Originally it was pay per person, then it changed to admission by car load, due to cheeky patrons being sprung in the car boots. The main feature film was shown first to cater for early risers, while the credits on the 2nd movie were cut short to prevent patrons from driving off with the speaker still attached to the car…. Neil Fairhead recently published that he had helped Bob Burton at the drive in by creating flyers, putting up posters, and doing the adverts for the Tennant Times newspaper, collecting the movie reels from the plane, buying goods for the canteen and working in the projection box. We had seven billboards around the town and every Sunday at midnight we would go around town and paste the posters up. while each week we would also drive the perimeter and fix several holes cut into the chain mail fence. Warrego Drive In 1979 – 1984. – In 1979 Bob Burton purchased an open-air walk-in theatre built by Jim Hunt on the Warrego mine site. Bob developed a 60 car drive-in theatre with individual car window speakers, plus a covered seated area. Costs were saved by switching films between the two theatres. As part of the deal Jim Hunt stayed on as projectionist ( Fred McKinley later replaced him ). The Warrego Drive-In was equipped with Cummings and Wilson projectors, Raycophone (model CP10) soundheads with Westrex carbon-arc lamphouses. Ann Wilson recently published – …“Great picture theatre at Warrego. The speakers were originally on the side of the projection box and you could hear most of the movie throughout Warrego. Great news when we actually got the speakers for the cars installed. Sorry to say I was one of the people that forgot to put the speaker back and ripped it out. The night the projection box caught fire was catastrophic, we were out of movies for a few weeks”. During the early 80’s video stores opened in Tennant Creek, this along with television caused a major drop in the available picture going public. The Tennant & Warrego Drive-In theatres closed in 1984. The Tennant Drive In had been operating for twelve years. Equipment and buildings were left after the final screening, and the property sold to local Frank Martino. Video Tape, Television and a changing Tennant Creek had reduced attendances dramatically … Bob sold up ( the era had finished and the screens were dark ) and eventually moved to Darwin. ..EXTRA : Tennant Creek, Electrician. Mike Nash confirms that when he arrived in Tennant Creek during the middle 80’s, the old drive in theatre in Peko Road was closed and over grown, but with the screen still standing … I am once again indebted to local Tennant Creek identity & historian, Pam Hodges and her web site – “ For Tennant Creekers – Tennant Creek’s Past and Present ” and for her substantial contribution to this history of “ The Tennant & Warrego Drive In Theatre’s.” – Acknowledgment : Pam Hodges : go to http://fortennantcreekers.com/places/buildings/picture-theatres/ – Bob Burton and the memory of Bill Burton – Neil Fairhead – Ann Wilson & Mike Nash …

Greg Lynch says – UPDATE – The Pioneer Open Air Theatre, Paterson Street, Tennant Creek (known as the old picture theatre) operated between 1935 and 1974 – The original owners of the Pioneer Theatre were the Delaware brothers, (whose occupation in 1935 was listed as “Showmen” in Rockhampton, Qld. ) Reuben and Theodore Delaware are described as the picture show owners – responsible for bringing the “Talkies” to Tennant Creek in the pre-war years, and, it is assumed that they also erected the building … The Pioneer Open-Air Picture Theatre measured 100ft x 50ft, and was surrounded by galvanised iron fencing, complete with an earthern floor, canvas seating, and a capacity of 400. The legend of The Pioneer Open Air Theatre, Tennant Creek however is the story and vision of William Cecil (Bill) Burton who was born near Winton in Qld, working as a projectionist with a traveling picture show. He arrived in Tennant Creek during the the middle 40’s – In 1947 he began work on a new open air theatre he was to call “The Star” – Early in the piece he found there was not sufficient power available from the town supply and he had to install his own generator. As advance bookings rolled in it was obvious that the capacity was inadequate, and extra seating was secured to house the additional patrons. The grand opening was on Saturday 30 May 1947 and business was good. There is no doubt that “The Star” was affecting the box office of the Pioneer which was located across town, also in Paterson Street. Early 1949 and Bill Burton ( the prevailer ) takes over the lease of the Pioneer Open Air Theatre from the exhibitor Robert (Shorty) Shortt, and decides to consolidate and close “The Star”. The final screening at The Star Open Air Theatre was in February 1949. The building was sold to the Tennant Creek Co. Operative. Storms and fire during the 1950’s saw the demise of the building, the stage was destroyed in 1954, some years later a fire, and then finally a storm in 1958 razed the building. The Pioneer Open Air flourished under the management of Bill Burton and his family. The theatre’s floor was finally concreted and there was a program change three times a week. The entrance is marked by a string of colored lights, and The Pioneer Theatre sign is painted on a sheet of tin, greeting the patrons as they enter. During the early 50’s the installation of big screen CinemaScope made it necessary to widen the northern side of the building and the entry section. The theatre was now able to seat 600 patrons. Bill Burton remained the proprietor of The Pioneer Open Air until his death in Nov 1968, leaving his family to carry on in the day to day running. Then with much foresight, Bill’s son, Robert Joseph (Bob) Burton carried forward his fathers legacy and built The Tennant Drive In Theatre located in Peko Road..The new drive In opened in 1972 with a capacity of 250 cars. This had the unfortunate result of reducing attendance’s at the Pioneer Open Air, finally forcing it’s closure in 1974.– There was a fire in 1977 – It was found that the rear storeroom and projection room were alight and damage to those areas severe. Cause of the fire was thought to be children smoking in the theatre store. By April that year the Pioneer Theatre was ordered to be demolished…FIN… I am indebted to local Tennant Creek identity & historian, Pam Hodges for her contribution to the history of The Pioneer Theatre. Acknowledgements:: Pam Hodges – Tony Dowling. The Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs, NT) / Tennant Creek “Yesterday & Today” by Hilda Tuxworth / Northern Territory Government website –

David Coppock asks – What was the building used for before it was converted into the Liberty Theatre?…Greg Lynch says – The Liberty sits dark (metaphorically) on the first floor of 81 Barrack St, Perth. Patrons gained entrance from Barrack street through a narrow walkway and a staircase. We know that Lionel Hart converted the first floor of an office building into a small theatre, seating 450 patrons. The theatre was opened in 1954. My information is that the upstairs space he acquired was general office space. I’m not able to link the space with any business entity. We do know that the Dease Lafayette (Photographic) Studio operated from 81 Barrack Street, for 75 years, closing in 1972, when a fire at the Liberty Theatre destroyed the photographic equipment, and caused the family business to close. The owner Denis Dease 1869 -1959 was an adept businessman, publicist and organiser. In 1900 he established an open air cinema in Perth, projecting short films from a balcony at the Grand Hotel (later the Perth Hotel) across Barrack Street onto a nearby building. Alongside these showings, Denis further illustrated his business savvy by including paid advertisements. This apparently drew the ire of the local police, and he was charged with unlawful obstruction, but the matter was taken to court and he was ultimately acquitted. Denis Dease died on the 16th of April, 1959, at Edgar Reid Hospital three years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He had lived to the age of 90 and had fathered four children. – Acknowledgment – Museum of Perth –

Greg Lynch says – ALL PERTH IS TALKING! – ALL PERTH IS SEEING! “ JEDDA ” (G) at the Liberty, 2nd sensational month – Plus : Nat King Cole & his Trio – Two inch double column as featured in the Mirror Newspaper on Jan, 1956..One of my proudest and most valuable possessions is a vintage promotional book detailing the making of Charles Chauvel’s greatest feature film “ JEDDA ” – Valuable ? because it’s signed by the stars Ngarla Kunoth and Robert Tudawali. “ JEDDA ” got off to a shaky start with Chauvel’s usual investor “Universal Pictures” declining to put money into the production, while “Columbia Pictures” took a different view and picked it up for distribution on the rebound. “ JEDDA ” premiered on 3rd January 1955 at the Star Theatre in Darwin, and then released at the Sydney Lyceum in May that same year. By January 1956 the film had found a home at Lionel Hart’s, Liberty Theatre in Perth and was playing to excellent box office. In my memory the Liberty’s advertising campaign was robust and controversial. A twenty four sheet board was strategically placed on the left hand side to the entrance of the new causeway (Opened in 1952) as you approached the city from Victoria Park. This featured “ JEDDA ” in her natural state with the caption, “It was death for him to look on this girl!” now showing exclusively at The Liberty Theatre. The impact of the advertising was dramatic. Perth had seen nothing like this before, while it was clearly visible from the passing trams, and of course the box office clicked over accordingly. “ JEDDA ” was much more than an image on a poster as it featured two cinematic firsts. It was the first Australian film to be made in colour (The Gevacolor Process) while Ngarla Kunoth and Robert Tudawalia were the first Aboriginal film stars to appear in a major Australian feature film using Australia as a setting. This was Charles Chauvel’s last feature film and a significant milestone for Lionel Hart’s, Liberty Theatre … Greg Lynch –

Greg Lynch says: Acknowledging David Coppock’s excellent question, and I quote… “Is the Olympic torch a reference to the 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympic games”? end quote …………………….. Note : David is referring to the photo on this page of The Liberty Theatre unique glass divider. …………………….. Answer : I’ve done some research and now believe that what appears to be an Olympic Torch is actually the Statue of Liberty Torch ( It makes sense ) This is the symbol of enlightenment. EG: The Statue of Liberty’s torch lights the way to freedom showing us the path to Liberty. Even the Statue’s official name represents her most important symbol “Liberty Enlightening the World”. It’s the only logical explanation when you put the word liberty together with an image of the torch. I would wager that this was the inspiration behind Lionel Hart’s naming of his theatre…..Greg Lynch –

Greg Lynch said.. Let me set the scene – If memory serves we moved as a family to Rivervale during the latter part of the 1940’s. The war was not long over & food rationing coupons were still being enforced, which meant clothing, tea, sugar, butter and meat were limited to the number of coupons you had on hand..From an early age I had been interested in movies and cinema, so it wasn’t long before I discovered the local flea house (that’s the Ascot theatre located on the right of the Great Eastern Highway Rivervale, as you proceed towards Belmont) – In my young life a visit to the flicks was always a much looked forward to event. The Ascot during the 40’s was Indeed a flea house, however in retrospect I use the term with much affection. The building had pretensions of Art Deco, but once you walked through the door all bets were off, as it was really only a country hall. (Perth in the 40’s was still a village with approx 250 thousand people and Rivervale a pioneering suburb) The front stalls were equipped with wooden benches without backs, while the ceiling (curiously) was decorated with fading streamers, or bunting. During the winter of 48 my dad took me to a Friday, cartoons & featurette night which included an episode of the Sam Katzman, black-and-white Columbia Pictures serial “Superman” starring Kirk Alyn as Superman – Later I was to learn that this was the first live-action appearance of Superman on film. Some time during 1948 an open air theatre was built along side the cinema, thus becoming “The Ascot Theatre & Gardens”. The term gardens were a stretch as there was very little greenery, however on the positive side the sight-lines were excellent and the stepped canvas seating (300 capacity) more than adequate. The standard ratio screen was erected with it’s back to the highway and it was a pleasure to sit under the stars on a hot summers night in the comforting bosom of the new open air gardens. On one such night Perth were having power problems and electricity was being rationed. In this case the power was on for one hour, then browned out for half an hour. So there we sat like lemmings watching the 1946 Monogram Pictures production “The Shadow Returns” in installments, while the power company played musical chairs with our entertainment. I can’t imagine today’s theatre audience accepting this for a micro second. By 1959 the television juggernaut had began with the launching of TVW-7 Perth, and the resulting cinema audience devastation. The Ascot Theatre & Gardens survived longer than most, however were forced to close in 1966. And now after a lifetime of working in the Cinema/Motion Picture Industry this writer looks back with warm appreciation to the Golden Era and know we have lost something very special with the passing of our suburban Picture Palaces and unique cinemas, such as The Ascot Theatre and Gardens. …Greg Lynch –