Photos favorited by davidcoppock

  • <p>Double Cross Bones -</p> <p>Double Crossbones is a 1951 American comedy adventure film distributed by Universal International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Charles Barton, and stars Donald O'Connor and Helena Carter. It was shot in Technicolor and was released on January 22.</p>
  • <p>The Projector Room</p>
  • <p>March 25th, 1949</p>
  • <p>March 9th, 1957</p>
  • <p>Aerial photograph from Google Earth</p>
  • <p>Heater passes</p>
  • <p>April 1960.</p>
  • <p>3/30/16</p>
  • <p>May 12, 1959</p>
  • <p>1950 photo credit Retro Quad Cities via Facebook.</p>
  • <p>The long-running 61 Drive-In opened in Fall of 1950.</p>
  • <p>1963 Flyer</p>
  • <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/4042870100/">Trail Drive-In..Fort Stockton Texas..Billy Holcomb Collection</a>.</p>
  • <p>1975 topo map © HistoricAerials.com, used by permission.</p>
  • <p>Cannon Salford Quays cinema ticket</p>
  • <p>December 15th, 1967</p>
  • <p>‘New’ projection and sound equipment along with interior decoration work, re-seating, and improved heating were all tried over the years in order to give life to the Liberty, but the theater continued to struggle in finding an audience - even on Saturday nights. The arrival of snowy Sydney TV images in the late 1950s was the final straw. Screenings seem to have ceased by early 1959 and a license renewal was not applied for when due on 23rd October that year. Official de-listing as a pubic performance hall took place 22nd August 1962. By early 1960 the Liberty auditorium was being used as a youth club sponsored by the Leura Returned Services League (a community group formed for military veterans) who proceeded to purchase the property.</p>
  • <p>After more than 30 years of being used for youth activities, the Liberty was eventually put up for sale in late 1993 by the Leura/Katoomba RSL Club, and it was demolished in January 1994. Today on The Mall no trace of the 74 year history of the Masonic Hall/Cinema/Youth Club remains – replaced on the site by a simple old-style cottage, well suited to its quiet residential area location.</p>
  • <p>On the right can be seen the original 1919 Masonic Hall entrance steps. Conversion to the Liberty took place in 1941 to plans by architect Guy Crick. (The orange block on the front left was a ladies toilet entered from the foyer). I took this photo in 1988 when the building was still in use as a youth club, a few years before it was demolished.</p>
  • <p>3 &frac14; inch square glass slide were standard in the industry for many decades. They were used to advertise coming attractions, and could be rented from the distributor. Most theaters also obtained revenue by contracting with advertising companies like Featured Theatre Ads (David Koffel Pty. Ltd.) who signed up local businesses wishing to advertise their wares – sometimes with spoken accompaniment on disc. Original Liberty slide artwork kindly supplied by Blue Mountains projectionist Alan Smith.</p>
  • <p>A year after the bruising court decision went against his ‘mean and contemptible behavior’, Camphin decided to end any chance of further irritation from rivalry in Leura. Katoomba Theatres took over the lease of the Civic in May 1941, and arranged for Guy Crick (architect - with Bruce Furse – of the Savoy and Embassy) to design a cinematic upgrade of the Civic to be renamed the Liberty. Apart from a new building frontage, the walls and ceiling of the auditorium were given a make-over. Also, it appears that the former Lodge rooms upstairs were bricked up. The ‘new’ venue opened Saturday 27th December 1941 with “That Night in Rio” supported by “The Mexican Spitfire’s Baby”.</p>
  • <p>Walt Disney’s initial animated feature had its first mountain airing at the Leura Civic, just after the end of its record run at Sydney’s Hoyts Plaza. Adding to the complexity of the whole Leura “Snow White” controversy is the fact that the film was distributed in Australia by RKO Radio Pictures. The local managing director of this company (1933 – 1953) was Ralph Doyle who had been a close associate of Otto Camphin in the late 20s and early 30s, serving as a director of Katoomba Theatres - and of the newspaper company too! For Camphin to miss out on a hit film like this suggests that their relationship had soured by 1938.</p>
  • <p>In June 1932 the Strand was leased by Sydney exhibitor (and Hoyts executive) E. L. ‘Ted’ Betts, who handed management to his brother Frederick Aberdeen Betts. RCA Photophone sound was immediately installed at the renamed Leura Theatre, with the first ‘Talkie’ screening being presented 3rd September 1932 (three years after the nearby Katoomba Empire). In conjunction with this launch into the sound era, owner Jones revamped the hall inside and out. The interior color scheme was cream, blue and gold, while the main curtain was a deep crimson.</p>
  • <p>Traveling picture show men used several Leura locations for screenings prior to the building of St Alban’s Church School Hall in 1913. Upon completion, this hall served as the main cinema/entertainment venue in Leura until the Masonic Hall on The Mall was built six years later. Leura cab proprietor Harry Drake sometimes ran a coach service to Katoomba picture shows before trying his hand at presenting films himself - taking over Bert Black’s St Alban’s screening slots in mid-1914.</p>
  • <p>On the door of the Cornwall Bridge gas station on Rt 4 for early August showings.</p>
  • <p>Ad for Roger’s Corner Drive-In, June 9, 1971.</p>