Post War my Father moved from Sydney and took up the position of Chief Projectionist. Jack Lees and wife Margaret Elizabeth made Narrandera their home . Dad was made Manager 1955. Then with the advent of tv in the late 60s he was Manager/Projectionist. By that stage my brother and I were fully trained up by Dad as projectionists. The theatre closed Feb 1969 with SOUND OF MUSIC. The awning structure above the footpath was a beautiful lounge area for Circle patrons. The interior of tne theatre has the most beautiful plaster work. Italian POWs from the Griffith POW camps who were plaster artisans were seconded by the then owner of the cinema, Virgona, to create the fine, detailed auditorium ceili gs, srairways, light fittings and window frames for the interior roller shutters . Dad returned to Sydney, worked as projectionist for MGM then GU. Chief projectionist of Pitt Centre following Bill Dunns retirement. (Mark Lees)
My father was the projectionist at this theatre prior to and following the war. He was called up in 1942 by the Army and put to work, as many projectionist were at the time, into the 1st Australian Mobile Cinema Unit. He returned to the Elite after the war then took a position as Chief Projectionist at the Plaza Theatre Narrandera. I was born there and spent my childhood working in the cinema and associated milk bar with the family. Was skilled up as a projectionist by Dad. Mark Lees.
Was privileged to be the first manager of this beautiful theatre. It was one time when the engineers and architects go it all right. It also marked the return to the BIG screens in an auditorium. Mark Lees.
Great memories of this beautiful cinema. I was privileged to be the manager who opened it for Greater Union in 1987. It was a joint Greater Union/Village Roadshow venture. One theatre where the architects and engineers got it altogether. Mark Lees.
Being one of the relief assistant projectionist at the St James was an enormous job. The presentation timing for slides, dimmers for candelabras, chandeliers, curtain spots were all done to a scripted well timed program. The projectionist was at one end of the box standing by #1 machine, the asst was at the other end near the slide arc and dimmers…and both were coordinated by clocks, on the wall to a well rehearsed routine. I also remember the three machines had a very large rake on them as the box was so high up at the back of the mezzanine seating area. A pair of opera binoculars assisted with focusing the widescreen ratio pics. Loved my shifts there as a relief asst projectionist in the early 70s.
Spent many happy shifts as a young assistant projectionist under the MGM banner when recently equipped with four track magnetic sound in 1970 by MGM following renovation. The projection room had three Simplex E7s with Peerless Arcs. Very very little room to move but really well equipped. Unfortunately no windows to open and enjoy the view of Manly Beach across the road.
Post War my Father moved from Sydney and took up the position of Chief Projectionist. Jack Lees and wife Margaret Elizabeth made Narrandera their home . Dad was made Manager 1955. Then with the advent of tv in the late 60s he was Manager/Projectionist. By that stage my brother and I were fully trained up by Dad as projectionists. The theatre closed Feb 1969 with SOUND OF MUSIC. The awning structure above the footpath was a beautiful lounge area for Circle patrons. The interior of tne theatre has the most beautiful plaster work. Italian POWs from the Griffith POW camps who were plaster artisans were seconded by the then owner of the cinema, Virgona, to create the fine, detailed auditorium ceili gs, srairways, light fittings and window frames for the interior roller shutters . Dad returned to Sydney, worked as projectionist for MGM then GU. Chief projectionist of Pitt Centre following Bill Dunns retirement. (Mark Lees)
My father was the projectionist at this theatre prior to and following the war. He was called up in 1942 by the Army and put to work, as many projectionist were at the time, into the 1st Australian Mobile Cinema Unit. He returned to the Elite after the war then took a position as Chief Projectionist at the Plaza Theatre Narrandera. I was born there and spent my childhood working in the cinema and associated milk bar with the family. Was skilled up as a projectionist by Dad. Mark Lees.
Was privileged to be the first manager of this beautiful theatre. It was one time when the engineers and architects go it all right. It also marked the return to the BIG screens in an auditorium. Mark Lees.
Great memories of this beautiful cinema. I was privileged to be the manager who opened it for Greater Union in 1987. It was a joint Greater Union/Village Roadshow venture. One theatre where the architects and engineers got it altogether. Mark Lees.
Being one of the relief assistant projectionist at the St James was an enormous job. The presentation timing for slides, dimmers for candelabras, chandeliers, curtain spots were all done to a scripted well timed program. The projectionist was at one end of the box standing by #1 machine, the asst was at the other end near the slide arc and dimmers…and both were coordinated by clocks, on the wall to a well rehearsed routine. I also remember the three machines had a very large rake on them as the box was so high up at the back of the mezzanine seating area. A pair of opera binoculars assisted with focusing the widescreen ratio pics. Loved my shifts there as a relief asst projectionist in the early 70s.
Spent many happy shifts as a young assistant projectionist under the MGM banner when recently equipped with four track magnetic sound in 1970 by MGM following renovation. The projection room had three Simplex E7s with Peerless Arcs. Very very little room to move but really well equipped. Unfortunately no windows to open and enjoy the view of Manly Beach across the road.