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Gladesville is a suburb in the municipality of Ryde northwest of Sydney, and in the 1920’s was the scene of fierce competition in the theatre business.

Leading entrepreneurs were Gus Bowe and James Park. Bowe hired architect C. Reynolds Winter to build a substantial cinema on his property on Victoria Road.

The Victory Theatre opened in 1926 but Bowe sold it to the Gladesville Theatre Company who closed it, but could reopen if another competitor moved in.

Only three of the dozen picture palaces built in this area survive today although all have been converted to retail and office use. They are the Gladesville Theatre on Wharf Road, the Palace Theatre on Argyle Avenue and the Victory Theatre.

After serving as a furniture showroom for many years, the Victory Theatre was demolished in June 2012 - Notes by john gleeson

Contributed by Greg Lynch -