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Summer Hill Theatre 1 Sloane Street, Sydney, NSW

The statue of a naked goddess in an arched alcove within designed by Emil Sodersten.

The architect was Emil Sodersten and his folly has been described as Spanish baroque frivolity derived from Hollywood; in some views it looks as much arabesque as baroque but it was certainly Spanish in inspiration, with a kind of galleon’s poop looming at the front, with the statue of a naked goddess in an arched alcove within.

The Summer Hill Theatre was closed on 27th June 1959 with Kenneth Moore in “The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw” and “The Heart Within”.

It re-opened under new ownership on 7th August 1959 as the Grosvenor Theatre, but closed again on 30th January 1960 with “Ask Any Girl” and “Booby Trap”. From December 1960, it was used as a warehouse, until 26th January 1962, when it re-opened again, using the circle seating area only. Closed again on 13th August 1965. Another independent operator took over in in July 1966, and began screening foreign language films until its final closure in 1969.

The building was put up ‘For Sale’, and was sold in August 1970. It was badly vandalised, and when complaints came in about the ‘eyesore’ condition of the building, the local council ordered its demolition, which took place in 1970/1971.

An office block was built on the site, which in early-2011, was empty and ‘For Sale’.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -