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Uploaded on: September 24, 2026

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Woodville Town Hall 74 Woodville Road, Adelaide, SA

Photo & notes - Courtesy of SA Throwbacks - Adelaide Nostalgia & Phil Batty.

Outdoor Picture Theatre, Walkerville. 1929-1936

The outdoor theatre operated between 1929 and 1936 during the silent picture’s era. Constructed on his land, W. Lester Boyle had the lease for films at the Walkerville Hall from 1910 to the 1940s.

The outdoor theatre was used on warmer nights for the comfort of the patrons and the added safety of the projectionist who was dealing with arc lamps and volatile film.

In 1936 talking pictures were introduced and the outdoor theatre was sold as a building lot. The location was in the lane between the theatre and the building in view, the Walkerville Police Station (now the public library). Patrons sat on planks and the pianist was located at the base of the screen.

What people are saying - Locals share surprise and delight at discovering Walkerville’s hidden outdoor picture theatre history.

Glenn Wadrop writes - My family all grew up in Walkerville with the town hall as the centre for entertainment however I never knew about the open air pictures . How wonderful it must have been for my Dad and his siblings. Thank you for sharing this photo.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -