Photo Info

Uploaded on: October 6, 2026

Size: 737.5 KB

Views: 12

License:

Advertising Tram - “Circus World” - 4 March 1966. Tram on Roma Street in front of the Railway Hotel on the corner with Makerston Street. Film showing at the Cinema George.“ (Ack:BCC-B54-24917)

Brisbane used dedicated advertising trams to promote local events, products, and movies during the active era of its tram network, which ran from 1885 until April 1969.

CIRCUS WORLD was shot in 35mm 8-perf Technirama and optically enlarged to Super Technirama 70. The Australian Premiere season was in 35mm at the Forum Melbourne on the 18th December 1964. The first 70mm presentation was at the Forum Sydney on the 4th June 1965.

There was one 70mm print of CIRCUS WORLD in circulation in Australia which finally found it’s way to the Cinema George in Brisbane commencing 04/03/66 till 28/04/66.

In 1965, the theatre was rebuilt by Greater Union Theatres and re-opened as the George Cinema with Sophia Loren in “The Fall of the Roman Empire”. The cinema was equipped to screen 70mm films with stereophonic sound. The foyer was decorated with ‘Roman’ style statues and urns, and had Italian Renaissance style decorations in the auditorium. The George Cinema operated until 1991 when it closed and lay unused for three years.

It was taken over by the Dendy Cinemas chain in 1994 and was twinned, with seating provided for 250 and 216. The Dendy Cinema was closed in 2008, and again the building lay empty.

It was taken over by an independent operator in 2010 and was renamed Tribal Theatre. Screening independent, foreign and film revivals, it was Brisbane’s only art house cinema.

It hosted the Brisbane International Film Festival in November 2011 and was closed soon after. In August 2018 it was taken over by the Hillsong Church and they gutted interior back to the bare brick.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -