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Odeon Theatre 283 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC - Previously known as The Liberty which was destroyed by fire, and earlier under the name Melba Theatre. (see full history below)

Photo - The Melba front of house 1935 - Note the Times Theatrette on the left -

Hot Tip is playing at The Melba, the year 1935. Hot Tip is an American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and James Gleason from a screenplay by Hugh Cummings, based on William Slavens McNutt’s short story, “Leander Clicks”. Gleason also starred in the film, along with ZaSu Pitts, Margaret Callahan, and Russell Gleason (James' son). It was released by RKO Radio Pictures on September 6, 1935.

Full history courtesy of Michael Magnusson - The site at 283 Bourke Street had been used as a place of entertainment since Melbourne’s first theatre, the Royal Pavilion, opened there on 12 April 1841. Later, Tilke’s City Concert Hall operated on the site from 1856.

A new music hall, the Colosseum opened on the site on 27 June 1868. That was renovated and reopened as the Victoria Hall on 9 November 1889. On 8 June 1911 the American entrepreneur J. D. Williams opened the Melba Theatre, Melbourne’s first continuous cinema, screening mixed film programs from 11am to 11pm daily.

The Melba was refurbished in modernist style and reopened as the Liberty Theatre. The Liberty operated until it was gutted by fire on 12 October 1950. The theatre was rebuilt and reopened as Odeon operating from 1951 to 1978.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -