Rosebery Cinema

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Rosebery Cinema 409 Gardeners Road, Sydney, NSW

Photo - Courtesy of Paul Brennan

Located in the southern inner Sydney suburb of Mascot, at the corner of Gardeners Road and Sutherland Road. The Marina Picture Palace was opened on 24th June 1927 with Mary Pickford in “Sparrows” and John Barrymore in “The Beloved Rogue”.

Built for and operated by independent operators, one of the owners William DePruton was also an architect, and he designed the 1,210-seat building. The original silent screen was painted on the rear wall and had a decorated plaster surround. There was a small stage with dressing rooms located underneath it. The side-walls of the auditorium were quite plain, being decorated by panels, and the ceiling was made of pressed metal Wonderlich-type sheets. The main proscenium opening was rectangular in shape and was flanked by Corinthian columns. The projection box was built at the rear of the stalls, beneath the balcony.

From 1939 until the early-1960’s, the Marina Picture Palace was operated by Snider & Dean Circuit(S&D). After then, the cinema reverted back to independent lessee’s, and had a series of openings and closings. In the early-1980’s it was known as the Rosebery Cinema. Its last re-opening was on 1st October 1982, but despite playing good films and offering cheap priced matinee’s with coffee included, the Rosebery Cinema closed on 8th February 1984 - Notes by Ken Roe

Contributed by Greg Lynch -