Hoyts Manly
27 Belgrave Street,
Sydney,
NSW
2095
27 Belgrave Street,
Sydney,
NSW
2095
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hoyts Theatres
Architects: David Gillespie
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Moderne Theatre, Manly Theatre, New Manly Theatre, Flicks, Diana's
Nearby Theaters
Manly and Bondi are Sydney’s most popular beachfront suburbs but Manly has a larger year-round influx of tourists that helps theatres stay in business.
Hoyts entered the scene in 1951 by buying the Moderne Theatre from the Snider & Dean chain. This theatre had opened in November, 1935, with a simple Art Moderne style from architect David Gillespie, which inspired its name. In 1936, it was re-named Manly Theatre, and a few months later it became the New Manly Theatre.
MGM had arrived in Manly in 1950, when they took over the former Arcadia/Century Theatre, and Hoyts were quick to follow by buying the New Manly Theatre in February 1951, and changing the name to Hoyts. Following refurbishment, the Hoyts Manly had its gala debut on 22nd March 1951. Hoyts had a great run with this small house, keeping it open until May 1978.
An independent operator took over under the name of Flicks, but before long movies gave way to rock concerts. In September 1979 Flicks was closed and the new guise was Diana’s, a music venue. American artiste Bo Diddley was the Christmas attraction.
In May 1980, the building was put up ‘For Sale’ and demolished. A four level office block Tracon House now occupies the site.
Contributed by
John Gleeson
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Thanks to John MacRitchie of Manly Library for his help with Manly’s classic theatres.
If only I had the foresight t0 take photos of all the theatres I have worked in, at this point it would have been a great thing to share with others who also have vivid memories of these not forgotten parts of our lives. Saturday day was good watching the rugby games from the rewind room,[grandstand style viewing].As usual for the day Kalee 21 kit fitted with westrex AR9 4trac mag soundheads &westrex lamphouses.
Re: “In September 1978 Flicks was closed”, I think that should say 1979, as there were still rock acts appearing at ‘Flicks’ in mid 1979.
The independent operator was Larry Burton Danielson, who went on to another enterprise in 1980, namely extorting Woolworths via gelignite bombings.