Liberty Theatre

Movies are been screened again in this theatre for the next 2 weeks.

This theatre us going to be reopened for the 2023 Perth Fringe Festival for stand up comedy shows by British comedian Ross Noble.

Also known as Liberty Cinema.

The Liberty Theatre got a mention on the Channel 7 news(6 pm) in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, showing the outside(including the neon sign) and the inside too(the seats appear to be gone?). A man(name unknown?) has brought it(use unknown at the moment?).

Or you could try looking on the microfilm of the West Australian newpapapers in the Alexander Library(3rd floor, Battye Library), or possibly on online on Trove? The New Oxford Theatre(now Luna Leederville), ran the Movie “The Gods must be crazy” for over 2 years, maybe even 3 years, saving that thestre, so long movie runs are possible.

I can,t believe that To Sir With Love ran in one theatre for almost 2 yrs anywhere in the world not even here in the USA. Is this correct?

David Coppock asks – What was the building used for before it was converted into the Liberty Theatre?…Greg Lynch says – The Liberty sits dark (metaphorically) on the first floor of 81 Barrack St, Perth. Patrons gained entrance from Barrack street through a narrow walkway and a staircase. We know that Lionel Hart converted the first floor of an office building into a small theatre, seating 450 patrons. The theatre was opened in 1954. My information is that the upstairs space he acquired was general office space. I’m not able to link the space with any business entity. We do know that the Dease Lafayette (Photographic) Studio operated from 81 Barrack Street, for 75 years, closing in 1972, when a fire at the Liberty Theatre destroyed the photographic equipment, and caused the family business to close. The owner Denis Dease 1869 -1959 was an adept businessman, publicist and organiser. In 1900 he established an open air cinema in Perth, projecting short films from a balcony at the Grand Hotel (later the Perth Hotel) across Barrack Street onto a nearby building. Alongside these showings, Denis further illustrated his business savvy by including paid advertisements. This apparently drew the ire of the local police, and he was charged with unlawful obstruction, but the matter was taken to court and he was ultimately acquitted. Denis Dease died on the 16th of April, 1959, at Edgar Reid Hospital three years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He had lived to the age of 90 and had fathered four children. – Acknowledgment – Museum of Perth –

Greg Lynch says… I first became aware of Lionel Hart in 1953 when he converted the first floor of a building in Barrack Street, Perth into a 450 seat theatre. He named it “The Liberty” (no doubt inspired by a similar named theatre he had been involved with years before). The Liberty opened Ist March 1954, interestingly with the Ist release? of the 1946 Italian production “Rigoletto”. For those who care Sergio Leone was the assistant director (un-credited) From memory there was a special program screened every Sunday night featuring what was then known as “continental' films”. During the early 50’s Perth cinemas were not allowed to commence screening on Sunday’s until 9.00pm. By 1954 this writer was working in the cinema industry and itching to check out the new venue. Then along came “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” in Wonderama ? (Columbia Pictures 1953). It appeared that Columbia Pictures were moving their first city release away from The Capitol Theatre to The Liberty. “The 5,000 Fingers” became my introduction to The Liberty. There is no doubt that The Liberty Theatre at the time was the most modern cinema in Perth. The layered indirect ceiling lighting was very pleasing and the sight lines excellent. The seating was exceptional and I loved the atmosphere of the place. Today “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” is regarded as a masterpiece and for those wondering about Wonderama . (your guess, it certainly wasn’t a wide screen process) On Saturday 8 October 1955 the Mirror Newspaper ran the following double column advert for The Liberty Theatre ( Quote) “Ist Australian screening. James Stewart in a magnificent outdoor CinemaScope production “The Man From Laramie” (G) plus “The Glass Wall” (A) with Gloria Grahame”. (End Quote). Columbia Pictures “The Man from Laramie” was one of the first Westerns to be filmed in CinemaScope and I believe this was the first scope production to screen at The Liberty. I had cause to drop in while they were lacing up the new wide screen, and then sat through a test screening of “The Man from Laramie” trailer. For those who survive this industry the inaugural installation of CinemaScope in any theatre was an exciting occasion. Many years later in the early 60’s I went to work for Universal Pictures in Melbourne and discovered that Lionel Hart had worked as a salesman for Universal some thirteen years earlier under the guidance of industry patriarch, Dan Casey. By then the name Lionel Hart and his achievements were approaching legendary status….Greg Lynch –

The boards that held the film posters and other advertising above and to the right of the entrance is no longer there!

The Liberty Theatre was aslo called the kimberly theatre. I think is now a jewelery store inside the theatre?