Theatrical traditions: stage and screen in Bendigo

‘...films at His Majesty’s
were typically screened
every evening at 8pm,
accompanied by the
house orchestra.’
A full orchestra accompanied the films
and if the weather was poor films were
screened at the Royal Princess.
Preceding the Tivoli on 10 November
1909, theatrical entrepreneur, TJ
West of West’s Pictures opened
His Majesty’s Open-air Theatre on
Market Street. In the lead up to the
highly anticipated event, the Bendigo
Advertiser reported:
Mr. Joseph Howard, representative
of the world-famed West’s Pictures,
arrived in Bendigo on Saturday
night to make arrangements for the
opening of His Majesty’s Open-air
Theatre… He brings with him the
latest and most up-to-date electric
motor plant, which will supply
the light for the projection of the
pictures… Mr. T. J. West means
to out do all previous attempts at
moving pictures in this city, so the
lovers of this class of entertainment
may look forward to a treat. The
screen, which will be used, is said to
be the largest in Australia. 29
Much like Tait’s Pictures at the Tivoli,
films at His Majesty’s were typically
screened every evening at 8pm,
accompanied by the house orchestra. If
it was wet the program was screened at
an indoor venue such as the Masonic
Theatre. West’s Pictures also screened
films at Jeffrey’s Hall, Eaglehawk and
Tait’s Pictures at the Eaglehawk Town
Hall.
In February 1911, thanking the
Bendigo public for their generous
support over their first 16 months
of operation, the then proprietors
of West’s Pictures at His Majesty’s
Theatre published an announcement in
the Bendigo Advertiser revealing they
had taken a long lease on a premises
on Pall Mall formerly known as the
Olympia Skating Rink. They intended
to re-seat and decorate the building in
‘first class style’ to transform it into a
‘modern Picture House’ which would
be called ‘The Lyric Theatre’. The
announcement concluded with the
following statement: ‘From this date
should the weather be unfavorable
for outdoor expositions, West’s
Pictures will be screened in the above
theatre’. 30
THE LYRIC THEATRE
The Lyric Theatre on Pall Mall opened
in April 1911. Later that year, alongside
live theatrical acts, moving pictures
were screened at the theatre not just if
it was cold or wet, but as a permanent
feature. The said proprietors continued
to run both the Lyric and His Majesty’s
theatres.
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