Theatrical traditions: stage and screen in Bendigo

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20 Henderson Sweets Limited ‘Sweetacres’ (Sydney 1918 – 1968) Fantales box 1950s printed card Collection John Casey PICTURE THEATRES IN DECLINE The impact that television (and later VHS) has had on cinema has been well documented. Despite people still enjoying films on the big screen and the novelty of the Drive-In, it cannot be denied that the ubiquitous adoption of home entertainment technologies has changed the habits of the movie-going public forever. Bendigo’s first television station BCV8 opened in 1962 and while the three major picture theatres and the Golden Drive-In continued to operate, audiences quickly declined and not long after, the Lyric, and the Royal Princess closed. In April 1963, along with several adjoining shops, the Royal Princess was sold to American oil company Amoco. Much to the consternation of many locals, that same year, the theatre was demolished and replaced by a service station. The last film to be screened was The Guns of Navarone on 4 May. 42 The company Wheelan the Wrecker commenced demolition of the theatre on 1 July 1963. Local man Leighton Rawlings remembers the day well. Back when I was in high school I had a paper run around Bendigo. In ‘63 I’m riding down View Street and its about 5:15am and here in View Street … are ‘Wheelan the Wrecker’ cranes, there were about three of them and they had the big wrecking balls on, and they’re just swinging these balls in and smashing down walls and everything and it was the Princess Theatre … by the time I came along … they had probably all the corner and a section of the theatre already smashed down … What a shocking waste. 43 The Lyric Theatre was put up for auction in August 1965. It was passed in for private sale and the building ceased to operate as a cinema. The last film, Mr Hobbs takes a Vacation was screened on 4 September 1965. In July 1967, the unoccupied building was almost completely gutted by fire and was eventually demolished. The contemporary Bendigo Bank building now stands in its place. The Plaza Theatre was the last of the three major picture theatres in Bendigo to close. Kevin Houlahan and partners, who also owned the Golden Drive-In, leased the Plaza from the mid-1960s. Ten years on, deciding not to renew their lease, the partnership built the Golden Twin Cinema (now Bendigo Cinemas). The Golden Twin opened on 20 December 1975, the day the Plaza closed. The last films screened at the Plaza on that day, were Fists of Fury and The Chinese Connection, both starring Bruce Lee.
The Chocolate Soldier, theatre program 1953 paper, ink Collection Bendigo Historical Society CONTEMPORARY CINEMA The Golden Twin was purpose-built for screening films, although they occasionally dabbled in the presentation of live entertainment, including live music events and on one occasion back-to-back performances by the popular hypnotist Martin St James. One of the first films screened was Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Since then thousands of films have been screened at the now eight-cinema complex. Despite the continually changing habits of cinema audiences, people still enjoy watching films on the big screen. Bendigo Cinema, which has just undergone a major refurbishment, currently screens up to 34 sessions a day. 44 The other cinema still operating in the area is the Star Cinema in Eaglehawk. As mentioned, films were screened regularly at the Eaglehawk Town Hall until the 1950s. In September 1999 an enterprising woman, Joan Rodger once again opened a cinema in the Town Hall. Couches replaced traditional theatre seats and a liquor license allowed people to enjoy a drink while watching films. The cinema garnered community support and upon Joan’s retirement, a passionate group of locals banded together to form the Star Community Cinema Association and took on its management. The cinema reopened in April 2005 and continues to operate as a not-forprofit community-owned project with employed staff supported by a team of volunteers. The Star’s program focuses on independent, arthouse films and crossover cinema releases and still utilises the original projection room from the early 20th century. 45 COMMUNITY TRADITIONS There is a strong tradition of community action and homegrown theatre companies in Bendigo. As early as 1857, groups such as the Sandhurst Amateur Dramatic Club were giving charity performances. The opening of the Royal Princess Theatre in 1874 gave a boost to the local scene. The regularity of a premium theatre hosting a steady stream of world-class acts, helped to encourage local interest in the performing arts and burgeoning amateur groups fostered local talent. Toward the middle of the 20th century, the local appetite for live theatre waned and due to the overwhelming popularity of ‘the pictures’, very few live performances were staged at the Royal Princess between 1930 and 50. For a short period in the 1950s live performance enjoyed a short renaissance at the Princess. 46 21
Page 1 and 2: Theatrical traditions: stage & scre
Page 3 and 4: Theatrical traditions: stage & scre
Page 5 and 6: Introduction William Mariner Bent A
Page 7 and 8: Benjamin Pierce Batchelder born Uni
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Page 11 and 12: W Vincent Kelly Australia active 19
Page 13 and 14: Pathé France 1896 - current Hand c
Page 15: Vincent Kelly Australia active 1904
Page 18 and 19: 16 Previous page: Commercial Photog
Page 20 and 21: 18 The Rose Stereograph Co. Armadal
Page 24 and 25: ‘Joseph and the Amazing technicol
Page 26 and 27: 24 Save the Bendigo Arts Centre, ca
Page 28 and 29: notes 1 Originally known as Bendigo
Page 30 and 31: Further Reading Michael Purden Aust
Page 32: 2 51-67 pall mall Bendigo VICTORIA

Theatrical traditions: stage and screen in Bendigo

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