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Grand Theatre, Perth

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Coordinates: 31°57′10″S 115°51′38″E / 31.952716°S 115.860522°E / -31.952716; 115.860522
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Grand Theatre
Map
General information
StatusDemolished
TypeTheatre
Architectural styleEdwardian
Address164–168 Murray Street
Town or cityPerth, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates31°57′10″S 115°51′38″E / 31.952716°S 115.860522°E / -31.952716; 115.860522
CompletedSeptember 1916
Inaugurated20 September 1916
Renovated1938, 1949
DemolishedMarch 1990
Cost£20,000
OwnerThomas Coombe
Design and construction
Architect(s)Richard Joseph Dennehy
Main contractorW. Brine
Renovating team
Architect(s)William T. Leighton
Renovating firmBaxter-Cox & Leighton
Main contractorC. W. Arnott
Other information
Seating capacity1,300

The Grand Theatre was a theatre and cinema located at 164–168 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. It was opened in September 1916 and closed in November 1980. The building was demolished in March 1990.

History

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The Grand Theatre opened on Wednesday 20 September 1916, with a seating capacity of 1,300, with 1,000 in the stalls and 300 in the dress circle.[1] It was opened by the Mayor of Perth, Frank Rea, with a charity fund-raising gala for wounded soldiers, which included a performance by a "Soldiers Orchestra" and the screening of A Yellow Streak, featuring Lionel Barrymore.[2][3] The Edwardian[4] styled theatre was built for entrepreneur Thomas Coombe,[5] and designed by architect Richard Joseph Dennehy[6] for a cost of £20,000.[7][8] The main entrance fronted onto Murray Street, and led to a 15.2 m (50 ft) wide marble tiled and mirror-lined vestibule with a large marble staircase.[2] The 33.6 m (110 ft) by 15.2 m (50 ft) theatre auditorium[8] was unique in Western Australia, in that it had a windlass-operated sliding roof, and also removable shutters on the side walls to allow for cross-ventilation.[2] It had a 7.3 m (24 ft) by 5.5 m (18 ft) screen.[2] It also had a secondary entrance facing Barrack Street.

While initially independent, it became a part of the Union Theatres chain.[9] In September 1929, the theatre abandoned its orchestra and was wired for sound, with the screening of its first "talkie", The Midnight Taxi, occurring on 2 September 1929.[10] On 29 April 1932 it became an all-British house, showcasing the most prestigious British films.[5][11]

During the Great Depression, the Grand Theatre was under financial threat and in 1931 was sold for £82,000 to Town and Suburban Properties Ltd, who leased it back to Union Theatres.[9] In August 1932 the company was unable to maintain their rental payments and the bailiffs were brought in, with the theatre being taken over by the property owners.[12][13] On 25 August 1932, Town and Suburban Properties Ltd formed a new company, the Grand Theatre Company,[14][15] to operate the theatre rather than risk leasing it to another tenant.[9] The company, run by James Stiles (1888–1944), gradually expanded, leasing the Regent Theatre (renamed the Metro), purchasing the Princess Theatre (Fremantle) and building the Piccadilly Theatre.[13] The Grand Theatre, the oldest in the company's group of theatres, was relegated to being a "churn house" (a theatre that played continuous sessions).[13]

A number of minor changes to the façade of the building were made over the course of time, including painting of the brickwork, the installation of a new neon sign running the length of the façade, and the replacement of the original ornate metal verandah with a more up-to-date style.[5] The inside of the theatre however underwent significant changes. The theatre's first major reconstruction occurred in 1938 under the supervision of local architectural firm Baxter-Cox & Leighton,[16] headed by architect William T. Leighton, at a cost of £6,000.[17] The renovations occurred over a four-week period;[9] the dress circle was demolished and remodelled with the aisles between the seats widened, the supporting pillars in the stalls were removed, all the internal arches and cornices were bricked up, a new plaster proscenium installed, the upstairs landings enlarged to form a smoking lounge, new ticket boxes and glass doors added and a new internal new colour scheme in pastel shades introduced.[17][18] The theatre also reportedly became the first in Australia to be illuminated entirely by neon lights.[5][19][20] The second major renovation occurred in 1949, with an extensive internal refurbishment and refurnishing.[21] The Grand Theatre Company evolved into City Theatres Pty Ltd,[5] and in 1973 City Theatres was acquired by a local television and entertainment consortium comprising Michael Edgley International Ltd, Swan Television and TVW Ltd.[9] In August 1978 TVW Ltd purchased the company outright from the other members of the consortium.[22]

The theatre closed on 6 November 1980, following the opening of the nearby Cinema City complex[5] by TVW Ltd.[22] The building was subsequently converted into a family restaurant, Pizza Showtime,[23] and in 1984 into an Asian food hall[24] before it was demolished in March 1990.[9][25]

References

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  1. ^ "The Grand Theatre – Enthusiasm at the Opening". The Daily News. Vol. XXXV, no. 12, 984. Western Australia. 21 September 1916. p. 7 (Third Edition). Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Grand Theatre". Western Mail. Vol. XXXI, no. 1, 604. Western Australia. 22 September 1916. p. 32. Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Grand Theatre – Opening Next Wednesday". The Daily News. Vol. XXXV, no. 12, 979. Western Australia. 15 September 1916. p. 2 (Third Edition). Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "New Essendon Picture Theatre (former)". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Council of Victoria. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Grand Theatre : 164–168 Murray Street, Perth". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ^ Taylor, John J. (February 2013). "Richard Joseph Dennehy" (PDF). Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  7. ^ "The Grand Theatre – Home of Movies De Luxe". Daily News. Vol. XXXV, no. 12, 970. Western Australia. 5 September 1916. p. 7 (Third Edition). Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b "Perth's New Theatre". The West Australian. Vol. XXXII, no. 4, 497. Western Australia. 30 August 1916. p. 8. Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Grand 164–168 Murray Street, Perth". Cinema Web. The Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television (Inc). Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Grand Theatre – First Talkie Programme". The West Australian. Vol. XLV, no. 8, 487. Western Australia. 2 September 1929. p. 14. Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "British Films – A New Service for Perth". The West Australian. Vol. XLVIII, no. 9, 298. Western Australia. 14 April 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Grand Theatre – Change of Management". The Daily News. Vol. LI, no. 17, 929. Western Australia. 29 August 1932. p. 1 (Home (Final) Edition). Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ a b c Betrand, Ina (1987). "David and Goliath: the Grand Theatre Company and the National Exhibition Chains". History & Film Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Government Gazette" (PDF). Government Gazette of Western Australia. Western Australian Government: 1413. 20 August 1937.
  15. ^ "New Companies". Sunday Times. No. 1808. Western Australia. 18 September 1932. p. 5 (First Section). Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Grand Theatre – Remodelling Starts Next Friday". The Mirror. Vol. 16, no. 862. Western Australia. 12 November 1938. p. 15. Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ a b "Progress in the Building Industry – Grand Theatre". Western Mail. Vol. 60, no. 2, 760. Western Australia. 19 January 1939. p. 30. Retrieved 23 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Entertainments – Reopening of Grand Theatre". The West Australian. Vol. 54, no. 16, 370. Western Australia. 17 December 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 23 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "New Grand Theatre Officially Opened". Sunday Times. No. 2134. Western Australia. 18 December 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "New Grand Theatre". The Daily News. Vol. LVI, no. 19, 882. Western Australia. 15 December 1938. p. 6 (City Final). Retrieved 16 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Changes to Cinema". The West Australian. Vol. 65, no. 19, 743. Western Australia. 26 October 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 23 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ a b "Perth City". Cinema Web. The Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television (Inc). Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  23. ^ Pizza showtime debuts in Perth, In Leisure Line, September 1981, pp. 14–18, retrieved 15 September 2016
  24. ^ "Krantz and Sheldon" (PDF). Private Archives – Collection Listing. Battye Library. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  25. ^ Francis, Rodney I (December 1990). "The Coombe Family of Perth. [The demolition of Perth's oldest cinema, the Grand Theatre destroyed a monument to an era and a family]". Kino. 9 (2): 12–17. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
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