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The CATHS website, back in 1998... Return to Newsreel | Sitemap |
About CATHS
Membership |
Meetings |
Collectors Swapmeets
Theatre & Film Nights |
Tours |
Conventions |
Publications |
Archives
Cinema Centenary Events |
Theatre Open Days |
Displays
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Contact CATHS:
Email:
martin@interdomain.net.au
Mail: The Secretary, CATHS-V, PO Box 476, Bentleigh Vic 3204
Regent Theatre and Plaza Ballroom, Collins Street, Melbourne, on the night of their re-opening, August 1996.
The aims of CATHS are to:
CATHS is interested in all aspects of cinema and theatre - past, present and future.
If you love going to the movies or the theatre, are interested in theatre heritage and architecture, or perhaps you have worked in cinema or the performing arts... then why not join CATHS!
History of CATHS-V
The history of the cinema and theatre historical movement goes back to 1982 when Ian Hanson, then a Melbourne resident, started the Australian Theatre Historical Society.
The ATHS moved to Sydney soon after and to represent Victoria a Vice President was appointed. After about three years the position was changed to that of Victorian representative as the active membership was around twelve.
By late 1989 the Melbourne ATHS members felt that the difficulties of distance from the Committee made it impractical to continue as a subordinate branch. It was then decided to set up a separate society, not to compete with ATHS, but to complement it and to operate in such a way that it was membership driven.
The decision to establish the Cinema And Theatre Historical Society - Victoria, was taken in October 1989 and the first meeting was held in February 1990 at the Carlton Movie House at which thirteen members of its twenty six membership list attended.
The new Society was formally incorporated in March 1990. Since then, CATHS-V members have organised a wide variety of activities including cinema and theatre visits, public open days, events to celebrate significant historical occasions, film screenings and excursions.
An extensive archive and library have been established and various publishing projects undertaken to document Victoria's cinema and theatre history. The Society produces a quarterly magazine CinemaRecord; and published the Cinema Index; a booklet on the Regent Theatre; and the Australian Cinematographe Centenary Celebration Programme. Development of this web site - launched in April 1997; an Oral History Project; and a book [not proceeded with due to financial limitations] on Cinema In St Kilda by Peter Fogarty, are the latest projects that the Society has embarked upon.
Meetings are held on the fourth Sunday of February, April, June, August and October. They are always fun and lively with interesting theatre news, activity reports and personal projects. A movie is also screened, together with guest speakers, presentations or historic movie shows.
Past meetings have featured a wonderful talk by Mrs Adeline Mims, 92, a former silent film pianist; an entertaining and informative presentation on the early days of television, by Denzil Howson; and a special screening of the film 'Two Seats In The Circle' by Melbourne filmmakers Roger and Barbara Seccombe, celebrating a hundred years of going to the movies.
Meetings commence at 9.45 am at the Carlton Movie House, 235 Faraday Street, Carlton. The next meeting is on Sunday 26th April 1998. Please ring 03 9786 7601 to confirm venue. You are most welcome to come along.
(The Carlton has legendary Choc Tops too!)
Collectors Swapmeets
Swapmeets are held where members can sell or exchange items of interest, or to just 'show and tell'. You might be able to pick up that old slide, film, or movie poster you were after, or see an interesting historical display that a member has prepared. The Society is now establishing a Film Buffs and Collectors Group to organise more swapmeets and activities. CATHS is organising a Film Collectors Get-Together to be held on Sunday 5th April at Geelong. For more details contact Mike on 03 5278 1986 or email filmman@onaustralia.com.au
Hoyts Cinema Centre, Bourke Street, Melbourne 1997
Group bookings are arranged to see live shows and movies. Some of the fun nights include The Piano Men at the Forum Cabaret and My Fair Lady and Sunset Boulevard at the Regent Theatre. In early 1998 we're going to the State Theatre to see Crazy For You (sorry - this group booking has sold out). Also, film screenings are regularly held at members' theatrettes.
Theatre Tours
A very popular and important activity of CATHS is cinema and theatre inspections. During the year visits are conducted at various theatres which include a 'look behind the scenes'. Much can be learned about the history of a theatre on these visits which often reveal fascinating stories and anecdotes.
Venues that we visit include old theatres, modern multiplex cinemas, community performing arts centres and museums.
Some of the places that we have visited include The Forum, Russell Cinemas, Valhalla Northcote, Palace Balwyn, Hoyts Northland multiplex, Progress West Coburg, Village Rivoli Camberwell, Waverley Gardens multiplex, Frankston Cultural Centre, Studio City: TV, Radio and Film Museum at Mornington,
Country trips have included visits to Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat, Capital Theatre Bendigo, Royal Castlemaine, Athenaeum Sorrento, Capri Shepparton and the Kyabram Performing Arts Centre.
The next CATHS Theatre Tour is on 22nd March to Ballarat on (early) Sunday morning. We'll be inspecting the Regent 6 Multiplex, Sturt Cinema, Her Majesty's Theatre and Compton Organ, The Civic Hall, and the Grainery Lane Theatre and Art Gallery.
Optional extra: Travel to Ballarat on Saturday 21st March for overnight accommodation, and attend the Eureka Stockade sound and light show Blood On The Southern Cross at Sovereign Hill. Optional dinner before the show which commences at 8.30pm.
Advance bookings are essential. Phone Brian on 03 9557 7446 for further details.
Weekend Conventions
In addition to regular theatre visits, CATHS organises a weekend convention/tour to visit country theatres and interesting venues. Members share transport and stay at a hotel or motel.
In 1993 the first convention was held in North East Victoria with the highlight being the visit to the magnificent Albury Village Regent. The 1994 convention took place in the Warrnambool/Port Fairy area. The weekend away in 1995 was to the Gippsland region where many current and former cinemas were inspected. In 1996 the convention was held at Charlton. In 1997 it was held in the Wimmera district.
Members always have a lot of fun on these trips and much is contributed to recording the histories of regional theatres.
The Village Centre, Bourke Street, Melbourne 1997
To document Victoria's cinema and theatre history, the Society produces various publications including CinemaRecord and other booklets.
CinemaRecord is the official journal of CATHS, provided to members four times each year. Each edition includes theatre histories, photographs, Victorian news, coming events, letters and other items of interest.
Other publications which the Society has produced include The Regent Theatre ~ Melbourne's Cathedral to the Motion Picture, the Cinema Index, souvenir programme of the Australian Cinematographe Centenary Celebration, and audio and video tapes. An exciting new project that CATHS is currently working on, is a new book - Cinema In St Kilda: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, by Peter Fogarty. The book will be published in early 1998.
This website is also an important publishing project for CATHS where information on the Society's activities can be posted, along with current news of what's happening in the cinema and theatre industry. To encourage interest and assist with research, the website includes a Resources & Links section and listings of current
Cinemas and
Theatres. Also, interesting articles on cinema and theatre architecture, history, people and technology will be featured on this website.
Archives
The Society has established an extensive archive of historical records relating to Victoria's cinemas and theatres. Donations of photographs and other memorabilia, the loan of photographs for copying, and any other items would be most welcome additions to the Society's archives.
The acquisition of photographic materials and autobiographical accounts has greatly assisted members in providing historical articles for CinemaRecord and various other historical organisations interested in the preservation of theatres.
The archives are accessible by appointment. Please contact the Archivist on 0351 741 870.
There were two Cinema Centenary events in Australia - the World Centenary, celebrating one hundred years since the Lumiere Brothers of France filmed their first movies (1895 - 1995); and the Australian Centenary of projected motion pictures (1896 - 1996).
Lumiere Brothers Centenary Dinner
The International Centenary of Cinema was the event of 1995 celebrating the Lumiere Brothers of France filming their first movies in March 1895 and presenting them to a paying audience in December the same year. CATHS celebrated the event with a commemorative dinner and film show held at the Dutch Club, Carnegie, the venue being a former silent film cinema.
Australian Cinematographe Centenary Celebration
The 'Theatrograph'.
The first time that projected motion pictures were shown to a paying audience in Australia was on Saturday 22nd August 1896 at the Melbourne Opera House in Bourke Street. Here, touring American illusionist and conjuror, Carl Hertz, demonstrated his amazing 'Cinematographe' machine (R.W. Paul's Theatrograph). He enthralled the audience with numerous short movie films including street scenes of London and London bridge, a dancer, and a seascape.
The Cinematographe was promoted as 'The Greatest Wonder of the NINETEENTH CENTURY', 'The Photo. Electric Sensation of the Day', 'Impossible to realise that the figures are not ACTUALLY LIVING', 'First Production in Australia.'
To mark this historic occasion and a hundred years of movies on Australia's screens, on the evening of Thursday 22nd August 1996 CATHS presented the Australian Cinematographe Centenary Celebration at the Progress Theatre in West Coburg.
Wide publicity was given on 3LO's Gael Jennings program, The Age Entertainment Guide and through our own networks of members and friends.
With a 'Full House' the evening was a huge success. Billed as 'a night of atmosphere and fun' the audience was treated to a very entertaining evening of music, films and supper!
Hosted by Denzil Howson, the programme included a video presentation of the Cinematographe Early History; early silent and sound films; cinema and the war years, God Save The King; the Saturday Matinees, cartoons and Newsreels; Keeping up with Television: Cinemascope, 3D and Vista Vision, and Dolby Stereo.
The main film presentation of the evening was Roger and Barbara Seccombe's dramatised historical documentary Two Seats In The Circle. From the Kinetoscope Parlours to the modern day multiplexes the film celebrates the character of everyday cinema audiences in Australia and the people who worked in the cinemas.
Highlights of the night were Bruce Ardley at the organ, and Tenor Zachary Brown who sang 'Pal of My Cradle Days' and 'Road to Gundagai' complete with audience sing-along!
There was also a cinema Trivia Quiz with prizes and a wonderful supper and champagne afterwards. A special 20 page souvenir Programme and Ticket were also produced. (There are still some copies available)
The Melbourne Opera House, Bourke Street, where Australia's first projected motion pictures were shown on 22nd August 1896.
Probably the Society's most important activity took place in September 1993 when it negotiated to run Open Days at the Melbourne Regent (before restoration work commenced). With only limited funds in the bank, CATHS committed itself to more than $3000 to make the theatre safe for public inspection. Special lighting was installed, the foyer decorated with plants and a tape of theatre organ music was played. A commemorative video and book were also produced.
Members were dressed up for the occasion - the men in dinner suits and tuxedos, and the ladies wore long frocks - to give the public the most professional tour of the famous theatre.
Such was the success of the venture that thousands of Melburnians flocked to the Open Days. It had been many years since the Regent Box Office had seen queues stretching out into Collins Street!
The Society met its financial obligations and the event received wide coverage on television news.
CATHS has also been involved in an earlier Open Day at the Regent. In November 1991, CATHS co-operated with the National Trust in opening the Melbourne Regent for public inspection, which was also very successful.
The Regent Open Days were significant events demonstrating the huge public support for restoring and re-opening this much loved theatre.
Open Day Celebrating 70 Years of Melbourne's Capitol Theatre
On 6th November 1994 CATHS celebrated the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Capitol Theatre with a very successful Open Day. Designed by Walter Burley Griffin (who also designed Australia's capital city Canberra) the Capitol Theatre opened on 7th November 1924 and was the first of the big picture palaces to be built in Melbourne. The theatre is of world significance in its unique design and a 'hidden' treasure of Melbourne.
Displays
In March 1990 CATHS was involved in the National Trust's Heritage Week, mounting a display at the State Film Theatre. In 1991 the Carlton Movie House was the venue for a second Heritage Week display of cinema memorabilia. The Society also had a colourful and informative display at the United Nations International Day for Older People which was held at the Caulfield Racecourse in September 1997.
Work is under way to prepare a special transportable display to place in foyers at cinemas and theatres, and for use at special events.
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