Centenary of Cinema Events - 1996

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

Australian Cinematographe Centenary Celebration 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.

The 'Theatrograph'.

Wide publicity was given on 3LO/774'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!

Superbly hosted by Denzil Howson, the programme included a video presentation of the Cinematographe's 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. 

Jaffas Down The Aisle Exhibition A very special centenary event in 1995 was the Performing Arts Museum's Jaffas Down The Aisle exhibition for which CATHS contributed a significant number of exhibits. This was a magical exhibition which included an old Hoyts Staff Training Movie, a display about the travelling picture shows, drive-ins and lots of cinema memorabilia. CATHS members' contributions included a music stand  from the Balwyn Theatre, glass slides, a 35mm cinema projector and a working 1:50th scale model cinema.

The Melbourne Opera House, Bourke Street, where Australia's first projected motion pictures were shown on 22nd August 1896. In 1901 the Opera House was replaced with a new theatre built for vaudeville king Harry Rickards. It was later called The Tivoli.