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Agora
Independent. 2 screens
43 McKenzie St, Melton 3337
Tel: 9747 0671
Formerly the Melton Cinema Centre (2, then later, 3 screens), the cinema re-opened as the Agora (2 screens) on 14 October 2001. The new owner has undertaken major renovations including the installation of stadium seating and a bigger screen in Cinema 1. Dolby DTS sound system is also being installed in both cinemas.
Airport West
Village. 8 screens
Westfield Airport West Shoppingtown, Dromana Ave, Airport West 3042
Tel: 03 9335 2199 · Fax: 03 9335 2351
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Astor
Independent
1 Chapel St, St Kilda 3182
Tel: 03 9510 1414 · Fax: 03 9510 6170
www.astor-theatre.com
Melbourne's famous art deco Astor Theatre. This venue has come a long way from the early days of the 1980s when it re-emerged with double features like "Some Like It Hot" plus "Jailhouse Rock" presented on a small screen in less than state of the art sound. Since that time it has acquired multi-format digital stereo and 70mm projectors from a closed Hoyts drive-in. The Astor excels at representing past masterpieces the way they were intended to be seen - on the big screen with big sound. Their website has some great 360° interactive photos! Contact the Astor for their free Movie Calendar. Email: ran@astor-theatre.com
Balwyn
Palace. 5 screens
231 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn 3103
Tel: 03 9817 1277
www.palace.net.au
Known as the Balwyn, Classic, International, Village and now the Balwyn once again, it is one of Melbourne's true survivors of suburban cinema. Quietly presenting quality films for decades, the Balwyn has delivered what its loyal audience demanded. The 1920s facade is unique today but was once duplicated across the country. The original single screen two-level cinema was converted into three auditoriums during the 1990s, and an additional two screens (156 seats each), built on Palace's adjoining site, opened on 27th June 2002.
Boronia
Metro Cinemas Boronia
216 Dorset Road, Boronia 3155
Postal: PO Box 855 Boronia VIC 3155
Tel: 03 9762 8744 Fax: 03 9762 8799
EMail metrocinemasboronia@gmail.com
Cinemas re-opened June 30 under new owners Jane Tassigiannakis & Tom Schouten
Brighton Bay
Palace. 2 screens
294 Bay St, Brighton 3186
Tel: 03 9596 3590
www.palace.net.au
This twin was built inside the shell of the former Hoyts Centre Brighton theatre - in fact from the railway you can still see the faded Hoyts sign on the side wall. After closure it was used as the Hoyts Victorian store and workshops for many years until reopening in its current guise in 1980. During the 1980s it battled with the Rivoli for pre-eminence as the home of arthouse cinema in this state. If you saw "Diva" or "Betty Blue" on first release, it was probably at the Brighton Bay Twin.
Broadmeadows
Hoyts. 7 screens
Broadmeadows Shopping Centre
Tel: 03 9302 3900
www.hoyts.com.au
Includes 2 'CineMaxx' cinemas.
Century City Walk
Village. 10 screens
285 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 3150
Tel: 03 9550 8666 · Fax: 03 9562 1024
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Opened 19 August 1998. Includes 2 Gold Class cinemas.
Chadstone
Hoyts. 16 screens
Chadstone Shopping Centre, cnr Dandenong Rd and Chadstone Rd, Malvern East 3148
Tel: 03 9563 1988
www.hoyts.com.au
Australia's first large suburban cinema multiplex when it opened as an 8-screen complex in 1986. (Chadstone was also Australia's first suburban shopping centre.) Another eight cinemas opened on 18th December 1999, and complex re-launched as Hoyts Chadstone Megaplex. The complex now includes large 'Cinemaxx' auditoriums with 'La Premiere' seating and lounge.
Chirnside Park
Reading. 8 screens
Beside Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, cnr Kimberley Drive and Maroondah Highway
Tel: 03 9726 0422
www.readingcinemas.com.au
All eight cinemas feature wall to wall screens, Dolby digital sound and high backed, armchair stadium seating. The complex also introduces
Regency Cine-lounge, which offers patrons a fully licensed club style environment with custom made Moran armchair seating and a choice of refreshments before or after a film. The total seating capacity of Chirnside Park is 1768. Cinema One seats 422 in the main section, plus 35 seats in the Regency
Cine-lounge. The seven other cinemas in the complex range from 327 to 112 seats.
Classic
Independent/Reading. 5 screens
9 Gordon St, Elsternwick 3185
Tel: 03 9523 9739
www.classictheatre.com.au
A second cinema (seating 48) located above the foyer, opened 10 Sept 1998. The main cinema seats 381. 3 further screens opened on 1st Sept 1999. Features of the new cinemas and refurbishment include stadium seating, disability access, infra-red headsets, CD listening posts and other facilities. The cinema also has video projection equipment for showing real-time televised events, such as big international soccer matches, AFI Awards etc.
Coburg Drive-In
Village. 3 screens
Newlands Rd, Coburg North 3058
Tel: 03 9354 8633 · Fax: 03 9354 6109
www.villagecinemas.com.au
One of Melbourne best kept secrets, buried deep in suburbia is the last of 23 drive-ins that once traded in the suburbs of Melbourne. Three massive screens (the size of a suburban house block) that are the widest in the country, present first release movies under the stars all year round. A new playground has been added to ensure the kids have something to do before the features start.
See www.drive-insdownunder.com.au for history of Coburg drive-in and lots of other drive-in info.
Cinema Como
Palace. 3 screens
Cnr Toorak Rd and Chapel St, Sth Yarra 3141
Tel: 03 9827 7533
www.palace.net.au
Part of the crowded cinema belt that exists in Melbourne's inner south east, the Como presents quality independent and
art-house product.
Cranbourne
Village. 5 screens
Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, High St, Cranbourne 3977
Tel: 03 5996 7444 · Fax: 03 5995 1448
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Originally opened as a Village four cinema complex. Then, after a period of closure, the Cranbourne complex was re-opened by independent company Century Cinemas, this being their first cinema centre. Century later added a fifth screen. Village re-acquired these cinemas in 1997.
Croydon RITZ Cinemas
3 Hewish Road, Croydon VIC. 3136
Tel: 03 9723 1945
Fax: 03 9723 2735
EMail: manager@croydonritzcinemas.com.au
Website: www.croydonritzcinemas.com.au
Originally a Village Twin it became an independent operation and added two screens. Hoyts acquired it several years ago. Recently re-opened as the new Croydon Ritz Cinemas.
Dandenong
Village. 10 screens
Dandenong Plaza, Dandenong 3175
Tel: 03 9794 9770 · Fax: 03 9794 9906
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Has recently undergone a complete renovation, with larger screens, digital sound, new seats, furnishings and foyer.
Dendy Brighton
Palace. 4 screens
26 Church St, Brighton 3186
Tel: 03 9592 7815
www.palace.net.au
For many years the foundation stone of the Ward family and their Dendy cinema and distribution interests, it is run today by Palace. Occasional organ concerts presented in Cinema 1. The organ was originally installed at The Capitol Theatre in Melbourne.
A third cinema was added in the late 1990s, and closed in late 2000 as part of a major refurbishment for the Dendy, which also included the construction of two new cinemas. Renovations also included all-new carpets and seating. The very heavy (3 tonnes), silver metal curtain from The Trak Cinema was installed in Cinema 1. The new four screen Dendy cinema complex opened on 16 November 2000.
Doncaster
Village. 2 screens
Westfield Doncaster Shoppingtown, Williamsons Rd, Doncaster 3108
Tel: 03 9848 8822 · Fax: 03 9840 7048
www.villagecinemas.com.au
New 14 screen multiplex is planned to replace the Doncaster twin. Will include 10 mainstream cinemas, 2 Cinema Europa and 2 Gold Class cinemas.
Epping
Anderson. 10 screens
Epping Plaza
Tel: 03 9408 8888
www.andersoncinemas.com.au
Advertises under the Hoyts directory in newspapers.
Erwin Rado Theatre
Independent
211 Johnston St, Fitzroy 3065
Tel: 03 9347 7693
Preview theatrette for the Melbourne International Film Festival. One of the last venues in Melbourne to still utilise carbon arcs for the light source.
Forest Hill
Hoyts. 10 screens
Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, Canterbury Rd, Forest Hill 3131
Tel: 03 9894 2000
www.hoyts.com.au
Fountain Gate
Village. 10 screens
Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, Princes Highway, Narre Warren 3802
Tel: 03 8794 1600
www.villagecinemas.com.au
This cinema features the largest indoor screen in Australia (not including IMAX format). Opened on 2 November 2001.
The George
Palace. 3 screens
135 Fitzroy St, St Kilda 3182
Tel: 03 9534 6922
www.palace.net.au
If there is a cult independent film that is a must-see, chances are it will be playing at the George.
Greensborough
Hoyts. 8 screens
Greensborough Plaza, Main Street, Greensborough 3088
Tel: 03 9435 0666
www.hoyts.com.au
This 8 screen multiplex replaces the Hoyts-Village Twin that opened in 1978 and closed when competition from the Northland multiplex arrived.
Highpoint
Hoyts. 16 screens
Highpoint Shopping Centre, Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong 3032
Tel: 03 9318 6800
www.hoyts.com.au
When Highpoint opened it operated simultaneously with the Maribyrnong drive-in across the road. (Far from deserting the drive-in, patrons continued to flock to it right until closure and the erection of a homemaker centre.) Highpoint originally had ten screens. Two 'Superscreens' and a 'CineMotion' theatre were added in 1996. On 11th December 1997 four more cinemas were added: three 'Superscreens' with seating for 180, 230 and 330 and one 'MegaSuperscreen' with seating for 450, Melbourne's first megaplex. Each of the new cinemas are equipped with digital sound. Eventually all the other cinemas will also have digital sound. The six newer cinemas are now featured as the 'Cinemaxx' experience - equipped with superscreens, stadium seating and digital sound.
IMAX Theatre
Rathdowne Street, Carlton South 3053
Tel: 03 9663 5454
www.imax.com.au
Opened on May 23rd 1998 as the first stage of the new Melbourne Museum. The 480 seat Melbourne IMAX Theatre features the world's largest 3D cinema
screen (1998), 28 metres high by 31 metres wide. Most of the eight-storey high cinema is underground. Screens both 2D and 3D large format films every day of the year. Viewers will wear state-of-the-art liquid crystal glasses (worth about $500 each) for 3D movies.
Jam Factory
Village. 15 screens
Jam Factory Shopping Centre, 500 Chapel St, Prahran 3141
Tel: 03 9827 2424
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Opened 1995. Village Cinema's new Australian and World flagship cinema and retail complex. 'A celebration of cinema', the $40 million centre has a movie theme throughout the building, featuring robotic replicas and artworks of famous stars and huge displays from adventure movies.
Designed by architect Tibor Hubay, the Jam Factory features a stunning facade on Chapel St and enormous star-shaped, coloured glass ceiling lights. Village are using many of the design concepts of the Jam Factory in their new Australian and overseas cinema developments.
The Jam Factory opened originally as an 8 screen multiplex. On 15th October 1998 a further six screens were opened, including 3 'art house' cinemas - Cinema Europa - the first of a new chain which Village is to open across Australia.
On 17th December 1998 an eighteen seat 'Gold Class' cinema (formerly a preview theatrette) was opened at the complex.
Kingston Arts Centre Moviehouse
Independent
Corner of South Road and Nepean Highway, Moorabbin 3189
Tel: 03 9556 4440 for membership and program enquiries
The Kingston Arts Centre's Moviehouse has been celebrating some of the best movies from the past with screenings on each Wednesday at 10am. The 16mm screenings are organised by the Moviehouse Film Society and have access to dramas, thrillers and original black & white film. The Society is a member of the National Film & Video Lending Service managed by Cinemedia, and is a member of The Federation of Victorian Film Societies. The Moviehouse is located next door to
Moorabbin Town Hall and only 100 metres from Moorabbin Railway Station.
Knox
Village.
15 screens
Knox Towerpoint, Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South 3152
Tel: 03 9887 0077
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Village Cinemas Knox complex contains 15 screens, including 2 Gold Class Cinemas
and 2 Cinema Europa screens.
Including 11 state of the art cinemas including Australia's largest conventional indoor cinema screen.
The original Village twin opened a few hundred metres away in 1978 and closed 10 years later when the 10 screen multiplex opened. The additional 5 screen renovation opened early 2003.
Mornington
Independent. 3 screens
1 Main Street, Mornington 3931
Tel: 03 5975 5141
Originally a single screen cinema, the auditorium was twinned in the mid 1990s, and later a third screen added. A building to house two more screens is currently under construction, adjoining the existing cinema.
Northland
Hoyts. 14 screens.
Northland Shopping Centre, Murray Rd, Preston 3072
Tel: 03 9478 7888
www.hoyts.com.au
Although the original shopping centre contained a cinema, it ran only in school holidays and often had to share its time with pantomimes. The cinema-goers in the area headed for the Village Northland Twin drive-in across the road. This closed as the
8 screen multiplex opened in December 1987. Providing part stadium seating and big screens compared to Chadstone, it was Victoria's second suburban multiplex and Australia's third. Includes four new screens which opened on 20 November 1997, and a further two screens which opened early 1998. The complex now has a 'Superscreen' and digital sound facilities.
Nova
Independent/Village/Palace. 8 screens
380 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053
Tel: 03 9347 5331
www.cinemanova.com.au
These cinemas were established as a joint venture between the proprietors of the Longford and Valhalla Cinemas. Originally a twin cinema centre, two more screens were later added. A further screen, an 80 seat cinema, was added in December 1996.
In April 1999, Village and Palace acquired an interest in the Nova, with the management of the cinema still remaining with the original owners. A 6th screen opened on 29th Nov 1999 with a further two opening in December 1999, making the Nova an 8 screen multiplex.
Rivoli
Village. 8 screens
200 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell 3124
Tel: 03 9882 1221 · Fax: 03 9882 0597
www.villagecinemas.com.au
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Opened in 1940, as a two-level single screen cinema. Converted to twin cinemas in 1967. Cinema 1 still retains many of the magnificent original architectural features. The Rivoli was closed from 26th April 1999 for refurbishment and construction of additional screens, and re-opened on the 4th May 2000 as an eight screen multiplex. Village have spent over $16 Million refurbishing the Rivoli, enhancing its art deco architecture, and adding six screens to the complex.
Checkout the CATHS special feature on the Rivoli. |
Southland
Village. 16 screens
Westfield Southland Shoppingtown, 1239 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham 3192
Tel: 03 9582 5000 · 03 9582 5055 · Fax: 03 9585 6711
www.villagecinemas.com.au
This new 16 screen megaplex opened on 29th April 1999, replacing the original 8 screen multiplex - one of Village's 'first generation' multiplexes. The megaplex includes 3 Gold Class cinemas and Cinema Europa 3 screens, as well as 10 mainstream cinemas.
Sun Theatre Sunshine Trak Occasional Screenings Union Theatre Watergardens Waverley Waverley Gardens Werribee Westgarth Theatre
Independent, 4 screens
8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville
Tel: 03 9362 0999 and 03 9362 0339 · Fax: 03 9362 0338
Home of the Sun Film Society, and the Cinema And Theatre Historical Society
(CATHS) where the Society holds its meetings. The Sun is the major sponsor of CATHS. Built in
1938, this unique cinema offers comforts for all to enjoy in delightful art deco surroundings. The Sun Theatre welcomes all types of functions - seminars, launches, special events and birthdays. A wide variety of films are available upon request, from recent release to cult and classic films. The theatre has comfortable seating, a large foyer and excellent viewing within the auditorium which includes a large screen and 134 seats.
Projection facilities include 35mm, 16mm, Slide and Video projection including VHS and DVD (other formats can be arranged).
Village. 20 screens
Harvester Road (a new road between Hampshire and Anderson Roads), Sunshine 3020
Tel: 03 9313 6666 · 03 9313 6688 · Fax: 03 9311 1990
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Melbourne's first 20 screen Megaplex. Includes three Gold Class cinemas. Seating a total of 4544.
Victoria's largest multiplex and the second largest in the country. Every cinema has a large screen and digital sound.
Independent
445 Toorak Rd, Toorak 3142
One of the last single screen cinemas in Melbourne. Its mod 1960s features included a massive silver curtain and orange plastic light fittings. Was famous in its early days for cult screenings of "2001" in 70mm where part of the audience would lie on the carpet right under the big screen to fully immerse themselves in the trip.
Silvers Nightclub, currently upstairs in the same building, is the proprietor of the cinema.
Independent
Melbourne University
Occasionally screens movies.
Hoyts. 8 screens
Watergardens Shopping Centre, Taylors Lakes 3038
Tel: 03 9449 3000
www.hoyts.com.au
Opened on 29th September 1997, this cinema complex includes a 'SuperScreen' 19 metres wide (Cinema 3, which has 349 seats) and four cinemas equipped with digital sound.
Independent. 4 screens
Pinewood Square, Blackburn Road, Mount Waverley 3149
Cinemas 1 and 2: 03 9803 3671
Theatrettes 3 and 4: 03 9803 2911
www.waverleycinema.com.au/~wcinema
Established and operated by the Jean family since 1974. Originally a 300 seat single-screen cinema, the auditorium has since been twinned with the second cinema commencing operation on 7 April 1999. Both cinemas are equipped with Dolby Digital sound. Cinema One has 187 seats and Cinema Two has 68 seats. On 20th May 2000 two additional
theatrettes opened. Located upstairs above the foyer, the two theatrettes each have 50 seats and digital sound. The Waverley specialises in social group and local level marketing with a regular email service and social club mailing list. For details of their email newsletter service, contact:
wcinema@waverleycinema.com.au
Village. 6 screens
Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, Police Rd, Mulgrave 3170
Tel: 03 9558 4866
www.villagecinemas.com.au
The former Hoyts Twin contained two beautiful theatres that were both around 500 seats. This venue was later operated by Palace and is now a poker machine venue. The new 6-plex was built by Palace but operated by Village. The design is unique and easily accessed.
Village Anderson. 10 screens
Werribee Plaza Regional Shopping Centre, Cnr Heaths Rd and Derrimut Rd, Werribee 3030
Tel: 03 9748 5911 · Fax: 03 9748 5900
www.villagecinemas.com.au
Independent
89 High St, Northcote 3070
Tel: 03 9482 2001
For many years the Westgarth was one of the leaders of the High Street cinemas that included The Northcote Theatre, Northcote Plaza, Thornbury Regent, Preston Circle, Preston Planet, Preston St James and Reservoir Plaza. It ran Greek films during the 1960s and 1970s with the occasional kids matinee on school holidays. The Valhalla took over in the 1980s after losing the Richmond venue and today it has returned to the Westgarth name. Located in a bustling community shopping centre with numerous good eating venues, the cinema today presents the best Hollywood fare combined with some cult classics.
Planning approval for 3 additional screens adjacent to existing building was
obtained in late 2002.
