Village Fountain Gate Opens
On 2 November 2001 Village opened their new Fountain Gate Cinemas in Narre Warren. The 10 screen complex is the anchor tenant for the new lifestyle and entertainment precinct, The Street, at Westfield's Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.
Each of the auditoriums features a full stadium design. The complex has a total seating capacity of 2516, with new styled seats derived from the Jam Factory "Ritz" design. Bar and cafe areas, and function facilities are included in the complex. Provision has also been made for the possible addition of a further 4 cinemas.
Fountain Gate facts and figures...
• Seats and Screen Size per Auditorium:
Cinema 1 holds the largest capacity, and Village claim that it has one of the largest screens in Australia for mainstream cinemas.
Cinema 1: Seats - 476 Screen Size - 20 x 10.4 m
Cinema 2: Seats - 338 Screen Size - 19.2 x 10 m
Cinema 3: Seats - 286 Screen Size - 18 x 9.4 m
Cinema 4: Seats - 250 Screen Size - 15.4 x 8.2 m
Cinema 5: Seats - 180 Screen Size - 11.6 x 6.3 m
Cinema 6: Seats - 144 Screen Size - 11.6 x 6.3 m
Cinema 7: Seats - 144 Screen Size - 11.6 x 6.3 m
Cinema 8: Seats - 180 Screen Size - 11.6 x 6.3 m
Cinema 9: Seats - 253 Screen Size - 14.4 x 7.7 m
Cinema 10: Seats - 275 Screen Size - 15.4 x 8.2 m
• Disabled and access lift service all floors.
• Site Structure:
Level 1 - Complex entry point
Level 2 - Entry foyer, ticket box, candy bar, toilet, lift
Level 3 - Cinema auditorium access
Level 4 - Projection area.
• Projection Equipment:
Projectors: 10 x Cinemeccanica, Victoria 5 projectors
Lamp Sizes: 2 x 7000w, 4 x 5000w, 4 x 3000w Osram xenon globes
Make Up Benches: 5 x Cinemeccanica make up tables.
• Sound Equipment: 10 x Dolby CP650 Digital Processors - Dolby Digital all houses.
Village Fountain Gate Cinemas is a joint venture of Village Cinemas Australia and Greater Union Organisation. The complex is located at 352 Princes Highway, Fountain Gate, Victoria 3805. Tel: 03 8794 1600.
• Information provided by Village Cinemas Australia.
70-year-old Technology Makes A Comeback!
An interesting item received from the Astor Theatre...
If you have seen "Apocalypse Now - Redux" at the Astor Theatre you will know just how stunning a film can look. And the same visual treat is in store for you when the restored version of "Funny Girl" starts a two-week season at the theatre on December 9. Both films are Technicolor "dye-transfer" prints - a system that's about 70 years old but which still looks better than any other colour process you can see on a screen!
Technicolor dye-transfer was the first successful "full-colour" film and, in a process that is, in many ways, analogous to modern printing on paper, the three primary colour layers that made up the image were printed onto clear film stock. The film receiving the image would already have a sound track which would have been exposed in the conventional manner and there was sometimes a faint black & white image as well to improve contrast.
Improvements in multiple-layer colour films - where each of the primary colours has its own emulsion - eventually saw the demise of the dye-transfer process
But no "modern" process can completely match the grainless image of dye-transfer and the system has been revived for special releases such as the re-edited version of "Apocalypse Now - Redux" and the superb restoration of "Funny Girl".
It is perhaps ironic to see such an old process making a comeback but that is nothing unusual in the world of film.
CinemaScope and other wide-screen processes were developed in an attempt to stave-off the threat from television in the 1950s. But the basic technology had been around for years before that. Even 70mm film had been used in the old Fox "Grandeur" process earlier in the 20th Century.
Sometime the latest is not the greatest!
Apocalypse Now - Redux is screening at The Astor Theatre until December 5 and Funny Girl will screen from December 9 to December 22 (except Wednesday, December 19). Session times for both films are 2pm and 7:30pm on Sundays and Saturdays and 7:30pm nightly on Monday to Friday.
• From 'Astor News' email newsletter, 26 November 2001. Checkout the Astor website at www.astor-theatre.com
Also visit The American Widescreen Museum website at
www.widescreenmuseum.com which includes lots of information and images on the six main widescreen systems that were introduced - Cinerama, CinemaScope, Todd-AO, MGM Camera 65-Ultra Panavision, Technirama and VistaVision. Also includes history of colour cinematography, Technicolor and sound development.
Charlton Rex
Member Steve Walsh who is co-owner of the Rex Cinema at Charlton has sent in a couple of photos of the cinema. Steve said that they have changed the name of the cinema from "Cinema Charlton" back to the "Rex" as this was its original name.
Trak Cinema Re-opens - briefly
The Trak cinema in Toorak has re-opened for the 2001 Festival Of Jewish Cinema. For many years the Trak was operated by Palace Cinemas who closed the cinema in November 2000. Silvers Nightclub, located in the same building, took over the lease of the cinema. The Festival Of Jewish Cinema runs from 8th November to 2nd December 2001. Phone 9827 7938 for program details of the Festival screening at the Trak.
Westgarth 80th Celebrations a Hit
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The Westgarth Theatre recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of its opening with three days of free films, commencing Monday 22nd October 2001. More than 7,000 patrons attended screenings during the three days. A number of these were patrons who attended multiple sessions. Manager Michael Protopapa said "We are are delighted with the response and the level of public awareness created - it exceeded our expectation."
A formal commemoration took place prior to the 7pm preview of The Man Who Sued God on Tuesday 23rd October. A full house was in attendance. More than 300 disappointed patrons were turned away. Presenter David Earl hosted proceedings during which Minister for the Arts and Member for Northcote, Mary Delahunty, presented a plaque to the Westgarth's Proprietor, Peter Yiannoudes.
Ms Delahunty paid tribute to the Westgarth's founding members and the Yiannoudes family for their vision and determination which have enabled so many patrons to enjoy the distinctive Westgarth Theatre over so many years.
Mr Yiannoudes thanked Ms Delahunty, his family, film distributors, the media, the local business community, Darebin Council and his loyal patrons.
David Earl highlighted to the audience the presence of two remarkable guests: Mernie Foley, daughter of inaugural Westgarth Theatre Manager and Secretary, Ernest Yeomans; and Jack Nicholls who commenced work at the Westgarth in 1922. Mrs Foley expressed her sincere thanks to the Yiannoudes family for their custodianship of her favourite picture palace.
Theatre organist Leith Ewart captured the spirit of the occasion with his fine playing and humorous by-play with David Earl. David prompted the audience to rise and sing Happy Birthday to the Westgarth Theatre. A good night was had by all!
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Above: Minister for the Arts and Northcote MP The Hon Mary Delahunty presents a plaque to Westgarth Theatre proprietor Peter Yiannoudes.
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The plaque presented to the Westgarth reads...
IN RECOGNITION OF THE
WESTGARTH THEATRE'S
CONTRIBUTION TO
MELBOURNE MOTION PICTURE HISTORY
OPENED
20TH OCTOBER 1921.
PRESENTED BY
THE HON MARY DELAHUNTY MP
MEMBER FOR NORTHCOTE
MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
FOR THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE OPENING NIGHT
20TH OCTOBER 2001.
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Below: The capacity audience at the Westgarth Theatre for the official 80th Anniversary ceremony, and preview screening of The Man Who Sued God, Tuesday evening 23 October 2001.
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Various CATHS members worked closely with the Westgarth management to assist with their 80th Anniversary Celebration, and to simultaneously promote CATHS. Projects included:
• Preparation of a 16 page commemorative magazine featuring Cameron Hall's article on the Westgarth from the Autumn issue of CinemaRecord. Cameron also researched and wrote an additional article on the Yeomans Family for this publication. Other material included an article from proprietor Peter Yiannoudes; additional historical photos and graphics; acknowledgements etc from the Westgarth management as well as an item on future plans for the theatre [three additional screens are to be built on an adjoining property]; and an advertisement for CATHS.
• Program details of the October 3 Day Free Film Festival was posted on the CATHS website. The CATHS website address was also included in four of the Westgarth's display ads in The Age newspaper.
• A slide - which opens the screen presentation at each session: "Congratulations to The Westgarth Theatre On Your 80th Anniversary from the Cinema And Theatre Historical Society". Another slide promoting CATHS will screen from the beginning of 2002.
Thanks to members: Cameron Hall, Martin Powell, Kevin Adams, Brian Miller, Gerry Kennedy, Bernie Helperin, Adrian Maiolla, David Kilderry, John Brown and Paul Michelle (also of Northcote Historical and Conservation Society). Thanks also to the Westgarth Theatre's management and staff with whom we have worked so cooperatively.
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Above: The CATHS slide screened at the Westgarth.
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The Blues Brothers 21st Anniversary at The Westgarth
The Blues Brothers has been running continuously in Melbourne for 18 years as a Friday night lateshow. The Westgarth Theatre has screened this film for the past 15 years and the tradition continues today on the first Friday of every month at 11.30pm.
This definitive cult movie is the ultimate combination of amateur theatre, audience participation, celluloid and music. The audience often dress up as their favourite Blues Brother character.
John Landis, the director of The Blues Brothers, is genuinely surprised at the cult status the film has reached in Melbourne over the years. He is always willing to help with any promotion of the film and even arranged for some members of the Melbourne Blues Brothers Club to appear as extras in a scene of the Blues Brothers 2000 film.
To celebrate the 21st anniversary of the film's release the Westgarth Theatre is holding a special celebratory screening of THE BLUES BROTHERS at 11.30pm on Friday 7th December 2001
• Richard Stubbs of radio station MIX FM has interviewed John Landis and segments of the interview will go to air in the time leading up to December 7.
The Melton Cinema Re-opens
The former Melton Cinema Centre 3 has recently re-opened as The Agora Cinema with 2 screens. Operated by the former proprietor of the now-closed Agora Theatre at LaTrobe University, the Agora Cinema Melton opened on 14 October 2001. Proprietor Kail Nathan has undertaken major renovations including: removing the third screen and installing stadium seating and a bigger screen in Cinema 1, bringing the screen forward; and installing Dolby DTS sound in both cinemas. Future plans include re-upholstering of all the seats in the complex. At present the Agora is operating as a single screen while renovations are underway.
The cinema is programming mainstream movies that are out of their initial release seasons, and is offering budget tickets at a flat rate of $6 for all. The cinema plans to program 3 or 4 movies per week with staggered session times, operating 6 days per week and 7 days during holiday times. The Agora Cinema is located at 43 McKenzie Street, Melton. Tel: 03 9747 0671.
Bugs Bunny On Broadway
Warner Bros. presents in association with Victorian Arts Centre and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Bugs Bunny On Broadway - a night of classic Looney Tunes cartoons projected on the big screen, accompanied by live orchestra. Eleven celebrated animated cartoons, including: What's Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Rhapsody Rabbit, Corny Concerto, and Zoom and Bored! Wagner, Liszt, Rossini, and more, adapted into the unforgettable cartoon scores of Carl Stalling and Milt Franklin. Conducted and created by George Daugherty with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
29, 30 and 31 January at 7.30pm, Melbourne Concert Hall. Book at TicketMaster on 1300 136 166.
