3. Queen's, New Queen's and Victoria
Theatre, Gilles Arcade
This State Heritage brick theatre was built for V & E Solomon,
two Sydney Jewish brothers and former convicts. The oldest
surviving theatre on mainland Australia, it opened in 1841 with
'Othello'. Closed due to a recession in 1842, it became law
courts. In 1846, G Coppin opened the New Queen's Theatre
alongside in a billiard hall. When the courts moved in 1850,
the earlier theatre had a new facade and re-opened as the
Royal Victoria Theatre. Following its closure in 1868, it was
used as a low class dancing saloon, the City Mission and a
horse bazaar. Since an archaelogical dig in 1990, it has been
the venue for 'The Magic Flute' in the 1996 Festival of Arts,
followed by other theatrical performances.
Return to Currie Street, cross Light Square at the traffic lights
to Morphett Street and walk north.
4. Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett Street
Before Queen Elizabeth II opened this complex in 1992
comprising the cinema, Jam Factory and other cultural venues
on the site of the former 1906 Fowler's Lion Factory, this was
the home of the 'Fringe' during earlier Adelaide Festivals of Arts.
Opened to the public on Monday nights for cinemateque, it is
also used by film makers or private hirers.
Return to Hindley Street, walking east along the northern side
of the street.
5. Former My Fair Lady Theatre,
128 Hindley Street
6. Beehive Building, 2 Rundle Mall
Only 10 months after the world's first public viewing of 'motion
pictures' in Paris, similar first screenings were shown at the
Theatre Royal and in the Beehive Building in October 1896.
It took another 12 years before Adelaide had its first permanent
cinema, West's Olympia. In the 1990s, 'Beehive Corner'
received a significant injection of Council funds from its Heritage
Incentives Scheme to undertake conservation work and remove
unsympathetic changes to the building.
Proceed east along Rundle Mall.
7. Former Grand Picture Theatre, Mayfair and
Sturt Cinemas, 23-25 Rundle Mall
The handsome grey and white 5 storey facade is all that remains
of this theatre which was built for sole proprietor Alfred Drake.
He held a grand opening on 30 November 1916 for the City's
Lord Mayor and other dignitaries before it was opened to the
public the next day with 'The Fool's Revenge'. It closed in
February 1976.
Proceed east along Rundle Mall.
Beehive Building in Rundle Mall c.1900
8. Former Regent Theatre, Regent Arcade,
101-107 Rundle Mall
10 & 11. The Palace East End Cinemas,
274 Rundle Street
Seating 2298 people, Hoyts 'Regent' opened 29 June 1928 as
'Australia's most luxurious theatre'. Featuring the silent movie
'Flesh and the Devil' with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, its
lavish interior reflected the hedonism and self indulgence of the
American movie industry. In 1930 'The Jazz Singer' with Al Jolson
was the first 'talkie' shown here. In March 1967 when the Regent
staged a charity show to mark its closure prior to being revamped
into two smaller cinemas, its mighty Wurlitzer organ sounded its
last chords. Remnants of the Arabesque filigree walling decoration
are retained. Matching the impressive Regent's Mall facade, a
copy was built fronting Grenfell Street in the late 1980s.
Built following the refurbishment of the former East End Market in
the early 1990s, The Palace at 274 and ultra modern designed,
The Nova, opposite at 251 Rundle Street East, are two separate
cinema complexes providing 'art house' cinema and where film
festivals are now held.
Proceed east along Rundle Mall.
Footnote:
&
West East End
Theatre
The walk ends here. The East End is home to the former East End
markets on the corner of Grenfell Street and East Terrace and you
may look at their redevelopment as apartments. You may also wish
to visit one of the numerous cafes and restaurants in the area.
Four former theatres where the sites have been rebuilt are:
9. Site of the former Liberty, Curzon Theatre,
124 Rundle Mall
Located alongside the Richmond Hotel, this war-time single level
400 seat cinema, opened New Years Day 1943 as the Liberty.
Described as 'the aristocrat of intimate cinema', it became
Adelaide's first art house, showing foreign films which were
referred to as 'sizzlers'. The large first floor display window was
used to advertise its current attraction. Theatre trough lighting
remains a feature in the shop. The projection room was placed
between the 1st and 2nd floors.
Proceed to the end of Rundle Mall, at the traffic lights cross
Pulteney Street and continue straight along Rundle Street.
Continue along Rundle Street over Frome Street.
Metro, Hindley Cinemas
1939-1974, at Hindley Street
Pavilion (Pav) 1912-1933, Rex 1933-1959
at 121 Rundle Street
Savoy News Theatre 1941-1966 at 43 Rundle Street
Theatre Royal 1868-1962 in Hindley Street
opposite Tattersalls Hotel
Wallis Academy Cinema City 1980-2008 at Hindmarsh Square
York Picture Hall 1921-1960 at 62 Rundle Street
Regent Theatre in Rundle Mall c.1935
Walking Trail
Adelaide | South Australia
This complex occupies the former site of My Fair Lady Theatre
which was built specifically for the SA release of Warner Brothers
'My Fair Lady' in 1966. It then became a Greater Union Cinema
but has recently become a church.
Proceed further east along Hindley Street.
www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/heritage
Remember when going to the 'flicks', 'talkies', 'pictures' or a
'show' in Adelaide was an occasion to dress up for? While
London's West End is synonymous with a big night out, Adelaide's
entertainment heartland was around the retail area of Hindley
and Rundle Streets. Other venues were scattered around the City.
The arrival of TV in 1959 saw many theatres close, particularly
when colour TV became available. Despite this, a quiet revival
that also catered for varying tastes in cinema genres, saw a
trend in complexes of smaller sized cinemas, often squeezed
into the site of an earlier single venue.
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to do the walk.
Now demolished Metro Theatre on Hindley Street. Last day, 1974
1. Site of the Wondergraph Theatre,
27-29 Hindley Street
Seating 1800 people and costing £60,000, the Wondergraph
designed by Garlick & Jackman with its ornate 'temple of
dreams' frontage, opened 5 September 1913. Known as 'the
Civic' between 1932-1957, when it was rebuilt and included air
conditioning, wide screen and stereophonic sound, it became
known as the State until its closure in May 1977. From 2002
this site has continued to be used as 'a unique combination of
bar, nightclub and theatre'.
Continue down the southern side of Hindley Street in a
westerly direction.
For more information about
other walks contact:
2. Former West's, 91 Hindley Street
Adelaide City Council
Customer Centre
Telephone: 8203 7203
The City's first permanent picture theatre opened 5 December
1908 in the 1890s Cyclorama building which was briefly the
Olympia ice skating rink. It was revamped as a cinema by chain
owner, TJ West, who kept the former name for a year. Vaudeville
artists appeared live on stage including local born 'Mo' (Roy Rene)
who starred in the film classic 'Strike Me Lucky'. Following the
cinema's rebuilding it was re-opened Christmas 1939 as West's
Theatre showing 'Pygmalion'. Later, live radio for 5DN was
broadcast from here. Surviving from the original theatre, but
sealed off, is the orchestra pit, dressing rooms and green room
with murals decorating some walls. Now home for the Adelaide
Symphony Orchestra (ASO), lunch time concerts are held here.
Along Rosina Street to Currie Street, stop to look at the tall fly
tower of the former West's adorned by artwork commissioned
for the Adelaide Festival in 2000 featuring 15,000 model cars
donated by members of the public.
To contact Adelaide City Council
Heritage staff
Telephone: 8203 7445
8
10
Photographs courtesy of
Adelaide City Council Archives
Photographic Collection.
Initiative of Jeffrey Wheare.
Additional research by Patricia Sumerling.
Photograph of the Metro Theatre
courtesy of Colin Flint.
Walk south down Rosina Street and proceed west up Currie
Street, then cross at the traffic lights at Light Square. Then walk
east down Currie Street and turn right into Gilles Arcade.
217897_09_04
This walking trail reveals the fascinating history of cinemas
and theatres in Adelaide. Begin the walk outside the 1930s
CML Building on the southern corner of Hindley Street
and King William Street. This point is easily accessible by
numerous buses.
www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/heritage
www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/heritage