This venue was also a popular dinner/theatre venue during the late 1960’s with many mini-musicals that attracted the best of many Australian theatrical stars. The building is now considered an important Brutalist design.
Worked front-of-house here during the final years under Hoyts. A very pleasant art-deco cinema, albeit very narrow and not particularly suited to scope ratio. Did bumper business with “Case Of The Smiling Stiffs” and “The Adventures Of A Driving Instructor/Window Washer/Taxi Driver” series. It remained open under Hoyts management for a few months after the 7 screen Entertainment Centre opened and I was often sent round to that new venue to help out with their full houses while the Town struggled on with dwindling audiences.
The Albany coffee lounge was still operating in 1967 following refurbishment of the auditorium. Lovely tea and coffee, crumpets with honey, cinammon toast. milkshakes, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, banana splits et all. Doubt if it survived the latter soft porn era.
Fringed main curtain no longer used, just silver travellers. Other auditoriums are also lacking screen tabs now as they break down and young manager feels they are no longer necessary. So sad.
Went to this beautiful art-deco cinema often in the late 1970’s when I lived nearby. Was well maintained right up to closing. Unfortunately I never saw an audience of more than a dozen or so, even for blockbusters like Superman or Grease.
I sometimes wonder if the many city officials who signed demolition orders of these similar outstanding buildings for the almighty $ are resting in peace.
CP200 I tend to agree with your pessimistic outlook. Younger audiences are becoming more attuned to cheaper downloading, and highly successful programmes not available for theatrical release. Why pay huge admission prices when streaming on demand is available 24/7? I’m a dinosaur still addicted to my DVD’s but love the opportunity to see my favourites any time I wish. Modern cinemas can’t offer the magic any more. i.e curtains, masking and general lack of showmanship. It’s been a downward slide for many years now, and I fear the covid 19 lockdowns coule be the final death of cinema going.
Now an industrial park, no sign of original drive-in remains. Typical of MGM, this was a state-of-the-art drive-in. The only drive-in screens I know of that had curved screens.
Now abandoned and empty once again. With full stage facilities I can’t believe the local council cannot see the value this building could become for little cost into a wonderful community arts centre.
Although now remembered as an “Adult” cinema, there were some important releases. “Cool Hand Luke” premiered here along with the Roma cinema in 1967. It became an important “move over” venue for many important features.
Cinema 3 (the former Embassy cinema) suffered a bad reputation from day one, but in fact was a perfectly serviceable house. Given todays seating, the original capacity of approx. 400 would today be considered quite large. One of the main complaints was the entrance to the auditorium at screen end, but double sets of black-out curtains never seemed to be a major concern to me. A very early Espresso Bar in the foyer was a major attraction for the “hip” early 60’s audience it attracted with many important foreign films of the era, e.g. I Vitteloni, Woman Of The Dunes, Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, 81/2 and many other European and British hits. When all 3 cinemas came under corporate control the end was near. The former Embassy deserves much more acclaim for the product it introduced to many Melbourne film lovers.
Judging by the photo’s there seemed very littl rake for seating which must have resulted in bad sight-lines for busy screenings. Appears screen curtains were not a feature of this twin as well. Another sad loss, but nowhere near the tragedy of The Paris closure.
This is an absolute tragedy. During my visit to NY a decade ago The Paris was a glorious reminder of what cinama once was. Atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff, true showmanship presentation, screen masking, screen tabs that were actually used, and a wonderful indie movie that would probably never have received a theatrical release elsewhere. By comparison, my visit to the so-called “iconic” Ziegfeld theatre was a souless experience of less than a dozen audience members, screen curtains open to greet the audience with a blank screen devoid of any showmanship whatsoever. Can’t believe the outrage that was posted on CT when the Ziegfeld was facing imminent closure as opposed to the whisper of sadness of this magnificent cinema that brought such impoertant films to NY audiences over the past 70 years.
This venue was also a popular dinner/theatre venue during the late 1960’s with many mini-musicals that attracted the best of many Australian theatrical stars. The building is now considered an important Brutalist design.
Built on the site of the former Savoy Theatre, which was Melbourne’s first “art” cinema during the 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s.
Why on earth was the stunning and eye-catching facade facing Hollywood Blvd removed?
Worked front-of-house here during the final years under Hoyts. A very pleasant art-deco cinema, albeit very narrow and not particularly suited to scope ratio. Did bumper business with “Case Of The Smiling Stiffs” and “The Adventures Of A Driving Instructor/Window Washer/Taxi Driver” series. It remained open under Hoyts management for a few months after the 7 screen Entertainment Centre opened and I was often sent round to that new venue to help out with their full houses while the Town struggled on with dwindling audiences.
The Albany coffee lounge was still operating in 1967 following refurbishment of the auditorium. Lovely tea and coffee, crumpets with honey, cinammon toast. milkshakes, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, banana splits et all. Doubt if it survived the latter soft porn era.
A picture tells a thousand words. How very sad.
Fringed main curtain no longer used, just silver travellers. Other auditoriums are also lacking screen tabs now as they break down and young manager feels they are no longer necessary. So sad.
Went to this beautiful art-deco cinema often in the late 1970’s when I lived nearby. Was well maintained right up to closing. Unfortunately I never saw an audience of more than a dozen or so, even for blockbusters like Superman or Grease.
Would this be the shortest life of a multiplex?
I sometimes wonder if the many city officials who signed demolition orders of these similar outstanding buildings for the almighty $ are resting in peace.
Was converted into a triplex not long before closure. Despite being very plain it did provide a very diverse range of product.
Even your ticket to “the perfect show in Todd-Ao” was an art in itself.
CP200 I tend to agree with your pessimistic outlook. Younger audiences are becoming more attuned to cheaper downloading, and highly successful programmes not available for theatrical release. Why pay huge admission prices when streaming on demand is available 24/7? I’m a dinosaur still addicted to my DVD’s but love the opportunity to see my favourites any time I wish. Modern cinemas can’t offer the magic any more. i.e curtains, masking and general lack of showmanship. It’s been a downward slide for many years now, and I fear the covid 19 lockdowns coule be the final death of cinema going.
Now an industrial park, no sign of original drive-in remains. Typical of MGM, this was a state-of-the-art drive-in. The only drive-in screens I know of that had curved screens.
So sad that the beautiful draperies were not rescued during demolition.
Now abandoned and empty once again. With full stage facilities I can’t believe the local council cannot see the value this building could become for little cost into a wonderful community arts centre.
Although now remembered as an “Adult” cinema, there were some important releases. “Cool Hand Luke” premiered here along with the Roma cinema in 1967. It became an important “move over” venue for many important features.
Was considerd a premium location by Hoyts Theatres and screened many first release features along with city releases.
Surprisingly, for a very up-market suburb, this was always a 3rd or 4th suburban release house on the Hoyts circuit.
Such a short life. Was it demolished?
Cinema 3 (the former Embassy cinema) suffered a bad reputation from day one, but in fact was a perfectly serviceable house. Given todays seating, the original capacity of approx. 400 would today be considered quite large. One of the main complaints was the entrance to the auditorium at screen end, but double sets of black-out curtains never seemed to be a major concern to me. A very early Espresso Bar in the foyer was a major attraction for the “hip” early 60’s audience it attracted with many important foreign films of the era, e.g. I Vitteloni, Woman Of The Dunes, Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, 81/2 and many other European and British hits. When all 3 cinemas came under corporate control the end was near. The former Embassy deserves much more acclaim for the product it introduced to many Melbourne film lovers.
Is there a current website for the Paris theatre with session details?
While happy this venue has been saved, this type of FOH publicity leaves me less than impressed.
Judging by the photo’s there seemed very littl rake for seating which must have resulted in bad sight-lines for busy screenings. Appears screen curtains were not a feature of this twin as well. Another sad loss, but nowhere near the tragedy of The Paris closure.
This is an absolute tragedy. During my visit to NY a decade ago The Paris was a glorious reminder of what cinama once was. Atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff, true showmanship presentation, screen masking, screen tabs that were actually used, and a wonderful indie movie that would probably never have received a theatrical release elsewhere. By comparison, my visit to the so-called “iconic” Ziegfeld theatre was a souless experience of less than a dozen audience members, screen curtains open to greet the audience with a blank screen devoid of any showmanship whatsoever. Can’t believe the outrage that was posted on CT when the Ziegfeld was facing imminent closure as opposed to the whisper of sadness of this magnificent cinema that brought such impoertant films to NY audiences over the past 70 years.