Gladesville Palace Theatre

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Uploaded on: February 7, 2021

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Soon after James Park opened the Palace, it came under the control of the Szarka Bros. - who also controlled cinemas in Enmore, Arncliffe and Hurlstone Park. Just as the Palace was opening in January 1926, the Szarkas had been selling their interest in the nearby Drummoyne Kismet (and Randwick Kismet too). Later that year negotiation took place with Union Theatres, but in April 1927 the Szarkas joined the Betts Group (Balmain/Rozelle/Bondi/Clovelly) in selling all their venues to Hoyts, in a deal negotiate by Hoyts N.S.W. Manager L. S. Snider. Strangely for a company in expansionist mode, Hoyts sold their Gladesville Palace interest 18 months later to George B. Dean - an independent exhibitor newly arrived from Tasmania. Seven years later Snider left Hoyts to join George in creating the Snider & Dean Theatre Circuit, which operated the Palace until selling it back to Hoyts in 1955. (This was probably the last cinema acquisition by Hoyts before the arrival of television in 1956. Mass closures commenced within 18 months).