Can’t remember the Chuck Wagon deliveries but it still had a (vague) western theme in the early 80’s with wagon wheels etc scattered around the site. Clearly remember seeing “Tron” there and “The Odd Angry Shot”.
Going by Google streetview it seems to have been gutted if not demolished completely. It was subdivided into two levels in the 1970’s with the upstairs becoming a Roller-rink and downstairs an amusement arcade. After the rink closed it became a furniture store and stayed that way for many years. A sad loss.
What a sad loss this was and another example of the cultural vandalism committed by corrupt and useless officials acting in the interests of business. A familiar haunt in the 70’s for me as a kid. “Chariots of the Gods” sticks in my mind.
Evan, not sure if you mean the “floating restaurant” that was moored in Rose Bay? Can’t remember the name when it was Chinese (if that’s the one) even though I went there but I’m sure it started out life as “Flannigan’s Afloat” and might’ve been a theatre restaurant in it’s early days?
In the late 80’s it ran “Saturday Afternoon Double Features” in a hark back to earlier times, complete with rolling Jaffas down the aisles. Distinctly remember seeing “Thunderbirds Are Go! Sadly another one gone…
Remember seeing Battlestar Galactica there in the late 70’s in all its “SENSOROUND” glory. By that stage it was pretty unloved but still had good crowds. I think the “Sensorround” movies were Earthquake (which I also saw), Battle of Midway and, as mentioned, Battlestar Galactica. HUGE speakers at the front on either side of the screen made the place shake!
Bass Hill Drive-in in the early 80’s..ahh. P plates on the Monaro, girlfriend in the back seat etc etc. In its early days it had a playground down near the screen which even ran a small ride-on train. I can still smell the chips from the cafeteria now…
As somewhere I spent a lot of time as a child this was a sad loss. My Grandfather, through his time with MGM, was a close friend of the manager (known as Uncle Phil) who always took us up into the projection booth to see how the place worked. Saw lots of Disney films and always got free tickets to premiers. I remember the opening to one of the “Herbie” movies (sadly forget which one) and all the kids received a bag full of sweets, stickers and other Disney promo stuff. I think the last movie I saw there was “The Rescuers” in the late 70’s. Lots of great childhood memories in this cinema, even standing for the Queen either before or after the movie was shown!
A lasting pubescent memory of this theatre was during it’s final years. I think it must’ve been showing some of Russ Meyer’s work and adorned on the facade were a massive pair of fiberglass/ paper mache breasts, somewhere around 6 feet high. I regret not paying more attention now!
The building was still standing in the early 80’s and was a glass and perspex warehouse before it was demolished.
Can’t remember the Chuck Wagon deliveries but it still had a (vague) western theme in the early 80’s with wagon wheels etc scattered around the site. Clearly remember seeing “Tron” there and “The Odd Angry Shot”.
For a few years prior to its closing it was the site of the Trash'n'Treasure markets, held on a Sunday.
A bit more of Sydney’s Drive In’s can be found here https://maas.museum/inside-the-collection/2016/02/09/remembering-australias-drive-ins/
Going by Google streetview it seems to have been gutted if not demolished completely. It was subdivided into two levels in the 1970’s with the upstairs becoming a Roller-rink and downstairs an amusement arcade. After the rink closed it became a furniture store and stayed that way for many years. A sad loss.
What a sad loss this was and another example of the cultural vandalism committed by corrupt and useless officials acting in the interests of business. A familiar haunt in the 70’s for me as a kid. “Chariots of the Gods” sticks in my mind.
Evan, not sure if you mean the “floating restaurant” that was moored in Rose Bay? Can’t remember the name when it was Chinese (if that’s the one) even though I went there but I’m sure it started out life as “Flannigan’s Afloat” and might’ve been a theatre restaurant in it’s early days?
In the late 80’s it ran “Saturday Afternoon Double Features” in a hark back to earlier times, complete with rolling Jaffas down the aisles. Distinctly remember seeing “Thunderbirds Are Go! Sadly another one gone…
The converted “upstairs” section was still a pet shop last time I was there.
In the 70’s it was known as the porn cinema that was always open, yet no one ever seemed to go in or leave…
A sad loss indeed! I must’ve worn a rut in the pavement between here and the cinemas just around the corner in George Street as a kid.
When it was The Roma it seemed to run “This is Spinal Tap” forever! I think I remember it showing The Blues Brothers as well?
Remember seeing Battlestar Galactica there in the late 70’s in all its “SENSOROUND” glory. By that stage it was pretty unloved but still had good crowds. I think the “Sensorround” movies were Earthquake (which I also saw), Battle of Midway and, as mentioned, Battlestar Galactica. HUGE speakers at the front on either side of the screen made the place shake!
Bass Hill Drive-in in the early 80’s..ahh. P plates on the Monaro, girlfriend in the back seat etc etc. In its early days it had a playground down near the screen which even ran a small ride-on train. I can still smell the chips from the cafeteria now…
As somewhere I spent a lot of time as a child this was a sad loss. My Grandfather, through his time with MGM, was a close friend of the manager (known as Uncle Phil) who always took us up into the projection booth to see how the place worked. Saw lots of Disney films and always got free tickets to premiers. I remember the opening to one of the “Herbie” movies (sadly forget which one) and all the kids received a bag full of sweets, stickers and other Disney promo stuff. I think the last movie I saw there was “The Rescuers” in the late 70’s. Lots of great childhood memories in this cinema, even standing for the Queen either before or after the movie was shown!
A lasting pubescent memory of this theatre was during it’s final years. I think it must’ve been showing some of Russ Meyer’s work and adorned on the facade were a massive pair of fiberglass/ paper mache breasts, somewhere around 6 feet high. I regret not paying more attention now!