Hoyts Esquire Theatre 238 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC – “Around the World in 80 Days” 1957.

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Hoyts Esquire Theatre 238 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC – “Around the World in 80 Days” 1957.

Image of “The Around the World” reserved seat ticket is from the Gil Whelan collection.

Change of policy – 1957 Represented a definite change of policy, with the upgrading of the Esquire in preparation for the screening of Mike Todd’s “Around the World in 80 Days”.

“Cinestage”, a 35mm process

“Around the World in 80 Days” screened at the Esquire in “Cinestage”, a 35mm process which produced a brighter & sharper picture than CinemaScope, with a marginally smaller aspect ratio. The result : an anamorphic print with 1.56 squeeze giving a ratio on screen of 2.2 to 1 – The Cinestage format was a reduction from the 65mm 24 fps. negative. In practice it uses the standard 4 track magnetic sound (AP) system, but with split surround. The change wiped out five rows of the front stalls. Projection equipment at the Esquire utilized Gaumont Kalee 21’s with Kalee Varamorph lenses, sitting in front of Mole Richardson arcs. The sound was Westrex with Perspecta intergrators.

The Esquire opened on Wed Oct 30 1957, for the gala charity premiere of “Around the World in 80 Days”. An impressive 15 month season followed which translated into 597 performances – Contributed by Greg Lynch –