Comments from Robhat

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Robhat
Robhat commented about Broadway Theatre and Gardens on Oct 31, 2024 at 3:38 pm

Robert hatfield was my grandfather. Interestingly he was also one of the original picture show men. I met Michael and Alice several times and they were a lovely couple. Their deli was wonderful.

Robhat
Robhat commented about Shenton Theatre and Gardens on Oct 31, 2024 at 3:31 pm

Popcorn_pete. You are correct. This cinema was in fact owned by my family (Hatfield family) in conjunction with the Wembley Theatre, the Empire Theatre (Leederville) and the Cameo Gardens. We would not have been the original owner (the family owned a a different string of theatres in the thirties) but whilst the grand patriach (R.F. Hatfield) died in 1942, his sons reinvested in the business after the war and I believe the Shenton Park fell into their hands then.

Robhat
Robhat commented about Empire Theatre and Gardens on Oct 31, 2024 at 3:22 pm

My family owned this cinema. My father was the manager projectionist for quite sometime.I spent many hours there. My family owned several movie theatres at that time, including, the Wembley (became Wembley Lodge), the Empire, the Cameo Gardens and the Shenton Park. At one stage in the late thirties the family owned and operated the Broadway and the Windsor in Nedlands, the Princess in Claremont and the Swanbourne. All of these were sold as a package in 1939. The business was a huge part of our lives.