Lyceum Theatre 214 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW – Spencer’s Theatrescope Co acquired the Lyceum theatre from April 4th, 1908

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Lyceum Theatre 214 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW – Spencer’s Theatrescope Co acquired the Lyceum theatre from April 4th, 1908

Photo 1908 – From the collections of the State Library of New South Wales [A4816001 / SPF/2745] (Mitchell Library)

NOTES - Charles Cozens Spencer (12 February 1874 – 1930) was a British-born film exhibitor and producer, who was a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry. He produced films under the name Spencer’s Pictures and was an early backer of the films of Raymond Longford. He was also instrumental in the creation of “The Combine”. Spencer first arrived in Australia in 1905. He opened the Great American Theatrescope at the Lyceum Theatre in Sydney and eventually turned the Lyceum as a permanent picture theatre from June 1908.

He made a fortune exhibiting The Great Train Robbery in Australia and soon became the leading exhibitor in the country. He moved into production, establishing a permanent production unit under Ernest Higgins in 1908. Initially focused on documentary shorts and newsreels, he moved into funding dramatic feature films, starting with The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger (1910).

He was an early supporter of director Raymond Longford who directed The Fatal Wedding (1911) for Spencer. The success of this film enabled him to set up a £10,000 studio complex in Rushcutter’s Bay, Sydney, where Longford made his next couple of features. By 1912 he was the largest importer of films in Australia and helped popularise the medium in that country.

Contributed by Greg Lynch –