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Uploaded on: September 22, 2026

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Century Theatre 586 George Street, Sydney, NSW

September 21, 1939, The fire swept through the Century Theatre, in which about 1,000 persons were watching a movie.

While the occupants of the Crystal Palace Arcade and the Century were evacuated without alarm, seven people were trapped by the fire and had to be rescued by firefighters. The Century suffered water damage.

The Century continued to operate as a city cinema for another 30 years until it was converted into the amusement arcade “Dodgem City”. Eventually the whole Crystal Palace/Century building was demolished in the name of progress.

[Photo courtesy Museum of Fire]

Contributed by Greg Lynch -