Hoyts Waratah Theatre

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Uploaded on: June 5, 2019

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The memories of Bob Phillips – Producer of “In Melbourne Tonight” & “The Don Lane Show”.

Time frame early 50’s

I tried desperately to get a regular job with “HOYTS”, but had to be content with relief assistant operator’s work at some of Melbourne’s best and worst hard tops, as distinct from the newly popular drive-ins. Whilst still at school, I would often get a call from “HOYTS” head office only an hour before show time to grab a cab and race over to locations such as “HOYTS” New Malvern, The Trocadero Footscray, or the old Waratah in Ascot Vale – sadly most of these grand old movie houses vanished with the advent of TV. By this time Television had jolted the cinema industry, like a blow from a giant hammer.

Graham Kennedy was already King of Melbourne Television, Brian Henderson' Bandstand was booming, and a TV Dinner in front of Disneyland on a Sunday night was the norm. Never again would those grand old theatres display the house full signs, that they carried so proudly in the boom times of the 30’s & 40’s. The remaining cinemas suffered staff cuts, reduced screenings and even the ignominy of toilet paper rationing.

I was called out to a relief shift at the old Waratah one Saturday night, and at 8.00 pm our only patrons were an elderly couple sitting in the front stalls. At 8.15 the management went down to them, and very nicely apologized, explaining that there would be no screening tonight. For the Waratah it was almost time for the last picture show ! – Author Bob Phillips – Extract taken from his book “Like No Other Business” (50 Years of OZ TV). – Contributed by Greg Lynch with permission from Bob Phillips –