Hoyts Windsor Theatre
1 Albert Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3181
1 Albert Street,
Melbourne,
VIC
3181
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hoyts Theatres
Architects: H. Vivian Taylor
Firms: H. Vivian Taylor, Soilleux & Overend
Styles: Art Deco, Streamline Moderne
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Located in the south Melbourne district of Windsor at the corner of Albert Street and Peel Street. The Hoyts Windsor Theatre was officially opened by the Mayor of Prahran (Cr. R.J. Grant) on 17th April 1936 with an invited audience. The public opening took place on 18th April 1936 with Claudette Colbert & Melvyn Douglas in “She Married Her Boss”. The new theatre adjacent to Chapel Street and the Windsor Railway Station had replaced the Theatre Royal in Chapel Street, the lease of which had expired.
The day before the opening George Griffith, circuit director of Hoyts Theatres Ltd. conducted an official party through the new theatre, the front of which presented an illuminated facia, a glistening unique chrome ball of green light representing the ticket-selling office in the main foyer. The stalls were sloped in a fan shape, measuring 120ft wide at the rear and 40ft to the proscenium. Hot water foot warmers were installed, both in the stalls and dress circle. Simple elegancy in design and construction resulted in a splendid streamlined Art Deco style which was a tribute to the architects H. Vivian Taylor & Soilleux and Overend. Seating was provided for 1,395 with 820 in the stalls and 561 in the circle, with a crying room that was sound proofed and exterior in its ventilation for children could seat 14.
The Hoyts Windsor Theatre was sadly closed in 1962 with the advent of Television and it became a video store (possibly operating in the foyer?). It was demolished in 2019. A large modern building has been built on this unique corner site, which is made up of units & offices.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Located at the triangle where Peel & Albert Streets met, The Hoyts Windsor was adjacent to Windsor train station and Chapel Street shopping precinct. In the 1990s it was operating as a video store in the enormous stalls of the auditorium with racks fanned out from the doors to the stage, the cashier was located in the lobby/foyer. Demolished to make way for a boring apartment block, despite many objections.