Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
380 Military Road,
Sydney,
NSW
2090
380 Military Road,
Sydney,
NSW
2090
13 people
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Fringed main curtain no longer used, just silver travellers. Other auditoriums are also lacking screen tabs now as they break down and young manager feels they are no longer necessary. So sad.
December 8th, 1987 reopening ad in photo section.
Definitely not the place to see films in 70mm. Very small uncurved and slanted backwards screen(due to the steep angle of projection.)
It is the jewel in the crown of Australian Art Deco picture palaces. The detail in the refurbishment is extraordinary. I took several photos of some of the light fittings which can be found on this page.
You can tour the theater on their web site. Beautiful photo’s of all the auditoriums and public spaces.
Too bad none of the photo links work anymore.
This is what a multi screen cinema should look like. If more owners were to spend the money and the attention to detail it would bring back the magic and escape of going to the movies. This place embodies all of the qualities of the old picture palaces and none of the cookie cutter attributes of the modern multi screen cinema.
Good on ‘ya Australia! from what ive seen on my visits down under in cities like Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and of course Sydney- these guys know how to look after the treasures they have.
Jim, The white fringe was new and purchased from the UK some years back. As impressive as the curtain looks in the photo this theatre is located in the balcony only and as such does not have much in the way of length/drop, but the owners should be commended for taking the trouble to create something immaginative in this city. The red main curtain is backed up by silver satin travellers. The original theatre had a fly tower with the main curtain rising vertically, this is no longer possible as that area is occupied by rented space.
I believe the main auditorium (pictured) seats around 700.
The photo caption is right about the “luscious” auditorium with that wonderful contour curtain shown opening. Few theares can boast such a lavish and beautiful curtain, and I wonder where they found that 4-foot-deep white fringe? If it were made by such experts as Scalamandre Silks in New York City, it would cost about US$3000 per yard! This shows one reason so few theatres ever restore the original textile ornaments. Add to this the cost and pains of flameproofing, and they are out of reach.
Wow what an ornate ceiling!
A souvenir booklet or at least a set of postcards is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.