Mayfair Theatre

167 Collins Street,
Melbourne, VIC 2009

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Greater Union Theatres, Hoyts Theatres, Loew's Inc.

Architects: Charles Neville Hollinshed

Functions: Retail

Styles: French Renaissance

Previous Names: Taits Auditorium, Metro Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Mayfair Theatre  167 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC - David Wayside & The Blue Bird

This structure was an eight storey building housing originally a concert hall, opening in 1913. The concert hall was demolished internally in 1933 and within its shell the Metro Theatre was built.

It was the first MGM/Loew’s operated theatre in Melbourne, and it opened in April 1934. An interesting feature of the design was that it was done in French Empire - Louis XVI style at a time when Art Deco style was all the rage.

The main entrance lobby had a patterned terrazzo floor in black and cream, the skirtings were of polished black Belgian marble and the walls were lined with Queensland walnut veneer.

The theatre changed its name to the Mayfair Theatre in 1975 when Greater Union took over, and it closed for good on 27th February 1982.

Contributed by Graeme McBain

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 16, 2005 at 4:43 am

The facade of the former Taits Auditorium building still survives. After closing as the Mayfair Theatre,the interior was either demolished or gutted and is used today as a retail unit and offices.

donald4564
donald4564 on August 10, 2006 at 8:55 pm

The “concert hall” showed pictures through most of its life and was known as “The Auditorium”. Lon Chaney’s “The Phantom of the Opera” played here in 1926.

woody
woody on December 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm

a photo of the exterior, the address being 167 to 171 Collins St.
Down the left hand side you can make out the faint faded ainted letters AUDITORIUM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4182591716/

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