AUSTRALIAN

CINEMAS
Last year, there was an estimated 91.3 mil-
lion admissions sold to films across Austral-
ia, which averages out to around 3.8 film ad-
missions per person. Per person Australia is
considered to be one of the worlds biggest
consumers of film. It reflects the intercon-
nectedness of film and cinemas in Austral-
ias culture.
Film didnt begin as we know it today it under-
went a a full transformation as the technology
surrounding it only continues to improve. The
journey of film to Australia began in the mid
1890s via the Kinetoscope, a small camera like
viewing device. On November 30th 1894 at 148
Pitt Street in Sydney, James McMahon created
the first Kinetoscope parlour and for a shilling Man Looking into a Kinetoscope,
people could watch a variety of short films via
undated, CATHS archives
the eyepieces. Australians were taken with at-
tendance in the first 5 weeks being between
22,0001 and 25,0002 visitors. From this McMah-
on then later took his Kinetoscope on tour
across Australia to great success and later re-
turned back to Sydney in 1896 where we see
the emergence of film projectors across Austral-
ia.

Internationally, the first commercial screenings

of short films via the new film projectors took
place in France: three days after Christmas in
1895, the Lumire brothers began showing their
motion pictures to a paid audience, the first of
these was simply called Paris. One year later
projected films had reached Australian shores,
on 22 August 1896, magician Carl Hertz is cred-
ited to be one of the first people to show a film
for a paying audience. At Harry Rickards Mel- Marcellin Auzolle, L'Arroseur Arros,
bourne Opera House (later known as the Tivoli 1895. The world first feature length film
Theatre).3 poster
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
The film was screened with a series of other per-
formances, in a variety show type format. The
medium proved popular and films were being
Australia seemed taken with the idea of moving
pictures and storytelling and soon it devel-
oped an industry of its own. The first films the
nation produced were factual in nature and were
focused on events like Queen Victorias Jubilee

celebrations and cultural events such as the
Melbourne Cup. In 1898 the Salvation Armys by 1900 the foundations of a film industry
Limelight Department began to produce short in Australia had been laid. Most European
story films incorporating songs, instrument solos
and lectures. The presentations were often seen producers had Australian sales representa-
as a form of media that spread religious propa- tives; production facilities were established;
ganda under the guise of entertainment. Admis-
sions from these screenings helped to raise and patterns of exhibition pioneered. The
money for the Salvation Armys at the time and movies were soon so much a part of Aus-
proved very successful. During 1899 the presen-
tations grossed over 1,500 if inflation is calcu- tralian life that the basic wage deemed
lated in 2017 this would be 181,593 (over them one of the necessities of our frugal
$300,000). 2
comfort. - Sabine (1995)

During the early 1900s theatres with the capa-

bility to show films where emerging all though
out major cities but film was also beginning to
emerge in rural areas. There was a rise in pro-
jectors and equipment incorporated into travel-
ling variety acts. One of the more successful
companies was run by the Corrick Family whom
started touring in 1902 all over Australia with
their film projector for over 13 years. By the end
over this period they are believed have amassed
over 100 titles in the collection.3
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
In 1906, the permeance of cinema in Australia cheaper than West and Spencer, at
became more apparent T.J. West was the first threepence for adults and a penny for children,
man to construct a purpose-built hall for the pur- it was open from 11 am to 11 pm and was able
so show a large variety of content. Williams
pose of showing films. Prior to this, films had business model boomed by 1915, he owned
been exhibited at a range of alternative venues, close to 20 of these types of cinemas operat-
including converted shops, rented halls and ing mainly in Sydney he attracted large audi-
tents4. In 1906, Australia was privy to a world ences, and single handily pushed prices down
first it is credited with what is believed to be the across the industry making cinemas much
more accessible. 9
first feature-length fictional film, The Story of the
Kelly Gang, directed by the Tait brothers.
The film was released the same year, the film
had box office success in both Australia and in-
ternational markets such as; British theatres and
it reportedly recouped its budget of 1,000 many
times over. 5 Between 1906 and 1914 (outbreak
of World War I), motion picture exhibition in Aus-
tralia flourished, some even referring to it as es-
capism from tragedy of war6.

By 1910, T.J. West had established 14 perma-

nent cinemas throughout Australia and his ven-
ues were estimated have audiences of 20,000
per night. 7 By 1911, Wests business rival, Co-
zens Spencer, also had an established chain of
cinemas across the country. The average size of
these theatres typically ranged from 2,000 to
4,000 seats, much larger than any modern cine-
ma. In these early stages of these establish-
ments, ticket prices in comparatively high com-
pared to other countries. Tickets were around 12
times higher in Australia than in the US. Though
ticket costs varied depending on seats, mainly
from one to three shillings which was based on a Theatre Poster - The Story of the Kelly Gang - a 1906 Aus-
general location to reserve a seat it could cost
tralian film Melbourne Athenaeum Archives
up to four shillings8.

In 1909, the game changed again with J.D. Wil-

liams opening Australias first day and night cin-
ema. Admission was relatively cheap, much
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
In 1911, the industry continued its rapid
growth Sydney was home to around 100 perma-
nent and temporary cinemas. Records also
show that Melbourne in the previous year, there
were reportedly 25 permanent cinemas in the
city which could house over 50,000 people.10

In 1912, the first colour films reached Australian

shores. These short films featured Australian
scenery and everyday life, they were shot by the
US-based National Colour Kinematograph Com-
pany using its patented Kinemacolor technolo-
gy.11 However, due to the high cost of purchas-
ing a colour projection system combined with the
lack of films to show with it, colour films were
slow to reach Australia and not widely exhibited Melbourne athenaeum theatre, Melbourne
in Australia for another 40 years. 12 1886, Melbourne Athenaeum Library
By 1913, the Melbourne Argus reported that on
an average Saturday night admissions to Mel-
bourne's and local suburban cinemas were aver-
aging around 65,000.13 In 1919/20, cinema ad-
missions had reached an all-time high of 67.5
million. Finally by, 1919, there was 750 picture
theatres in Australia. 14

Cinema frieze continued to grow

by 1921, cinema firmly taken the position as
Australias favourite form of entertainment. We
can say this because during this year the cine-
ma made the largest contribution to entertain-
ment tax receipts, with 68 million admissions.
This outnumbered the roughly 16 million admis-
sions for the next two preceding activities com-
bined which were live theatre and the horse
races respectively. 15 Cinema-going was also
shifting an become more of a suburban activity. Hoyts Regent theatre , Sydney , 1981, CATHS
In NSW, there was around 11 million admissions archives
at suburban cinemas. Whilst in comparison
there was less than 8 million at city cinemas16. It
is estimated that, during the 1920s with a popu-
lation of just over 6 million, there were 2.25 mil-
lion cinema admissions per week, which
amounts to yearly grossing of 117 million. 17
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
In 1928, the arrival of commercial talking pic-
tures from major film companies provided a
massive boost for cinema attendances by
around 70 percent whilst admissions for other
forms of entertainment all showed that they
were in decline.18 Experimental films with syn-
chronised sound had been first shown in Aus-
tralia in the late 1890s. The films were played
on converted Kinetoscope machines (known
as Kinetophones) that were fitted with cylinder
phonograph mechanisms. Only 45 Kineto-
phones were sold worldwide and just five
reached Australia. The quality of the dialogue
sync was poor and, as a result, these ma-
chines and their films never became popular.
19

By early 1930, the effect of the Depression be-

gan to be felt in the cinema industry. By mid-
1930s, profits for cinemas had reached their
lowest points, the resulting fall out included a
reduction in the labour force and salary reduc-
tions 20.In 1932, It was documented
that admissions to the cinema fell by 46 per
from the previous year21. By March 1936, in an
attempt to keep individuals coming to the cine-
ma 1,334 of Australias cinemas were adapted
to include sound, they were one of the first The Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne , 1956,
companies to fully adopt sound.22 HAT archives
Between 1938 and 1940, a general downturn
in exhibition was occurring for the first time,
with films taking longer to return profits then
previous decades23. Later with the outbreak of
World War II, increasing numbers of Australi-
ans turned to the cinema for escapism as was
the case during the first world war. Be-
tween 1942/43 and 1944/45 the number of ad-
missions rose by around 50% from less than
102 million to an estimated 151 million.24
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
In 1942, a turn for the better in the film industry
occurred with Greater Union Theatres reporting
its first considerable profit in over a decade. 25
With this new age of prosperity, The first drive-in
theatre in Australia opened Hoyts Skyline drive
in cinema was located in Burwood in Melbourne
in 1954. Two years later the number of drive-ins
increased faster than any other form of cinema
by growing up to 23 across Australia. The suc-
cess of drive-ins lay is linked to the in the in-
crease in car ownership, affordability and the
baby boomers rush of marriages and children. It
was the increase of pricy, and easy accessibility
for families making cinema-going easier for par-
ents of young children. 26 The golden age of cin- Burwood Skyline Saturday Night, undated, David Kilderry
ema however was coming to an end as the first Private collection
television station to begin regular transmission in
Australia. Known as TCN 9, which was based in
Sydney, began regular broadcasting on 16 Sep-
tember 1956. The rapid decline in cinema at-
tendances in the late 1950s is attributed largely
to the introduction of television.27
In 1957, cinema attendances dropped by 5 mil-
lion in Victoria and by 1961 this had also
dropped by more than half compared to attend-
ance records from 1956. This trend continued
across the rest of the country by 1959, 33 per
cent of Melbournes cinemas and 28 per cent of
Sydneys were reported to have closed. 28

By the mid-1960s, cinema attendance began to

show signs of recovery to previous levels.
By 1965, the cinema industry had shown that it
was making a full recovery with more than 1,000
cinemas across the nation grossing around $50
million per annum. Australia, on a per capita ba-
sis, was one of the leading cinema-going nations Burwood Skyline merry go round , undated, David Kilderry
in the world.29 Australia proved to be a lucrative Private collection
mark for film makers in 1974, figures from over-
seas film makers indicated that Australia had
become the third most important market for US
films after the UK and France (moving up from
fifth place in 1973).30
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
n 1975, colour television was introduced and by
1978 two-thirds of households in Sydney and
Melbourne had colour sets. The new allure of
colour television together with economic reces-
sion are cited as the primary causes of the 35
per cent drop in national cinema grosses in 1976
31. In 1976-77, there were 884 cinemas in Aus-
tralia, of which 280 were drive-ins and 219 were
hard tops (conventional cinema buildings) in
the major cities. Video began to make its mark in
Australia though by the late 1970s. and film at-
tendance dropped off once more to the lowest
levels since commercial film making and many
cinemas and in particular the drive in industry
of which was almost completely disappeared-
closed.32

Like all its previous challenges cinema had al- Burwood Skyline entry instruction, 1958, David Kilderry,
ways recovered though and it had once again Private collection
by 1984, 26 per cent of Australian households
had a video playing machine and this growth
was created a negative effect on cinema attend-
ances in the mid to late 1980s which have only
began to bounce back by the mid 1990s, which
in turn leads us to a point in which many see the
cinema today.

Family watches TV in the Living room, 1950, Origi-

nal photographer Unknown
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
In 1975, colour television was introduced and by
1978 two-thirds of households in Sydney and
Melbourne had colour sets. The new allure of
colour television together with economic reces-
sion are cited as the primary causes of the 35
per cent drop in national cinema grosses in
1976. In 1976-77, there were 884 cinemas in
Australia, of which 280 were drive-ins and 219
were hard tops (conventional cinema buildings)
in the major cities. Video began to make its mark
in Australia though by the late 1970s. and film
attendance dropped off once more to the lowest
levels since commercial film making and many
cinemas and in particular the drive in industry
of which was almost completely disappeared-
closed.

Like all its previous challenges cinema had al-

ways recovered though and it had once again
by 1984, 26 per cent of Australian households
had a video playing machine and this growth
was created a negative effect on cinema attend- Screenshot , 1906 The Story of the Kelly Gang , The
ances in the mid to late 1980s which have only Guardian
began to bounce back by the mid 1990s, which
in turn leads us to a point in which many see the
cinema today.
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
1.Scott Murray(ed.) 1994. Australian Cinema, St Leonards, Angus & Robertson. P.231
NSW: Allen and Unwin in association with the Australian 27.Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian Cine-
Film Commission. P.5 ma: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson. P 210
2.James Sabine (ed.) 1995. A Century of Australian Cine- 28.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians at
ma. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann Australia. P.12 the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW: An-
3.Barrie King and Bruce Hodson, undated. Travelling Ex- gus & Robertson. P.226
hibitors: The Corricks, National Library of Australia, Guides 29.Ibid
to the Film Studies Collection; published online.
4.Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian Cine- 30.Cinema Papers)
ma: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson. 31.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians at
5.Ibid the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW: An-
6.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians gus & Robertson. P.264265
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW: 32.IBid
Angus & Robertson. P.10
7.Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian Cine-
ma: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson.
8.Ibid
9.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW:
Angus & Robertson. P.17
10.John Baxter 1970. The Australian Cinema, Angus &
Robertson. Betrand, Ina (ed.) 1989. P.32
11.ibid P.33
12.Ibid P.35
13.Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian Cin-
ema: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson.
14.Baxter 1970
15.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW:
Angus & Robertson. P.219
16.James Sabine (ed.) 1995. A Century of Australian Cine-
ma. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann Australia. P.36
17.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW:
Angus & Robertson. P.214
18.Ibid
19.Long, Chris 1993. Australias First Films: Fact and Fa-
bles Part 2, Cinema Papersno. 92: April.
20.Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian Cin-
ema: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson. P.108
21.Ibid P.108
22.Ibid p.210
23.Ibid p.219
24.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW:
Angus & Robertson. P.226
25.(Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983. Australian
Cinema: The First Eighty Years, Angus & Robertson.
P.170
26.Diane Collins 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians
at the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde, NSW:
 AUSTRALIAN
CINEMAS
SOURCES
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1997. Australian
Demographic Trends 1997, Canberra: Australian
Government Publishing Service.
Baxter, John 1970. The Australian Cinema, An-
gus & Robertson. Betrand, Ina (ed.) 1989.
Cinema in Australia: A Documentary History,
Kensington, NSW: New South Wales University
Press. Cinema Papers, MarchApril 1975.
Collins, Diane 1987. Hollywood Downunder:
Australians at the Movies 1896 to the Present
Day, North Ryde, NSW: Angus & Robertson.
King, Barrie and Bruce Hodson, undated. Trav-
elling Exhibitors: The Corricks, National Library
of Australia, Guides to the Film Studies Collec-
tion; published online.
Long, Chris 1993. Australias First Films: Fact
and Fables Part 2, Cinema Papersno. 92:
April.
Murray, Scott (ed.) 1994. Australian Cinema, St
Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin in association
with the Australian Film Commission.
OBrien, Terry 1985. The Greater Union Story
19101985: 75 Years of Cinema in Australia,
Sydney: The Greater Union Organisation Pty
Limited. Royal Commission on the Moving Pic-
ture Industry in Australia, 1928. Canberra: Gov-
ernment Printer.
Sabine, James (ed.) 1995. A Century of Australi-
an Cinema. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann
Australia.
Shirley, Graham and Brian Adams 1983.
Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years,
Angus & Robertson.
Screen Australia, Australian Government.
Industry Trends, Accessed October 2017
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND IMAGES
Australian film Melbourne Athenaeum Archives ,
Theatre Poster - The Story of the Kelly Gang - a
1906 , <https://victoriancollections.net.au/
items/55dfdcbf2162f1256483db52>
Marcellin Auzolle, L'Arroseur Arros, 1895. Collins,
Diane 1987. Hollywood Downunder: Australians at
the Movies 1896 to the Present Day, North Ryde,
NSW: Angus & Robertson
A special thanks to David Killderry, Cinema
and Theatre Historical societies ( CATHS)
and the History of Australian Theartre Ar-
chives (HAT archives) for there assistance
in obtaining imagery for this work. Access/
view their Website/archives contact them
via below
http://www.drive-insdownunder.com.au
http://www.caths.org.au/
http://www.hat-archive.com/