Moonee Ponds Theatre
Recollections of the Moonee Ponds Theatre, contributed by Graeme Bryant whose mother worked at the theatre
Workers
Evelyn Bryant worked at the Moonee Theatre from 1943 to 1965 - over 22 years. She spent most of the time in the Ticket Box with occasional stints as usherette. Six nights a week plus Friday and Saturday mornings. Theatres only closed on Sundays, Anzac day and Christmas Day.
Another lady, Nita Lawry, was there with her - she worked there for nearly 30 years.
Both ladies were retrenched when the theatre closed. It was a very sad day for all of the employees. TV had arrived and killed the theatres.
Unfortunately they are both now deceased.
Miss May Young and Mr Quinn were either owners or managers.
Another usherette was Lorraine Baylie, also deceased.
Most of the ushers would have been part timers, working to boosting their income.
One projectionist was Joe Durkin. Last heard of living in the Richmond area and very frail.
Running the Theatre
As a child Graeme sometimes got got into the 'bio' box and helped rewind the films. They had to rewind the films quickly as there was an exchange system with other local theatres showing the same film on the same night. Theatres took it in turns to show the main feature first and support second and vice versa so that this exchange could work. They were transported to and fro' by car or motorcycle. Every now and then there was a panic when the next reel failed to arrive in time. Reels were not joined on to one big reel as they are now but had to be set up ready to go in a second projector and cut in when the second 'star' flashed on the screen.
The projectionist had to be very agile and artistic. There was a real routine - to play Mantovani records while the patrons came in & were seated - using an actual turntable: then fade music, fade lights, open curtains, show the Val Morgan slide ads, close the curtains, reopen them, play the 'God Save The King' film strip followed by the news and then start the film. It normally required two people to do all this. The slide projector for ads was a large glass format - it was possible to write up a slide to call people out of the theatre. In fact, there was a doctor who was called out of the theatre to deliver a baby using this method.
Entertainment
Back in the 50's they used to get Full Houses and turn people away . It was essential to make a booking for some films. Many people had permanent bookings and were referred to as "Mr & Mrs J7&8" or similar. The ticket box was open every Saturday to take bookings. As a child Graeme used to sit in the ticket box with his mother, playing with the pennies in the cash bowls. He also collected empty drink bottles left in the theatre and took them back to the AA Milk Bar for refunds.
On Fridays, in the 40's there was Community singing with a lady whose name was Nellie Collie.
In the 50's they also had the kids matinee on Saturday afternoons, which included serials and westerns.
They used to have a large Christmas party for shareholders, staff and regular patrons who filled the foyer. The party had to be held on a Sunday, there were no pictures on Sundays then.
The Moonee Ponds Theatre was regarded as 'reserved' and didn't show that 'tripe' that the Waratah showed. They once showed a film with the song 'Rock around the Clock' in it and the audience began to dance in the aisles. It was only on for one night as the management did not want that behaviour in the theatre.