Athenium Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athenium Theatre |
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| Location | The Broadway, Junee, Junee Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1929–1929 |
| Architect | Kaberry and Chard |
| Owner | Junee Shire Council |
| Official name: Athenium Theatre; Broadway Theatre; JADDA Centre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 January 2004 |
| Reference no. | 1687 |
| Type | Theatre |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders | J. Nyssen |
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The Athenium Theatre is a special building in Junee, Australia. It used to be a theatre and a cinema, but now it's a community hall. It was designed by a company called Kaberry and Chard and built in 1929. People also know it as the Broadway Theatre or the JADDA Centre. The local council, Junee Shire Council, owns it. This historic building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 9 January 2004, which means it's protected because it's very important.
Contents
Discovering the Athenium Theatre's History
How the Athenium Theatre Began
The Athenium Theatre opened on 10 October 1929. It was built by J. Nyssen. The idea for the theatre came from Nicholas Laurantus, who wanted to create a chain of cinemas. He partnered with Ben Cummins from Junee. Nicholas put his younger brother, George Laurantus, in charge of managing the new theatre and another one nearby called the Lyceum.
George Laurantus was very involved. He did everything from booking films to projecting them. His wife sold tickets and kept records. The theatre opened just two weeks before the Great Depression started, which was a tough time for everyone. However, when sound films became popular, more people started coming to the cinema.
The Theatre's Busy Life
For over 50 years, before TV arrived in 1964, the Athenium Theatre was a major entertainment spot. It wasn't just for movies! It also hosted live shows, dances, and social events because its floor was flat. Famous artists like Gladys Moncrieff performed there.
During World War II, the theatre showed newsreels, which were like short news videos. It also helped encourage people to support the war effort through special events and posters. The theatre was even used during the day for dancing lessons.
George Laurantus was great at promoting the theatre. He made big advertisements in the local newspaper. He would show different movies throughout the week, often with two films, a newsreel, and cartoons. Films arrived and left by train, sometimes 15 or 16 films a week!
The Athenium Theatre also served as a community hub. For example, in 1935, it hosted a big event for the Junee Railway Jubilee. This included a film, medal presentations, a concert, and dancing until the early morning. This shows how important the theatre was to the town.
Snacks and Changes Over Time
Back then, theatres didn't have their own candy bars. People would rush to a nearby cafe, like the Allies Cafe, during intermission to grab milkshakes, ice cream, or chocolate. The same Greek owner ran both the cafe and a small milk-bar inside the theatre building, which was a smart business move.
In 1940, Robert Tilby Begg took over the theatre. Later, in 1950, R. J. and E. E. Pollard bought it and renamed it the Broadway. They sold it in 1954 to Albert Thomas Manion, whose son Kevin and his wife Yvonne managed it.
In 1959, a big change happened: the "proscenium" (the arch around the stage) was removed. This made the screen wider for new Cinemascope films. The theatre changed owners again, and by 1971, its license was cancelled, and the building was put up for sale.
Saving the Athenium Theatre
In 1975, a group called the Junee and District Development Association (JADDA) was formed. In 1977, JADDA bought the Athenium Theatre for $20,000, with the local councils becoming its trustees. The community raised $45,000 more to fix it up for indoor sports and social events. A new license was issued.
However, JADDA faced some challenges, and the Junee Council eventually took control of the building. In 1986, some changes were made to "modernize" the building, which unfortunately removed some of its original decorative features. For example, lights and neon signs were taken off the front, and the ticket box was removed.
In 1998, the outside was repainted, and the kitchen was updated. Part of the money came from the NSW Heritage Office. Sadly, the theatre closed again for a while due to insurance issues.
In 2003, the Junee Shire Council wanted to knock down the theatre to build a new medical centre. But the community fought back! The building was given a temporary heritage listing and then officially listed on the State Heritage Register, saving it from demolition.
After being saved, the building was reopened and refurbished. It went back to its original name, the Athenium Theatre. In recent years, the community has continued to support it. In 2016, it received a new screen and a grand piano. In 2017, volunteers renovated the dress circle, which had been closed for over 20 years. In 2018, it received funding for new lighting and sound systems. Today, you can hire the Athenium Theatre as a community hall.
Greek Immigrants and Cinemas
The Athenium Theatre also tells an important story about Greek immigrants in Australia. Many Greek people came to NSW before World War II and often started businesses like cafes in country towns. Some of them, like the Laurantus brothers, then moved into the cinema business.
Running a picture theatre gave these immigrants a respected place in their communities. They helped bring entertainment and news to rural areas. Nicholas and George Laurantus were great examples of this. George loved managing the Junee theatre and was very creative with promotions. He even painted billboards for the films himself! He was a real asset to Junee.
Exploring the Athenium Theatre's Design
The Athenium Theatre has a wide, impressive front that stands out in Junee. When you enter the town from the north, you can easily spot it across the railway tracks.
The Outside Look
The building is made of brick with a smooth, cement-rendered front. It has a large, overhanging awning with a deep sign area. Below the awning, there are two shopfronts and doors leading into the theatre. The shop windows are made of glass, and the tiled pillars (called piers) have been painted over. The theatre's main doors have beautiful leadlight glass at the top.
Above the awning, there are double pillars (like "slimmed-down" pilasters) that support a decorative top section (an entablature) and a small cornice. Below this, there's a row of seven windows. Two windows on each end light the back of the dress circle, and the three central ones are for the projection box. These windows used to have many small panes, which gave the building a classic look.
Originally, the theatre had special lamps on the front and neon lights outlining the sign and pillars. There was also a continuous strip of white neon lights under the awning.
The sides of the building used to have sliding wooden panels (like shutters) instead of windows. These could be opened for ventilation. The current windows are more modern and don't quite match the original design.
The Inside Look
When you step inside, you'll find a small front lobby. The main stairs to the dress circle are on the right. The original ticket box was a freestanding glass booth, but it was removed in 1978. Now, there's a simple "hole-in-the-wall" ticket window.
Large double doors lead into the main auditorium, where the stalls area is. The floor here is made of timber and is flat, which is perfect for dancing and indoor sports. The dress circle, which is the upper seating area, hangs over the back of the stalls.
The design of the dress circle is typical of the architects, Kaberry and Chard. The front of the dress circle (the balustrade) used to be plain, but it has been decorated by others over time. The original stage opening (the proscenium) was like a "picture frame" with a decorative pattern. In 1959, this was removed to make the opening wider for Cinemascope films.
The walls inside have a rough plaster finish with a classical "egg and dart" pattern on the ovolocornice moulding. The inside of the old wall shutters had a geometric pattern, similar to what you see on the upper panes of the front doors.
The ceiling of the theatre was designed in a clever way to be both strong and decorative. It used to have a beautiful geometric pattern with latticework panels. These panels helped hot air escape into the roof space. Unfortunately, this decorative ceiling was covered or replaced around 1978.
The stage is relatively small, but it's big enough for live performances. The dress circle has fixed, upholstered seats, which were typical for the 1930s.
The two shops next to the theatre entry have been changed. One is now a storage area for chairs, and the other is a kitchen and refreshment bar that opens into the back stalls area. These changes were made in 1998.
Special Decorations
The architects who designed the theatre used a classical style. However, some parts of the decoration, like the "Art Deco" style patterns and the vine-leaf motifs on the dress circle, were added later. These were likely added around 1935, possibly by George Laurantus himself.
The trellis and vine motifs might represent traditional Greek decorations, like grape vines trained on trellises. George Laurantus was from the Greek island of Kythera, and his family believes he wanted to add a "Greek stamp" to the theatre. He loved managing the Junee theatre and was very proud of it.
Even the name "Athenium" (a slightly changed spelling) has Greek roots, referring to the temple of the goddess Athene, which was a place of learning. The original stage curtains were deep blue with large, decorative "A" and "T" letters.
While some parts of the theatre have changed over the years, the main structure is still intact. This means it still has its original theatrical feel and is a great example of its kind.
Why the Athenium Theatre is Heritage Listed
The Athenium Theatre is very important to the history and culture of New South Wales for several reasons:
- A Glimpse into the Past: It's one of the few remaining theatres of its kind. It reminds us of a time when "movie going" was a huge part of people's lives in the 20th century. Cinemas were where people learned about fashion, design, music, and current events.
- Connected to Important People: The theatre is linked to Sir Nicholas Laurantus, a Greek immigrant who was a successful businessman and helped many people. It also shows how Greek immigrants, like George Laurantus, helped provide entertainment for Australian communities. Famous singer Gladys Moncrieff also performed here, connecting it to a golden age of Australian stage shows.
- Unique Design and Creativity: The theatre stands out and is easily recognized as a theatre. It's a landmark in Junee. Its unique vine and trellis decoration, likely added by George Laurantus, shows the influence of Greek culture. The architects, Kaberry and Chard, were forward-thinking in their design, moving towards a simpler, more functional style.
- A Community Hub: The Athenium Theatre has always been a social center for Junee. It's one of the first towns in NSW where the community came together to buy their theatre for public use. The Junee and District Development Association (JADDA) raised money from local people to buy and fix up the building, showing how much the community valued it. It acted like a town hall, hosting many important social events.
- Rare and Special: Very few country cinemas from its era still exist in NSW. The Athenium Theatre is one of only a handful that still look like original theatres with decorative interiors and exteriors. It's also one of only three remaining relatively intact theatres designed by the important architectural firm Kaberry and Chard. This makes it a rare and valuable example of a past way of life.
- A Great Example: With its wide front and impressive, yet modest, design, the Junee theatre is a superior example of buildings constructed at that time in towns of its size. It perfectly shows the main features of theatres designed by Kaberry and Chard.
The Athenium Theatre is considered to be of State significance because it meets these important criteria. Even with some changes over the years, its main parts are still intact, keeping its original theatrical feel.
See Also
- Montreal Community Theatre
- Roxy Theatre, Leeton
Images for kids
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The Athenium Theatre in Junee.
