Grand Theatre, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Theatre |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Theatre |
| Architectural style | Edwardian |
| Address | 164–168 Murray Street |
| Town or city | Perth, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′10″S 115°51′38″E / 31.952716°S 115.860522°E |
| Completed | September 1916 |
| Inaugurated | 20 September 1916 |
| Renovated | 1938, 1949 |
| Demolished | March 1990 |
| Cost | £A 20,000 |
| Owner | Thomas Coombe |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Richard Joseph Dennehy |
| Main contractor | W. Brine |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | William T. Leighton |
| Renovating firm | Baxter-Cox & Leighton |
| Main contractor | C. W. Arnott |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1,300 |
The Grand Theatre was a famous old building in Perth, Western Australia. It was a place where people watched plays and movies. Located on Murray Street, it opened in 1916 and closed in 1980. The building was taken down in 1990.
Contents
The Grand Theatre's Early Days
The Grand Theatre first opened its doors on September 20, 1916. It was a very large place, able to seat 1,300 people. There were 1,000 seats on the main floor and 300 in the upper section, called the dress circle.
The Mayor of Perth, Frank Rea, officially opened the theatre. It was a special event to raise money for soldiers who were hurt in war. A "Soldiers Orchestra" played music, and a movie called A Yellow Streak was shown.
Building Design and Features
The theatre was built in a style called Edwardian, which was popular at the time. A businessman named Thomas Coombe had it built. The architect, Richard Joseph Dennehy, designed it. It cost about £A20,000, which was a lot of money back then.
The main entrance was on Murray Street. It led to a wide hallway with marble tiles and mirrors. A grand marble staircase took visitors upstairs. The main theatre room was quite large, about 33.6 meters long and 15.2 meters wide.
One cool feature was its sliding roof, which could be opened using a special machine. There were also removable shutters on the side walls. These helped to let fresh air in and keep the theatre cool before air conditioning was common. The movie screen was 7.3 meters wide and 5.5 meters tall. There was also another entrance facing Barrack Street.
Changes Over Time at the Grand Theatre
At first, the Grand Theatre was independent. Later, it became part of a larger company called Union Theatres. In 1929, a big change happened: the theatre got rid of its live orchestra. It was updated to play "talkies," which were movies with sound. The first talkie shown was The Midnight Taxi on September 2, 1929.
Focus on British Films
By April 1932, the Grand Theatre became known as an "all-British house." This meant it mostly showed important films made in Britain.
Surviving the Great Depression
During the Great Depression, a tough time for the economy, the theatre faced money problems. In 1931, it was sold for £A82,000 to a company called Town and Suburban Properties Ltd. This company then leased it back to Union Theatres.
However, Union Theatres couldn't pay the rent in 1932. So, the property owners took over the theatre. On August 25, 1932, Town and Suburban Properties Ltd started a new company. It was called the Grand Theatre Company. They decided to run the theatre themselves instead of leasing it out.
This new company, led by James Stiles, grew over time. They leased other theatres and even built the Piccadilly Theatre. The Grand Theatre, being the oldest, started showing movies continuously throughout the day.
Major Renovations and Updates
The outside of the theatre changed a little over the years. The brickwork was painted, and a new neon sign was added. The old fancy metal roof over the entrance was replaced with a more modern one.
The inside of the theatre saw bigger changes. The first major update happened in 1938. An architectural firm, Baxter-Cox & Leighton, oversaw the work. It cost £A6,000 and took four weeks.
- The upper dress circle was rebuilt.
- Aisles between seats were made wider.
- Support pillars in the main seating area were removed.
- Old arches and decorations were covered.
- A new stage arch was put in.
- Upstairs landings became a smoking lounge.
- New ticket booths and glass doors were added.
- The inside was painted with new pastel colors.
The theatre also became the first in Australia to use only neon lights inside. Another big renovation happened in 1949, making the inside look and feel new again.
The Grand Theatre Company later became City Theatres Pty Ltd. In 1973, a group of entertainment companies bought City Theatres. This group included Michael Edgley International Ltd, Swan Television, and TVW Ltd. By 1978, TVW Ltd owned the company completely.
The Grand Theatre's Final Years
The Grand Theatre closed on November 6, 1980. This happened after a new movie complex, Cinema City, opened nearby. After closing, the building was turned into a family restaurant called Pizza Showtime. In 1984, it became an Asian food hall. Finally, in March 1990, the Grand Theatre building was demolished.
