Grand Theatre, Perth facts for kids

The Grand Theatre was a famous theatre and cinema in Perth, Western Australia. It was located on Murray Street. The theatre first opened its doors in September 1916. It entertained people for many years before closing in November 1980. The building was later taken down in March 1990.

The Grand Theatre's Story

The Grand Theatre officially opened on September 20, 1916. It was a big event! The theatre could hold 1,300 people. 1,000 sat in the main area, called the stalls. Another 300 sat in the upper level, known as the dress circle.

The Mayor of Perth, Frank Rea, opened the theatre. It was a special charity event to raise money for soldiers who were hurt. A "Soldiers Orchestra" played music. They also showed a movie called A Yellow Streak, starring Lionel Barrymore.

Building the Grand Theatre

The theatre was built for a businessman named Thomas Coombe. It had a beautiful Edwardian style. Architect Richard Joseph Dennehy designed the building. It cost about £20,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!

The main entrance was on Murray Street. It led into a wide hall with marble tiles and mirrors. A grand marble staircase was also inside. The main theatre room was very large. It was special because it had a roof that could slide open! This was done using a windlass, like a crank. There were also removable shutters on the side walls. These features helped keep the theatre cool by letting air flow through. The screen for movies was about 7.3 meters (24 feet) by 5.5 meters (18 feet). There was also another entrance facing Barrack Street.

Changes Over Time

At first, the Grand Theatre was independent. But later, it became part of a bigger company called Union Theatres. In September 1929, the theatre got new sound equipment. This meant they could show "talkies" – movies with sound! The first talkie shown was The Midnight Taxi on September 2, 1929. From April 1932, it mainly showed British films.

During the Great Depression, the theatre faced money problems. In 1931, it was sold for £82,000. It was then leased back to Union Theatres. But in 1932, Union Theatres couldn't pay the rent. So, the property owners took over the theatre. They formed a new company, the Grand Theatre Company. This company decided to run the theatre themselves. The Grand Theatre became a "churn house," meaning it played movies all day long.

Renovations and New Owners

The outside of the theatre changed a bit over the years. The brickwork was painted, and a new neon sign was added. The old fancy porch was replaced with a more modern one.

The inside of the theatre changed a lot! The first big renovation happened in 1938. Architect William T. Leighton oversaw the work. It cost £6,000 and took four weeks. During this time, the upper seating area (dress circle) was rebuilt. The aisles were made wider. Pillars in the main seating area were removed. New plaster was added, and the inside was painted in soft colors. The theatre also became one of the first in Australia to use neon lights throughout!

Another big renovation happened in 1949. The inside was completely updated and refurnished. The Grand Theatre Company later became City Theatres Pty Ltd. In 1973, a group of TV and entertainment companies bought City Theatres. This group included Michael Edgley International, Swan Television, and TVW Ltd. In 1978, TVW Ltd bought the company entirely.

Closing Down

The Grand Theatre closed on November 6, 1980. This happened because a new movie complex, Cinema City, opened nearby. After closing, the building became a family restaurant called Pizza Showtime. In 1984, it changed into an Asian food hall. Finally, the Grand Theatre building was taken down in March 1990.