Majestic Picture Theatre, Malanda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Majestic Picture Theatre
Majestic Picture Theatre, 2006
Location	1 Eacham Place, Malanda, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919 – 1930s (interwar period)
Built	1929
Architect	Bob Hassall
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Majestic Picture Theatre, Majestic Theatre
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	5 February 2010
Reference no.	601743
Significant period	1929 – ongoing
Significant components	cinema screen
Builders	Albie Halfpapp
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The Majestic Picture Theatre is a special old cinema. It is located in Malanda, Australia. This theatre was designed by Bob Hassall and built in 1929. A builder named Albie Halfpapp helped create it.

The Majestic Theatre is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is an important historical building. In 2016, it was still showing movies. It is known as Australia's longest running commercial cinema.

A Look Back: The Theatre's Story

The Majestic Picture Theatre was built in 1929. It has strong ties to the English family. They were one of the first families to settle in Malanda.

The English Family's Role

James English is often called the "founder of Malanda". He moved to North Queensland in 1907. He was looking for cedar timber. The Atherton Tablelands had lots of trees. This made his move very successful.

The Queensland Government helped families settle. James English used this to build his family's future. He started the Princes Sawmill near Malanda Falls. This mill cut timber from the cleared farms. It provided wood for many buildings in Malanda. These included shops, the Malanda Hotel, and the Majestic Theatre.

Malanda Grows and Changes

Malanda grew quickly between World War I and World War II. Local dairy farmers started their own butter company in 1919.

Patrick "Paddy" English was part of the English family. He saw a new type of entertainment growing. It was called "Cinematographe", or moving pictures. Paddy opened Malanda's first movie theatre on May 16, 1925. It was known by a few names, like Malanda Theatre.

The Gillies Highway opened in 1926. This brought more tourists to Malanda. Gold was also found nearby in 1928. This brought more money into the town.

Building the Majestic Theatre

In 1929, Paddy English built the new Majestic Picture Theatre. It was designed by local architect Bob Hassell. Albie Halfpapp was the builder. The theatre was made to be cool in the tropical weather. It had good air circulation.

The building was made of timber. It had a special roof shape called a Gabled roof. It was built using strong rainforest hardwoods. The theatre officially opened on December 14, 1929. The first movies were shown on December 21, 1929.

Many towns in Queensland built large movie theatres back then. These theatres often had fancy names like "Majestic". This name was inspired by grand cinemas overseas.

From Silent Films to Talkies

At first, Silent films were shown. A pianist played music live during the movie. Later, "talking pictures" came out. Paddy English bought a special sound machine called a Raycophone. Many Australian cinemas used these machines.

The Majestic Picture Theatre has always been run by independent owners. In 1933, the Pollard Bros bought it. They also owned another theatre. Jack Henson bought the theatre in 1939. He and his wife, Lil, ran it until 1969.

The War Years and Beyond

During World War II, many U.S. soldiers were in the area. The theatre became an important place for them. It was a social spot and a meeting place. Movie nights were held often. Soldiers also used the hall for dances. Newsreels were shown. These films kept everyone updated on the war.

After the war, movies stayed popular. Newsreels showed people important events. But in the mid-1950s, television arrived. This slowly made fewer people go to the cinema. However, this change was slower in country areas.

Projectors and Sound

For almost 60 years, the theatre used old Simplex 35 mm projectors. These were made in the early 1930s. They gave a good picture until 1984. One of these old projectors is now on display in the theatre lobby.

In 2000, the theatre's sound system was updated. It got a Dolby Digital Cinema Processor. This made the sound much better.

A Community Hub

The Majestic Theatre has also been used for community events. The Atherton Tablelands Cooperative Butter Association held meetings there for 47 years. It was even the place where dairy farmers decided to go on strike in 1947.

Changes Over Time

When television came to the Tablelands in the 1960s, fewer people went to the Majestic. The theatre struggled financially. The local Eacham Shire Council bought the building for $8,000. They wanted to keep it from closing. The Council has been in charge of its upkeep ever since.

In the 1980s, Video players and video rentals became popular. This further reduced movie attendance. In 1981, the Malanda Little Theatre Company leased the Majestic. They put on plays and also rented it out for movies. Sometimes, a market was held there too.

In 2010, movies were still shown regularly. The Malanda Theatre Company also continued to stage plays. In 2016, the theatre was still open. It continues to be Australia's longest running commercial cinema.

What the Theatre Looks Like

The Majestic Picture Theatre is a large timber building. It stands out in Malanda. It is near the Malanda Post Office and the Malanda Hotel.

Outside the Building

The front of the theatre has a special curved and stepped wall. This hides the roof behind it. The building stands on concrete stumps. Strong local rainforest timber was used for the frame, walls, and floors.

The front wall is covered with painted timber boards. You enter the theatre by three concrete stairs. The main entrance is set back. It has two doors with side windows. A frame for movie posters is on the wall. There is also a colorful mosaic mural. This mural was made for the Centenary of Federation celebrations.

A metal roof hangs over the footpath. Above this, four sets of windows let light into the projection room. Above these windows, a sign proudly says "Majestic Theatre".

The side of the building facing Catherine Street has metal sheeting. It has seven windows and three exit doors. Above the lower roof, more windows help air flow through the main movie hall.

The other side of the building is similar. It has three exit doors and five windows. There is also a door to the kitchen. A newer concrete block section holds the toilets. The back of the building is covered with corrugated iron.

Inside the Theatre

The inside of the theatre still has many original features. These include the entrance foyer, the main movie hall, and the projection room. It also has a mezzanine "dress circle", a stage, and dressing rooms.

The entrance foyer has shiny timber floors. The ticket box is on one side. The old 1930s Simplex projector is on display here. A kitchen is on the other side of the foyer.

Two doors lead from the foyer into the main movie hall. The hall has timber arches separating it from the side walkways. At the far end of the hall is a wooden stage. The walls and ceiling of the hall are lined with timber boards. A special timber lattice panel in the ceiling helps with ventilation.

The projection room is above the entrance foyer. The "dress circle" is on either side of it. This is a raised seating area. It has a solid railing.

The main movie hall has old oak-framed canvas seats. These seats can hold about 100 people. There are also newer steel-framed canvas seats for about 63 more.

The dressing rooms are on either side of the stage. They have windows and exit doors. They also have stairs to the stage. The walls in the dressing rooms are unpainted timber. They are covered with chalk drawings, especially in the male dressing room.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Majestic Picture Theatre was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2010. It is important for several reasons.

Showing Queensland's History

This theatre is one of the oldest movie theatres in Queensland that is still running. It helps us understand how entertainment has changed in Queensland. Before TV, movie theatres were very popular. They were places for fun and for people to meet. The Majestic Theatre is one of the few old theatres still showing movies regularly.

A Rare Example

The Majestic Picture Theatre is still very much like it was when it was built. It is a rare example of a "tropical" movie theatre from between the World Wars. This type of theatre design was once common but is now hard to find.

Key Features of Its Type

The Majestic Picture Theatre is a great example of a 1920s regional movie theatre. It was built to suit Queensland's hot climate. It used local rainforest timbers. Its inside and outside are still very original. It shows the main features of this type of building. These include:

• Its unique shape and curved front wall.
• The entrance foyer with its old ticket box and movie equipment.
• The projection room above the entrance.
• The large movie hall with its special ceiling vents, raised seating area, and old seats.
• The original stage and dressing rooms.

Images for kids

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  1930s Simplex projector, 2007