Scone Civic Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scone Civic Theatre |
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Scone Civic Theatre, in 2015
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| Location | 144 Kelly Street, Scone, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1937–1938 |
| Built for | Scone Theatres Pty Ltd |
| Architect | Guy Crick and Bruce Furse |
| Owner | Fivedale Pty Ltd |
| Official name: Scone Civic Theatre | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 February 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1660 |
| Type | Cinema |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders | Mr A. F. Little |
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The Scone Civic Theatre is a historic cinema located in Scone, Australia. It was designed by famous architects Guy Crick and Bruce Furse. The theatre was built between 1937 and 1938. Today, it is a protected heritage site, added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2003.
Contents
History of the Theatre
Building the Cinema
The Scone Civic Theatre was planned in 1937 by architects Guy Crick and Bruce W. Furse from Sydney. They first designed a very large cinema. However, the company building it, Scone Theatres Pty Ltd, could not get the land they wanted. So, the plans were changed for a smaller theatre.
The new design allowed for 808 seats. Building started in December 1937. By July 1938, the cinema was almost finished. It was ready just in time for its grand opening. The building cost about £14,000, which was a lot of money back then! Many different people and companies helped build and decorate the theatre.
The theatre was officially opened on July 27, 1938. The first night was a special charity event. The money raised went to the Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone. Two movies were shown: Stolen Heaven and A Bride for Henry.
Scone Theatres Pty Ltd was a company started by local farmers and residents. They wanted to create a fun place for entertainment in their town. The local newspaper, The Scone Advocate, praised the company for their "boldness and faith". The theatre was seen as a sign of progress for Scone. People admired its modern design and comfortable features. It was even one of the first cinemas in the state to have full air-conditioning!
Fire and Renovations
In September 1954, a fire broke out in the theatre. It started under the stage. Firefighters quickly put out the blaze. The stage, screen, and roof were badly damaged. Luckily, the rest of the building was only slightly affected by smoke and water. The theatre reopened just two days later with a temporary roof.
After the fire, the theatre was renovated and painted. New curtains and a wider screen were installed in 1955. In June 1957, a special room was built to hold an emergency electricity generator.
The Shiralee Premiere
The Scone Civic Theatre hosted a very special event in 1957. It was the Australian premiere of the film The Shiralee. This movie starred Peter Finch and was filmed right in the Scone area!
Theatre Owners
The theatre was first leased to Mr. C. R. N. Owen. Later, the Coroneo family took over the lease. In 1963, Theo Mena Coroneo bought the theatre. The Coroneo family has owned the Scone Civic Theatre ever since.
Closing and Reopening
The Civic Theatre closed for a short time around 1983-1984. It reopened in 1988 after some small updates. It closed again in 1992 but reopened later that same year.
In 2018, work began to restore the outside of the building. The goal is to reopen the theatre as a place for many different community events.
Meet the Architects
Guy Crick (1901–1964) and Bruce W. Furse (1906–1967) were important architects. They designed many cinemas in Australia. Guy Crick learned a lot from Henry Eli White, another famous cinema designer. Crick and Furse worked together and designed about 30 new cinemas. They also updated around 50 existing ones.
Their designs were very modern for their time. They were known for using a style called "Moderne." They paid close attention to how the inside of the cinemas looked. This included the furniture, how the sound worked, and the lighting.
After 1940, Crick and Furse worked separately. They both continued to design buildings. Their work had a huge impact on how cinemas looked and felt in Australia.
What the Theatre Looks Like
The Scone Civic Theatre is a medium-sized building. It was designed in a cool, modern style from the 1930s. The outside walls are made of brick and covered with a smooth finish. The roof is made of a material called fibrolite.
The top of the building has a stepped shape. The word "Civic" was displayed vertically on it. A large round window on the left side lets light into a special lounge area. The building also has one small shop, which used to be a milk bar.
Inside the Theatre
The inside of the theatre is still very much like it was when it first opened. When you enter, you go through wooden doors with glass panels. The glass has cool Art Deco designs. The lobby has a ticket booth and a candy bar. The ticket booth has metal details with a circular pattern. This pattern is repeated on the staircase railings.
Near the stairs, there are some old Art Deco chairs and a small table. These add to the 1930s feel of the place. The "crush lounge" is a rectangular room with that big round window. It used to have a bar, but that's gone now. You can still see an old fridge with the cinema's logo on it.
The main theatre room has two levels. It originally seated 808 people. The seats on the lower level have been replaced. However, some original seats are still on the upper level. The walls of the auditorium have cool, abstract geometric patterns. These patterns go from the floor all the way to the ceiling. They are a special feature of Crick and Furse's designs.
At the back of the upper level is the "biograph room." This is where the movie projectors are. It still has two original 35mm projectors from around 1938! The original air-conditioning system is also still there on the outside wall, even though a newer system is now used.
Condition and Changes
As of 2003, the building was strongly built. However, it needed a lot of cleaning and painting, especially inside and out. The inside of the theatre, with its Art Deco details, has not been changed much over the years.
Some changes have happened:
- In 1954, a fire damaged the stage and roof.
- After the fire, the roof, ceiling, and stage were repaired. The theatre was also painted.
- In 1955, new curtains and a wide screen were put in.
- In 1957, a room for an emergency power generator was built.
- New air-conditioning was installed at some point.
- Small renovations happened in 1988.
Why the Theatre is Important
The Scone Civic Theatre is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is the last theatre still standing that was designed by the famous architects Crick and Furse. Its design is a great example of the "Inter-war Functionalist" style from the 1930s. It also looks great on Kelly Street!
The inside of the theatre is still mostly original. This means it helps us understand what cinemas looked like in the 1930s. It is one of the few cinemas left in New South Wales that still has its upper "dress circle" seating. It has not been divided into many smaller cinemas.
The two original projectors from 1938 are still there. They are very interesting from a technical point of view. The old air-conditioning system is also mostly intact. It is an early example of a full air-conditioning system from 1938.
The Scone Civic Theatre was built by the local community for local people. This makes it very important to the social and cultural life of Scone. It has been a central part of the community for over 60 years. A big highlight was when it hosted the Australian premiere of "The Shiralee" in 1957. This was an important event for Australian films.
The Scone Civic Theatre was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2003 because:
- It shows the history of cinema design in New South Wales.
- It is strongly connected to Guy Crick and Bruce W. Furse, important cinema architects.
- It has a unique and creative design, especially its old air-conditioning system.
- It is important to the local community and hosted the premiere of "The Shiralee."
- Its intact interior helps us learn about 1930s theatre architecture.
- It is rare because it's the last intact theatre by Crick and Furse.
- It is a great example of their important work.
