CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Huskisson Literary Institute, the site of Huskisson Pictures, was built by the Dent family, locally-based ship builders in 1913 for the benefit of employees (Huskisson Pictures 2011). Film exhibition has taken place in the hall since at least 1914, initially courtesy of a variety of travelling show companies. A projection box was installed in 1930 however exhibitors continued to bring their own equipment into the 1940s (Parkinson 2005, pp. 44 – 45). The 1949 “Film Weekly Motion Picture Directory” (Film Weekly 1936 -1971) lists Huskisson Pictures, exhibitor Albert Crowe, licenced to seat 283 people, in its register of Australian theatres suggesting that by this date a more permanent arrangement had been arrived at.

The building was adapted to accommodate CinemaScope around 1974.

In August 1990 the building was extensively upgraded transforming the hall into a permanent cinema licenced to seat 179. Care was taken to preserve as much of the original exterior as possible. The cinema is still in operation screening at least several times a day (Huskisson Pictures 2011).

References:

“Film Weekly Motion Picture Directory”, Film Weekly, Sydney, 1936 – 1971.

Huskisson Pictures “About Us” http://www.huskipics.com.au/huski_about.html accessed 6/3/2011

Parkinson, R. J 2005, Silver Screen in the Shoalhaven, Robert James Parkinson, Sydney.

Thorne, R, Tod, L & Cork, K 1996, Movie Theatre Heritage Register for New South Wales 1896 – 1996, Department of Architecture, University of Sydney, Sydney.