CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

The open-air Bega Picture opened as Bega's first purpose built cinema in October 2010. Until the building was enclosed in 1911 the Picture Palace moved operations to the School of Arts hall over the winter months.

In 1921 Mr E J O'Brien proprietor of the competiing Star Theatre purchased the business and renamed the cinema the Lyric Theatre. In 1923 the cinema closed for a period to allow for extensive renovations reopening under the name of the New Lyric in 1923.

In March 1931 The Lyric became the first cinema on the Far South Coast of NSW to introduce the Talkies.

The Lyric continued to operate unitl 1935 when competition from the newly elaborate built King's Theatre forced the closure of the business.

The building has since been demolished.

References:
Hanson, S 2008, ‘“Electrical wonders of the present age”: cinema-going on the Far South Coast of NSW and rural discourses of modernity’, honours thesis, Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong.

Parkinson, R 2010, Picture Shows on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, Robert Parkinson, Sydney.