CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Robert Mc Leish, built the first Rivoli, Camberwell Theatre in Camberwell at 481 Burke Road, in 1921. By 1940 he opened the new Rivoli. In June 1949 the Rivoli suffered minor fire damage and in 1954, widescreen was installed. In August 1967 Todd AO projectors were installed and screen brought forward , which resulted in a loss of around 300 seats. In 1968 the theatre was divided into two. Opening as the Rivoli Twin Cinemas on Boxing Day of 1968. In 1983, control of the theatre passed from Mc Leish family to Village Theatres. On April 26 1999 the cinema closed for refurbishment which would include 6 more screens. The new Rivoli opened on Thursday 4 May 2000.

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
1946/47-1953/4 = 1644
1954/5-1965/6 = 1642
1966/67 = 1332
1969/70 -71 = 732(Rivoli 1) & 400 (Rivoli 2)

References

1967 'Rivoli Revived' in Showman, September 15, p.5.
'Engaging art deco' Sunday Herald Sun 21 May 2000, p. 95

Film Weekly (15 August 1968, p.1.) reports Junction Theatre Co. has agreed to enter into a joint operating company in which Village Drive-in Ltd and the Junction Theatre Co. will take up shares. Announced by Junction managing director R. J. Mc Leish.

Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1946/7-1971

Johnson, L 1999 'Credits roll but the Rivoli will return with a view to arthouse glory days' The Age 27 April, p. A7
Craig, R 2009 'Rivoli Theatre up for grabs', Age, March 20.
Gillman, J 1987, 'Those were the days...' The Progress Press, 20 January
Lambert, C 2000 'A silver screen revival' Sunday Herald Sun 30 April p, 87
Lindsay, N 2004 'Palace of celluloid dreams takes a bow' Weekend Financial Review 24 July, p. 5
Ryan, T 2000 'The death of the arthouse', Age, May 14, p.7.
'New Rivoli is luxurious opening today at Camberwell' The Argus October 11, 1940 (opening tonight)

Parr, B 1977, 'Along film row', Australasian Cinema, 4 November, p. 6. (references closing of venue)
Thorne, R 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, pp.316-317.
Tod, L 2005, 'Rivoli Cinemas', Kino: cinema quarterly, no.95, pp.8-10.

2000 'Opening soon! Melbourne's most loved cinemas return' Age, 14 February, p.4 (advertisement)
Uebergang, K 2004, 'Cinema named one of best in the world' Herald Sun, 23 July, p. 3