CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Located right next to the Malvern tram depot. Began as the Embassy in 1935 running under Stanhope Theatres. In the 50's the venue was purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). In 1972 the building was bought by a company owned by Mr Spurling and leased to the Dendy cinema chain. Changing hands again in 1978, the cinema reverted back to the name Metro, under the ownership of Anthony Zeccola.

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
1946/47-1950/51 = 1365
1952/53 = 1172
1953/54-1959/60 = 1332
1960/61-1961/62 = 1306
1962/63-1971 = 1337

References
Australasian Cinema (5 May 1978, p. 8.) reports "May 4th will see the 'demise' of our last Independent Circuit. Dendy Cinemas at Forest Hill and Twins at Knox City and Croydon, will from that date be under the Village Theatre banner...Dendy Malvern from June 1st will be under the managment of Ross O'Reagan and Tony Zeccola."

Cinema & Theatre Historical Society 1997, Cinema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins. CATHS, Victoria.

Cree, N 1993, 'Embassy/Metro/Dendy', Kino: journal of the Australian theatre and historical society, no. 44, pp. 24-7

Croggon, A 1984, 'Curtain closes on a tradition in cinema', The Herald, 14 July.

Film Weekly (9 February 1950, p.1.) reports Embassy has been sold to MGM. The first suburban theatre in Melbourne owned directly by an American company. Seating capacity listed as 1365.

Film Weekly, (Jun 6 1950) references the change of name and management " Metro quietly took over the Embassy Theatre, Malvern last week..."

Film Weekly (19 October 1950, p.14) reports new screening policy introduced by MGM

Film Weekly. Film Weekly motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1946/47-1951/52

Film Weekly. Film Weekly motion picture directory, Film weekly, Sydney. 1953/54-1971

Herald and Weekly Times. The Herald Melbourne, Herald and Weekly Times , Melbourne. (Jan 1947- June 52)

Herald and Weekly Times. The Herald Melbourne, Herald and Weekly Times , Melbourne. (Jan 1953- June 71)

Herald and Weekly Times. The Herald Melbourne, Herald and Weekly Times , Melbourne. (Jan 1972- Jan 1978)

Manzie, K 1950, "MGM buys Melbourne suburb show", Film Weekly, 9 February, p. 1.

Manzie, K 1952, 'Big opening for Metro Malvern with "American"', 17 April, p. 3. This article reports on the re-opening of the Embassy theatre as the Malvern Metro.

Manzie, K 1953 'Devil debut provides grade-A pubcy material,' "Film Weekly", May 14, 1953, p. 13.