CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

In the early 1900s, the site was called the St. Georges Hall. The floor space was leased to any one who wanted to put on a show. During this time it was also used to screen novelty films- this turned out to be very popular, so much so that when the movie industry started to flourish, the proprietors of Hoyts (which were leasing the building) decided to build their new theatre there. The Hoyts De Luxe theatre was opened in 1915.

"On the 15th of November 1946 the De Luxe was renamed the Esquire Theatre. It opened with The Spanish Main, six weeks, followed up with The Bells Of St. Mary's, eight weeks, The Spiral Staircase, six weeks, Caravan, Five weeks, ... " (Walters p. 212)

According to Walters (p. 215) Hoyts closed the Esquire for renovations on the 19th of October 1957 and re-opened October 30, 1957.

The Esquire was the only theatre on the Hoyts circuit at the time that was deemed suitable for the new big screen productions.

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
1946/7 = 1764
1949/50 = 1576
1964/5 = 1216
1968/9 = 1125

References

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

Film Weekly (18 September 1969, p.6.) reviews the history of the Esquire, stating that in 1907 it was known as St Georges Hall. A year later it was leased to Dr Arthur Russell, a Hoyts theatre founder who called it Hoyts De Luxe (c1919).

Kumm, E 1994, 'De Luxe architecture found', Trust News, v.23, n.3, December, p.18.

Manzie, K 1953 'Near record in Easter changes: 10 new bills,' Film Weekly, April 9, p. 16.

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

Smith, I & White, E 2005 'The peoples popular picture palace: from Deluxe to Esquire' CinemaRecord, Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, no. 46, pp. 21-9

Stevens, J 1976, 'The charge of the magic light brigade', April 22. (Bertrand, I Cinema file: 235 Bourke St. (unpublished research)).

Thorne, R 2002, 'De Luxe', Kino Cinema Quarterly, no. 80, p. 12
Thorne, R 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, pp.135-136.

Walters, T 2009, The Picture Palaces of Melbourne, pp. 212-8