CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Her Majesty's had been the 'Alexandra' until 1900 (briefly renamed The Queens in 1897) and was built by Jules Jaubent in the 1870s. It was leased by James Williamson in 1900 as His Majesty's he died in 1913. Management of His Majesty's continued under the Tait brothers. 'The Firm' owned the venue from 1915 until 1976. A major fire in 1932 closed the theatre but the stage area was used as a movie studio by Frank Thring for his Eftee Film Productions. The theatre was redesigned and opened in 1934. (Miller & Wolfenden, 2003)

Name change occurred in 1954 in honour of the Queen.

Venue: Other Information
(Argus, 1934) (Bertrand I Cinema file: 205-219 Exhibition St. unpublished research)
'Her Majesty's' closed and renovated, reopening as 'His Majesty's' in July 1934 (Bertrand, I Cinema file: 205-219 Exhibition St. unpublished research).

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

Hill-Douglas, O 2002, 'Melbourne's artistic elite bow before Her Majesty's', The Age, May 06.

Miller, B & Wolfenden, P. 2003 'Caths vists Her Majesty's' Cinema Record no. 40, p. 9.
Usher, R 2002, 'British actors to crown relaunch of Her Majesty's', The Age, February 13 p.3.
Usher, R 2002, 'King of Her Majesty's', The Age: The Culture, 26 April, p.1, p.3.

'A new era of magic', 8 page lift-out in The Age, Sunday 18 April 2010.