Kings / Barclay / Russell Cinemas, Melbourne
| Name | Kings / Barclay / Russell Cinemas, Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Address | 131 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 |
| Operation Dates | 1908-07-11 - 9999-12-31 |
| Capacity | 2588 |
| Suburban/Country | City |
| Purpose | Cinema |
| Screens | 6 |
| Roles |
1942-01-01 - 1951-05-01 : Exhibitor : Gaiety Theatres Pty Ltd
1951-05-24 - 1958-01-13 : Exhibitor : Paramount Film Services Pty Ltd
1958-12-12 - 1976-06-03 : Exhibitor : Barclay Theatres Pty Ltd
1978-01-01 - 9999-12-31 : Exhibitor : Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd
|
The Kings Theatre showed films from 1942-48 before going live again from April, 1949 to May 1951. During 1951 the auditorium was repainted and new curtains installed re-opening as a Paramount house (the Capitol had been the previous Paramount house) on May, 24, 1951. The King's closed 1958. (Mc Bain, 1983) The venue reopened in December 1958 as The Barclay and was operated independently by Sir Norman Ridge, the managing director of Greater Union. The Barclay released Paramount films and it wasn't until the 70s when it came under the control of Greater Union did non-Paramount films start being screened. (Walters, 2009) It closed again for 9 weeks on March 15, 1970 for further renovations. Reopened May, 14 1970 through to 1976. The theatre was demolished and is now occupied by Russell Cinemas and is still running today. Film Weekly records show the folllowing changes in seating capacity: References The Argus 1908, 'New Melbourne theatre', 8 July, p. 9. Bulletin, September 3 1908 Cinema & Theatre Historical Society 1997, Cinema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins. CATHS, Victoria. Film Weekly (3 May 1951, p. 5) reports the reopening of King's Theatre May 23 with the screening of Samson and Delilah Film Weekly (28 June 1951, p. 26.) reports on renovations Film Weekly (11 June 1970, p.9.) describes the newly renovated Barclay (reopened on May 14) Manzie, K 1951, 'Glamour opening for Par. in Melb.' Film Weekly, 31 May 1951, p. 1. Manzie, K 1953, 'Near record in Easter changes: 10 new bills,' Film Weekly, April 9, p. 16. Manzie, K 1953, 'Three-D in suburbs: Latest Melbourne moves,' "Film Weekly," September 3, 1953, p. 12. Mc Bain, I. Kino: journal of the Australian theatre historical society. vol. 5, Jul. 1983. p.16. The Sun 1959, 'Theater of memories is bowing out...', 12 February, p.15. The Sun 1958, '200,000 picture theater for city', 1 October, p.5. The Sun 1958, 'Hollywood touch at Barclay premiere', 12 December, p.46. The Sun 1951, 'Films for King's', 6 Apr., p. 8. Walters, T 2009, Melbournes Picture Theatres of the Past: Chelsea Barclay and Chelsea |
| Event Date | Name of Venue | Address | Latitude / Longitude |
Capacity | Suburban | Purpose | Screens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908-07-11 | Kings |
131 Russell Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 |
-37.813357 144.968075 |
City | Live Theatre | 1 | |
| 1942-01-01 |
|
|
Cinema | ||||
| 1949-04-01 |
|
|
1350 | Live Theatre | |||
| 1951-05-24 |
|
|
1386 | Cinema | |||
| 1957-01-01 |
|
|
1273 | ||||
| 1958-12-11 | Barclay |
|
|
1292 | Cinema | ||
| 1962-01-01 |
|
|
1054 | ||||
| 1965-01-01 |
|
|
950 | ||||
| 1971-01-01 |
|
|
1054 | ||||
| 1978-11-23 | Russell Cinemas |
|
|
2588 | 6 |
| Films | Distributor | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-02-24 - 1967-02-24 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-02-25 - 1967-02-25 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-02-26 - 1967-02-26 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-02-27 - 1967-02-27 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-02-28 - 1967-02-28 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-03-01 - 1967-03-01 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-03-02 - 1967-03-02 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-03-03 - 1967-03-03 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-03-04 - 1967-03-04 |
| Alfie | Paramount | 1967-03-05 - 1967-03-05 |