CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

Originally the Murrumbeena Public Hall which, was funded by subscription and administered by the Caulfield City Council. Lessees of the hall included: Mr Les Crossling (1935-9); Messrs R. Dudgeon and Tom Mcmurtie (1939-47); Selleck and Ward (1947-54); Mr Ron Farmer (1954-61); Mr Vern Deutscher (1962); and Mr Maurie Isaac (1962-74).

The Argosy was originally controlled by Ron Dudgeon and Tom Mcmurtie who also operated an engineering business called Austral Argo (hence the venue name at this time). According to Ken Newell (2003) who used to work at the theatre, in the early years the Argosy did not use newspaper advertising. "It was the Selleck group that placed the programs in the independent theatre column of The Herald ''.

Demolished in 1988.

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
1946/7-1953/4 = 338
1954/5-1957/8 = 330
1958/9-1961/2 = 360
1962/3-1970 = 200
-1971 = 182

References
Catrice, D. 1991. Cinemas in Melbourne 1896-1942. Thesis (M.A.) Monash University, 1991.

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

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

Newell, K. 2003 'The Argosy Theatre' Cinema Record, no. 40, pp. 24-7.

Tulloch, K1999 'Murrembeena Public Hall' CinemaRecord, Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, no.23, p. 10.