CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

History of the venue begins in 1856 as a large Concert Hall. The venue changed names some seven times operating as the Tivoli Theatre before they moved to Grote Street.

It opened as the Adelaide Star on September 6, 1913. Bud Atkinson was the proprietor at this time. "On 13 November 1915, the Adelaide Star screened for the last time in King William Street and reopened at the Queen's Hall in Grenfell Street two days later"(Walker, p.56)

In 1915 Ben J Fuller succeeded in obtaining a lease from the then owners, A.E & F. Tolley. The Majestic opened in 1916. In 1931 Fuller leased his first-run houses to Warner-First National and their use of the cinema commenced with The Dawn Patrol. In September 1951, Celebrity Theatres Pty. Ltd. became the new lessees of the theatre. Up until then, the Majestic functioned primarily as a professional 'live' theatre, alternating with seasons of films. The manager at this time was known as Chick Arnold.

On 24 November 1967, the premises having undergone some renovations, re-opened as the Celebrity Theatre Restaurant. City Projects Pty Ltd. became the new lessees and re-opened it in 1969 as the Warner Theatre, operating as a cinema and as a live theatre venue. It closed on 31 March 1979, and from 14 June, 1979, Highway Drive-In Theatres Pty Ltd subleased the theatre until the lease finally expired in 1980.

Film Weekly records the following changes in seating capacity:
1946/7 = 1003
1949/50 = 1021
1953/4 = 1013
1956/7 = 1083
1958/9 = 1003

Fullers till 1949/50; open again in 53/54 under Celebrity Theatres

References
Adey, J 2000, 'A grand old lady', Kino Cinema Quarterly, no. 73, p. 8
Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1946/7 - 1965/6 (not listed 1950/1, 1951/2 & 1952/3
Walker, D. Adelaide's silent nights