CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

"The more diminutive Chelsea was located at 285/287 Homer Street near Collingwood Avenue. It opened on Wednesday the 16th of October 1940 with seating capacity for 824, and was also listed for closure in 1958.

However and thanks to Earlwood's ever growing Greek community it did not share the same fate as its older sister the Mayfair. Subsequently it was renamed the "Ellas". A large neon sign was erected on the facade and Greek feature films were screened for a number of years

From 1975 to 1977 it came under the ownership of well known Greek personality Mr. Harry Michaels, however Harry chose to then show English speaking films and it was during this period that, amongst other things, it was used by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to launch a campaign speech." (Sullivan, J)

Located in the south-west Sydney suburb of Earlwood. The Chelsea Theatre was opened in May 1926. It was re-modeled in the 1930’s in an Art Deco style.

By 1981/1982, it was operating as the Atlas Theatre. Since closing in around 1979, it has been in use as a liquer store and supermarket, known as Earlwood Wines.

Please Note: This is the information coming up for the Atlas Theatre- which appears inconsistent and confusing.

Venue: Screening Policy
This was a venue for Greek film screenings.

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

Sullivan, J 'The Mayfair and Chelsea Theatres', viewed 2 June 2010, http://photosau.com/canterbury/scripts/genericIncluder.asp?filename=info/SullivanTheatres

Cinema Treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35322