As Invermay's Star Theatre prepares for a new lease of life, ZONA BLACK takes a look at some of Launceston's other dormant cinemas and theatres.
At a point in Launceston’s history, the city was brimming with theatres and cinemas.
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People had standing Saturday night seats, and it was an affair to don one’s finest garb for a night at the theatre.
Rumours even abound that there was a George Town family that would row a boat up the Tamar River and back just to attend.
As television crept into homes, cinemas and theatres around the country began to close their doors. The same happened in Launceston.
Today, some former theatres are well-known, and some may come as a surprise.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE
The National Theatre on the corner of Paterson and Charles streets is one of the most visible former theatres.
Its facade still proudly displays its title (and was even recently repainted), even though it has not operated as a theatre since 1969.
It was built in 1915, and hosted city institutions such as the Launceston Competitions for some years.
The Launceston City Council owned the theatre, but went on to sell it in 1969, due to financial difficulties.
The council would go on to buy the Princess Theatre in 1970. Printing company Foot and Playsted bought the building for $56,000, and still operate there today.
THE MAJESTIC THEATRE
Next in line in notability behind the National is the Majestic Theatre, in what is now the Brisbane Street avenue.
Like its neighbour the Princess, the Majestic was owned by Greek entrepreneur Marino Lucas.
It was built and opened in 1917, and was built especially for cinema – in contrast to others, which could switch between cinema and theatre.
During its early days, the theatre would show silent films.
While many musicians would drop in to provide soundtracks and music for the films, the most well-known was the Corrick family.
The family, Albert and Sarah Corrick, and their eight children, were from New Zealand, but found fame in Australia in the early 1900s.
They moved to Launceston in 1915, and the Corrick Orchestra was a regular at the Majestic.
As film technology advanced, the theatre was given an overhaul in the 1930s.
Sadly, 1970 was a bad year for theatres in Launceston. This was the year the Majestic and the Princess shut down within a week of each other; they just couldn’t compete with television and radio in the home.
The Majestic was bought by Neil and Don Pitt, who opened Neil Pitt’s Menswear in its place, and still run it today.
A projector from the cinema’s heyday was returned to it in 2012, and remains on show.
LYCEUM THEATRE
The theatre space at 95 St John Street was first known as the Theatre Royal when it opened in 1857.
At this stage in its life, it could accommodate 800 theatre goers, and the street-level of the building housed the London Coffee and Chop House, which fed and watered the patrons.
It operated under this moniker until 1878.
For a time, it became the Odd Fellows’ Hall, before reopening under the new name of the Gaiety Theatre in 1886.
It was also known as the Bijou Hall, before it was transformed again, opening as the Empire Theatre in 1902, in the midst of the film rush.
The fluidity of the building continued, and it was renamed the Lyceum Theatre in 1910.
For a decade, it screened silent films, accompanied by an in-house band.
In the 1920s, it was time for another change – it became a billiard saloon.
This was its longest stint, with eight tables the original installation.
It closed in the 1970s, and became a dance studio in 1985.
Today, you’ll find Launceston dance company Stompin on the top floor, and Kameo Coffee Lounge on the bottom floor.
Many of its theatrical elements remain, including ticket box windows.
THE PLAZA THEATRE
In the present day, the Plaza Theatre exists only in memory. It opened in 1937 on George Street, near the Paterson Street intersection.
The building itself was built in 1886, and operated as the Academy of Music before it was revamped into a cinema.
It could seat about 900 people, and operated as a picture theatre for about 30 years.
The theatre screened movies from some of the biggest distributors of the day, including Metro Goldwyn-Myer.
When it re-opened as the Plaza, in 1937, The Examiner described it as “most modern theatre in Tasmania, equal to any of the smaller theatres in mainland cities for comfort and efficiency”.
In 1964 it was demolished to make way for more shops.