A few memories from the early years of the Capitol Theatre and office complex in Swanston Street, Melbourne. Officially opened by the Lord Mayor, Councillor William Brunton, at a gala event on Friday, November 7, 1924, the ceremony was also attended by the Premier, Mr George Prendergast, and the United States Consul - General, Mr Maxwell Blake. Owned by prominent Victorian business identity Anthony Lucas in partnership with American showmen the Phillips brothers and others, the building was designed by Chicago - born architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin, in consultation with the local firm of Peck & Kemter.
Constructed at a total cost of £580,000, distinguished film-maker and historian Joan Long stated in her book "The Pictures that Moved" (Hutchinson, 1982) that the Capitol was the first, true "picture palace" in Australia. An outstanding example of Art Deco architecture, its cinema remains famous to this day for its unique and spectacular "ceiling of lights" . Indirectly lit , it was used in conjunction with original orchestral scores in the silent era to add extra dramatic impact to the presentation of movies. Thousands of lamps of different colors producing light that changed through all the hues of the spectral range were hidden among the plaster panels creating a crystalline cave effect. It was another creative tour de force handled with great skill and imagination by the Griffins. The Capitol was also home to the first large Wurlitzer organ that was imported to Australia.
The Phillips brothers - Herman, Leon and Harold - originally from Spokane, Washington, were leading figures in the Australian entertainment industry from the Edwardian era through to the 1950s, having also established St. Kilda's Luna Park, Palais Theatre and Palais de Danse ballroom along with other, similar, ventures in Sydney and Adelaide.
My blog is currently being updated with new content being developed including a new index. As part of this process, the Phillips biography is also being expanded and is not available at the moment . However, I had the pleasure of interviewing long time Melbourne radio and television personality Peter Smith a few years back . Peter started his career at the Palais Theatre in the 1950s and he shared his recollections of the Phillips with me on that occasion. The relevant chat can be found via this link .....
backinthedayblogspot.blogspot...
Sources materials used in this video :
Music :
Stars and Stripes :
Google - Free download - Public Domain
www.mostfreebies.com/TheStars...
Robert Wolfe plays the music from "42nd Street'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_8Ao...
Photo Sources :
Pic 1 : Days Gone By blog
Pic 2: Helen Kemter
Pic 3: Flickr
Pic 4: Wikipedia
Pic 5: Whatsonblog Melbourne
Pic 6: Simon Brand
(from the book "Picture Palaces and Flea Pits")
Pic 7: Simon Brand
Pic 8: Simon Brand
Pic 9" Simon Brand
Pic 10: Simon Brand
Pic 11: The Guardian
Pic 12: Pinterest
Pic 13: Griffin Society
Pic 14: Google
Pic 15: State Library of Victoria
Pic 16: Simon Brand
Pic 17: Senses of Cinema
Pic 18: Simon Brand
Pic 19: Wikipedia
Pic 20: Ross Thorne
(from the book "Picture Palace Architecture in Australia")
Pic 21: Days Gone By blog
Pic 22: Days Gone By blog
Pic 23: Days Gone By blog
Pic 24: Days Gone By blog
Pic 25: Wikipedia
Pic 26: The Guardian
Pic 27: Hidden Melbourne
Pic 28: RMIT
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol...
• RMIT Capitol Theatre: ...
31 июл 2024
