45-542: Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was an Australian feature film production company. Established in June 1931, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred on Greater Union Theatres that covered all facets of the film process, from production to distribution and exhibition. Cinesound Productions established a film studio as a subsidiary of Greater Union Theatres Pty Ltd based on the Hollywood model. The first production
90-531: A budget of £15,000. However this was abandoned because Cinesound were unsure whether the ban against bushranging films still applied. In 1935 it was announced the film would be one of four movies made by Cinesound in response to the New South Wales Film Quota Act (the others were Thoroughbred , Tall Timbers and Lovers and Luggers ). The film was announced again in late 1936 and late 1937. In 1938 Hal Roach announced plans to make
135-648: A bushranger story called Captain Midnight in Hollywood; Hall reminded that he had the rights to Robbery Under Arms . (Roach made an original story called Captain Fury ). William Freshman and his wife were bought out to Australia in 1939 to work on projects for Cinesound, including Robbery Under Arms , although Hall was still to direct it. These plans were postponed by the advent of World War II and Cinesound's withdrawal from feature film production in 1940. After
180-569: A cinema with a small number of seats. Village Cinemas first originated the concept of Gold Class, and has since popularised with the integration into the Event Group. All Gold Class Cinemas are operated in separate areas within regular cinema complexes. Event Gold Class branded cinemas are located at: In Australia: In Fiji: In New Zealand: V-Max cinemas feature enhanced film display, picture quality, and immersive surround sound. The screens at V-Max used to be
225-667: A larger screen, and alternate content including Bollywood films, football, gaming, film festivals, opera and stand-up comedy events. Within Fiji , Damodar Event Cinemas is a joint venture between Village Cinemas , and the Fijian-based Damodar Brothers, who operate the existing two-cinema chain under licence since 2010. The brand has since changed its name to "Damodar Cinemas". Event Cinemas operates cinemas in New Zealand's major urban centres, including
270-487: A major local film producer, and Australian film production was almost non-existent for the next two decades. In 1940 the Australian Government decided to channel news footage to the public through the existing newsreel companies, Cinesound and Movietone . In the same year Cinesound abandoned feature production for the duration of the war. By this stage it was estimated Cinesound films had earned £400,000 at
315-468: A minimum width of 25 meters or greater, however, that was lowered to 20 metres in 2010. V-Max cinemas are placed in large auditoriums which feature larger seats, stadium seating and wider arm-rests. Some locations also feature Dolby Atmos . The V-Max format is also provided at many Event Cinemas sites in Australia and New Zealand. V-Max Cinemas are usually separate from the normal cinema complexes, like
360-486: A significant impact on the Australian culture and film industry , and has a history of mergers and acquisitions and liquidations that span over a century. From 1906 to 1911, during the silent era , Australia was the most prolific producer of feature films in the world, a period which included the creation of the first feature-length film The Kelly Gang . This creative and fertile period in Australian film history
405-466: A studio in Melbourne at St Kilda. In 1936 they announced they would make six films a year, with one unit devoted to shooting outdoor movies. In the end the quotas did not prove effective enough to support such a program, although Cinesound kept making movies until 1940. In February 1939 a company was registered, Cinesound Features Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of Cinesound Productions Pty. Ltd, to produce
450-470: Is currently available at Event Cinemas George St (Sydney CBD). On August 15, 2023, Event Cinemas announced that ScreenX would come to Australia for the first time. It opened at Event Cinemas Robina on the 17th of August. It later opened at Event Cinemas Campbelltown later that year on 14 December (in time for the Australian release of Wonka ). Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor seasonal exhibitor that operates in most Australian metropolitan areas. Moonlight
495-676: Is the largest movie exhibitor in Australia and New Zealand , with over 140 cinema complexes currently operating worldwide. The Greater Union Organisation is a subsidiary of EVT Limited (formerly known as Event Hospitality and Entertainment) which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange , a corporation that owns and operates brands in the entertainment, hospitality and leisure sectors, mainly within Australasia . The Event Cinemas cinema chain has had
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#1732786884355540-663: The Cinesound Review , a newsreel that they had been generating to exhibit alongside their feature films. After the war, the British businessman J. Arthur Rank bought a controlling interest in Greater Union , and used the theatre chain primarily to exhibit British films, including those from the Rank Organisation , whilst discouraging local feature production. Hence Cinesound never regained its place as
585-735: The Embassy Theatre in Wellington and Rialto Cinema in Dunedin . Hollywood blockbusters are regularly shown alongside arthouse features and film festivals such as the New Zealand International Film Festival . Gold Class cinemas, a luxury cinema format, is provided at a number of Event Cinemas locations in Australia, New Zealand & Fiji. Gold Class Cinemas include butlered refreshments, à la carte menu offerings and reclining seats in
630-562: The 1920s during the genesis of the Hollywood era with its focus on exhibiting American films. The Great Depression saw Union Theatres being liquidated in 1931 and its assets purchased by newly formed Greater Union Theatres. This new company split from Australasian Films, established the Hollywood-model subsidiary Cinesound Productions , expanded into radio and newspaper, and kept its major focus on building and managing cinemas. Due to The Depression, Greater Union Theatres merged into
675-630: The General Film Corporation with Hoyts , a competitor who had secured Fox Film as a shareholder. In 1937 Norman Rydge became managing director and removed the company from the previous merger. In 1945, the last year of World War II , there was a box office boom and the British Rank Organisation purchased a half share in Greater Union Theatres. During this time Greater Union acquired
720-931: The Gold Class. There are certain locations that has Dolby Atmos surround sound included in their V-Max cinemas (brackets indicating). V-Max Cinema locations include: In Australia: In New Zealand: IMAX with Laser uses precision lasers a sharper brighter images. This technology is currently available at Event Cinemas Auckland (Queen St), Event Cinemas Queensgate (Wellington) and IMAX Sydney GUO converted most of their Australian auditoriums and flagship cinemas to digital projectors. The installation of these projectors means that most auditoriums are now RealD Cinema 3D capable. Albany, Queen St Auckland, St Lukes, Henderson West City, Mt Wellington Sylvia Park, Broadway Newmarket, Glenfield Mall on level 5 Entertainment, Manukau Amersham Way, Highland Park, John Goulter Mangere, New Lynn and Crosstown Lakewood Court. In late 2018,
765-593: The activities of that firm in its endeavour to crush it in its infancy, the local picture would now be 10 years at least advanced to the height now attained by the Americans." Historians have traced the sharp decline of the Australian film industry in 1913 to the repercussions of these series of takeovers and mergers. James Sabine has said that "the stranglehold of The Combine forced a decline in local production and contributed to many Australian production companies closing their doors." The Combine continued to grow into
810-558: The box office. In 1942 Cinesound provided the operational base for the film unit of the US Signal Corps to prepare newsreels for viewing to American troops in the South West Pacific theatre of the war. In 1946 arrangements were made with the commercial film distribution companies to distribute selected Commonwealth Film Unit productions in Australian cinemas on a commercial basis. Similar arrangements existed for
855-587: The cinema, it reopened in December 1982 as Hindley Cinemas 5–6. In 1984 AHL regained control over the now-defunct Rank Organisation's half share, meaning that it once again became fully Australian-owned. In 1987 GUO merged with Village Roadshow 's film distribution unit to form the distribution company Roadshow Film Distributors , and by that time, GUO and Village Roadshow partnered on a $ 100 million cinema chain that will see 200 circuits expanded by use by 1990. In 1991 GUO acquired Birch, Carroll & Coyle. In
900-464: The feature productions of the parent company. The directors of the new company were the same as Cinesound Productions: Norman Rydge , Edwin Geach, and John Goulston. Cinesound established a talent school for young actors in 1938. Run by George Cross and Alec Kellaway (who acted in many Cinesound films), it offered training in "deportment, enunciation, miming, microphone technique and limbering." By 1940
945-556: The first 4DX screen owned by the Event Group was opened in George Street (Sydney CBD). 4DX stimulates all five senses, featuring moving seats and special effects including wind, fog, water and scents that synchronise with the action on screen. EVENT Boutique cinemas feature recliners with footrest, and in-cinema food-and-drink service. Guests have access to the Boutique Cinema 30 minutes prior to their session. Boutique
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#1732786884355990-494: The idea that Cinesound was a "little Hollywood". It was this dedication to showmanship that led to all but one of Cinesound's feature films making a profit from the first release, and all of the films eventually at least broke even. In 1939 Hall said that the budgets of Cinesound films were usually between £10,000 and £20,000, and estimated that his first fourteen films had earned £350,000 at the box office. In 1933 Doyle announced he hoped to make 16 films at their various studios over
1035-474: The joint venture between Village Roadshow and Event Hospitality & Entertainment known as Australian Theatres . New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Western Australia With cinema admissions in decline, Event Cinemas has continued to experience growth by raising the price of admissions and offering "premium experiences" such as "Gold Class" which offers more luxury seating and food, "Vmax" which offers
1080-403: The lead of Overland Telegraph , Robbery Under Arms and Erueka Stockade . Of all these an adaptation of Robbery Under Arms was the most frequently discussed – Ken G. Hall later described it as "the film I wanted to make more than any other". Film rights were bought from Raymond Longford (for a reported £1,500) and a script prepared. The film was meant to be Cinesound's third feature and
1125-433: The next 18 months. This never happened although the success of On Our Selection (1932) and The Squatter's Daughter (1933), along with the proposed introduction of quotas for Australian films in the mid-1930s , saw Cinesound become bullish about expansion. They increased the size of their studio to make Strike Me Lucky (1934), and announced a series of future productions, including Grandad Rudd and an adaptation of
1170-404: The notion of showmanship, which encompassed ideas relating to the type of entertainment the public would want to enjoy, and how to effectively publicise that entertainment to the masses. The publicity campaign for The Squatter's Daughter , and its star Jocelyn Howarth , was particularly imbued with this concept. They were also interested in creating a star system along Hollywood lines promoting
1215-548: The novel Robbery Under Arms , as well as several films produced in Queensland over the next two years, one set in the cattle industry, another in the cane fields and a third on the Great Barrier Reef . It was proposed Cinesound would make 12 movies a year in the first year of the quota: four "super productions", four "quota specials", and four independent Cinesound productions. There was also talk of establishing
1260-559: The position of General Manager of Cinesound, and also put him in charge as supervisor of production. In this role, Ken Hall directed all but one of the seventeen films that Cinesound produced and also handled the business affairs of the company. Hall continued to lead Cinesound until 1956. By 1934, Cinesound had three film studios in Australia, the original location at Bondi Junction and Rushcutters Bay in New South Wales and St. Kilda, Victoria . The Centennial Roller Skating Rink
1305-600: The release of general sponsored documentaries produced by Movietone and Cinesound. Other Australian producers were almost totally deprived of access to commercial cinema screens. Despite the success of Ken G Hall's last feature, Smithy (1946), which was backed by Columbia Pictures as a means of repatriating frozen currency held in Australia due to wartime restrictions, Greater Union Theatres decided not to resume post-war production through Cinesound. Various films were announced for production by Cinesound that were not made, including: Hall intended to cast overseas stars in
1350-769: The rights of ownership of many theatres across the country including what became the Phoenician Club in Broadway, Sydney in 1943, originally owned by McIntyre's Broadway Theatres and established as a cinema in 1911. It acquired the Clifford Theatre Circuit in Adelaide in March 1947. The purchase price of £300,000 for the 22 suburban and regional cinemas was "believed to be the largest motion picture transaction ever made in Australia". The Clifford name
1395-488: The same year, Hindley Cinemas 1–4 and 5–6 closed. In 2003 AHL and Village Roadshow combined to form Australian Theatres . Since 2009 a number of cinemas have been renamed from Greater Union Cinemas to Event Cinemas. On 22 December 2015 AHL was renamed Event Hospitality and Entertainment. In June 2016 Event Cinemas acquired New Zealand cinema chain Downtown Cinemas . In 2019, Birch Carroll & Coyle
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1440-520: The school had had over 200 students, including Grant Taylor and Yvonne East, who featured in Dad Rudd, MP (1940), plus Valerie Scanlon, Lorna Westbrook , Natalie Raine, and Mary Sinclair. Cinesound Productions produced feature films until the Second World War, when it was considered that feature films were too great a financial risk to undertake. Cinesound then concentrated on producing
1485-561: The war Hall tried to produce the film independently but was unable to secure the necessary funds. As late as 1952, Cinesound almost raised money for a coproduction with Ealing Studios , who were going to make Robbery Under Arms following Eureka Stockade . They were ultimately prevented by restrictions on capital investment and the closing of Pagewood Studios. Greater Union Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd , trading as Event Cinemas , Greater Union , GU Film House , Moonlight Cinema and Birch Carroll & Coyle ( BCC Cinemas ),
1530-436: The youngest chairman of an Australian public company. In 1971, it merged its assets with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 's Australian cinema unit, which the company's B.E.F. subsidiary distributing MGM titles until 1973, when distribution that studio's films in Australia was shifted to Cinema International Corporation . In 1976, the company's British Empire Films unit was initially renamed GUO Film Distributors, then six years later, it
1575-534: Was On Our Selection (1932), which was an enormous financial success. Stuart F. Doyle and Ken G. Hall were the major figures involved in the establishment of Cinesound in 1931. Stuart Doyle was the Managing Director of Greater Union Theatres, which stemmed from Australasian Films , and it was his desire to encourage an Australian film industry that provided the impetus for Cinesound to develop. Doyle appointed his then personal assistant, Ken Hall, to
1620-439: Was acquired by EVENT in 2010 from Prime Media Group for $ 1.75million. The division continues to grow and has signed 3 new venue contracts since its acquisition, and currently operates in: New South Wales Alec Kellaway Alec Kellaway (1894–January 18th, 1973) was a South African–born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall . He
1665-548: Was announced on 20 March 1933. There were plans to shoot it in colour. It was pushed back to be Cinesound's fourth feature and John Longden signed to play Captain Starlight. A budget of £20,000 was allocated with filming to take place in Burraganong Valley. Edmund Barclay wrote the script. The movie was then pushed back to enable filming of Cinesound Varieties . Shooting was meant to start after that but it
1710-431: Was highly influential on the early twentieth-century Australian film industry. However, it came under heavy criticism for its low interest in producing Australian films, its preference for imported cinema, and its reluctance to exhibit Australian films by other producers. Film icon and director Raymond Longford , whose independent production company had come under attack by the group, said in 1927 that "had it not been for
1755-498: Was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of being Australia's leading provincial film distributor and its industry leadership throughout Queensland for 80 years. Event Cinemas operates venues around Australia, many of which are located in large shopping centres. The cinema complexes comprise multiple screens. The below locations do not include sites that operate under
1800-462: Was largely created by competition between West's Pictures , Spencer's Pictures and Amalgamated Pictures . On 4 May 1912 the three joined to form The General Film Company of Australasia. On 4 January 1913 it then merged with The Greater J.D. Williams Amusement Co and restructured to become The Combine , a famous partnership between the exhibition wing Union Theatres and the production and distribution wing Australasian Films . The Combine monopoly
1845-499: Was purchased by Australasian Films/Union Theatres at 65 Ebley Street Bondi Junction in 1925 and began making silent films. The income from the rink was still required to subsidise the film making so the site was used by skaters at night and for filmmaking by day. The Bondi Junction location was known as Studio no. 1 with an additional two studios located in Rushcutters Bay and St. Kilda. Both Doyle and Hall were very committed to
Cinesound Productions - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-592: Was renamed to Greater Union Film Distributors. In 1975, Greater Union bought the old Metro Theatre in Hindley Street , Adelaide, and redeveloped it as a modern four-screen cinema complex, called Hindley Cinemas 1–4. In October 1980, the company bought the building that had once housed the first cinema in Adelaide, West's Olympia , also in Hindley Street. After a time in which rebuilds were made to
1935-535: Was retained as a tribute to the entrepreneur Dan Clifford , and South Australian staff were retained. In 1958 the four holding companies in the Greater Union Theatres group were merged into the Rydge family Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL), and in 1965 Greater Union Theatres was renamed the Greater Union Organisation (GUO). In 1980 billionaire Alan Rydge was appointed Chairman of AHL to become
1980-576: Was the brother of Cecil Kellaway . He also worked as a producer in vaudeville and helped run the Talent School at Cinesound Productions . Kellaway played a wide variety of roles for Ken Hall, ranging from a gay floorwalker in Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938) to a magician in Let George Do It (1938). Hall wrote in his memoirs that the actor "was never Alec Kellaway in any of them –
2025-420: Was winter and experience of Squatter's Daughter showed this cost time so the film was postponed again. Another reason is that Cinesound had trouble with the censor on The Silence of Dean Maitland and were worried about censor trouble on Robbery ; Hall said he would not make the film until the censor had passed the script. It was then announced the film would be made the next year following Grandad Rudd at
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