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211:(1949)), magicians and others perform. In March 1922 the American illusionist Nicola (William Mozart Nicol), who was also giving shows inside the theatre, performed a trick where he hung upside down from a sign that was suspended from the roof of the theatre. He then proceeded to free himself from a strait jacket and handcuffs while in midair. The trick, which was publicised by saying that Nicola would be hanged from the King's Theatre, was in contravention of council by-laws due to the use of 'a lift and tackle' in Russell Street and saw Nicola charged and appear in the district court where he was fined.
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construct and included 15 theatre exits that led into streets or laneways in consideration of fire risk. At opening there were 3000 lights in the theatre, and it could seat 2200 people. The theatre also had three sliding roofs, over dome, gallery and stage. At opening, the theatre's colour scheme was blue and gold, with upholstery and seats in blue. The stage was 63 feet wide by 80 feet deep (19 m × 24 m) to allow for large productions and complex scenery/props.
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selected a site (now 131 Russell Street) on
Russell Street, near the corner of Bourke Street for the new theatre and construction, employing 200 men, construction took only 5–6 months, beginning after Christmas in 1907. The building featured the use of 2,000,000 bricks, cost 32,000 pounds to
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The following year, Carroll, with partners Aztec
Services had the theatre reconverted for live stage productions for sub-lessee, entrepreneur Harry Wren. 1949 saw the Kings Theatre host a season of the controversial Australian play
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In 1911 Anderson faced financial ruin due to the failure of his
Wonderland City fun fair venture in Sydney. He remained the lessee of Kings Theatre in name only until 1915, but in reality handed over the theatre to the use of
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and their colleague Leon Bosco. The theatre had been built to allow for lavish productions in which "live cattle or traps, motor cars etc. may be necessary for the purposes of realism" and the production of the sporting play
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and Frank Samuel, who merged their enterprise with that of J. C. Williamson's in 1920. During the 1920, '30s and '40s, the theatre saw plays, vaudeville, pantomimes (such as
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It was a major live theatre during the first half of the twentieth century, and became a cinema (under the name the
Barclay) from the late 1950s until closing in 1976.
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in 1975 and finally in 1977 the theatre was demolished to give way to a multiplex cinema, Greater Union
Russell Cinemas, which itself was demolished in 2014.
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and
Anderson's former business manager, Julius Grant. This period saw a number of productions by J. and N. Tait Ltd, the firm of three of the Tait brothers,
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The King's
Theatre, said to be the first new theatre in Melbourne for 20 years, was opened on Saturday 11 July 1908. Victorian State Premier
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256:. The theatre was then renamed the Barclay Theatre or Barclay Cinema. The theatre officially opened in 1958 and the first film shown was
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However a full return to live productions was short lived and in 1951 films were screened there again, as well as stage presentations.
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As well as melodramas and plays, the theatre also presented shows by other acts, such as controversial
Canadian dancer
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featured Trixy, a trained mare and carriages onstage, while sheep were shorn onstage during the production
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Cinesound Review newsreel showing footage of the official opening of the
Barclay Theatre, Melbourne, 1958
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The theatre's designer, William Pitt, had already designed a number of
Melbourne theatres including the
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opened the theatre and other members of parliament were in attendance at the opening performance of
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1942 saw the temporary end to live performances when film projection equipment was installed by
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205:(1939)), comedians, musical revues (like the mostly American production of Olsen and Johnson's
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In the early years, the theatre presented a number of productions by the theatrical company of
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759:"Facade of King's Theatre where Nicola (William Mozart Nicol) performed his hanging trick"
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The interior of the King's Theatre, as well as the façade were remodelled for the owner
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734:"'Anderson, William (1868–1940)', Australian Dictionary of Biography"
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also acted in a number of these productions. Other companies such as
1184:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Troedel & Cooper Pty Ltd. 1917
1158:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Troedel & Cooper Pty Ltd. 1917
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1132:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.L. Anderson & Sons. 1916
1106:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.L. Anderson & Sons. 1915
898:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.L. Anderson & Sons. 1909
713:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.L. Anderson & Sons. 1910
510:. No. 16639. Victoria, Australia. 11 July 1908. p. 16
482:. No. 19, 335. Victoria, Australia. 8 July 1908. p. 8
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1236:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.J. Miller Printing Co. 1918
924:(Theatre Programmes Collection). J.L Anderson & Sons. 1909
866:"Barclay Theatre, Melbourne: Official Opening NFSA ID 55349"
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National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
1080:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: Fred Lory. 1914
1054:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: Fred Lory. 1914
950:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: Fred Lory. 1911
825:. Currency Press with Sydney University Press. p. 316.
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The King's Theatre Melbourne detail from theatre programme
1028:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: Syd Day. 1913
1002:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: Syd Day Print
1288:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Table Talk Print. 1919
1262:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Table Talk Print. 1919
1340:(Theatre programme). Independent Theatre Company. 1949
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was a theatre in Melbourne, Australia, located at 133
765:(W.G. Alma Conjuring Collection photographs). c. 1922
291:Notable productions at the Kings Theatre include:
819:Thorne, Ross (1995). "King's Theatre Melbourne".
73:before working on designs for the Kings Theatre.
1426:Demolished buildings and structures in Melbourne
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684:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Fred Lory. 1914
531:"Theatre Heritage Australia - The Kings Theatre"
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215:Film screenings and return to live performances
241:, which featured a large degree of swearing.
46:Opening in 1908, the theatre was designed by
1431:Buildings and structures demolished in 1977
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16:Historical building in Melbourne, Australia
518:– via National Library of Australia.
490:– via National Library of Australia.
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1368:. 21 January 1950. p. 31
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322:My Mate, or a Bush Love Story
248:Barclay Cinema and demolition
1421:Former theatres in Melbourne
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1394:. 26 April 1951. p. 18
1314:(Pictures Collection). 1920
892:"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark"
793:. 15 April 1922. p. 19
732:Williams, Margaret (1979).
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843:. 18 April 1949. p. 3
707:"The Chance of a Lifetime"
627:. 16 July 1908. p. 18
266:. The last film shown was
1074:"Bunty Pulls the Strings"
658:. 13 July 1908. p. 3
598:. 18 June 1908. p. 6
298:Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
285:Russell Street, Melbourne
1152:"The Merchant of Venice"
311:The Chance of a Lifetime
171:Later live theatre years
149:The Chance of a Lifetime
785:"The Hanging of Nicola"
351:Bunty Pulls the Strings
153:The Squatter's Daughter
129:J. C. Williamson's
84:Opening and early years
61:Design and construction
625:Table Talk (Melbourne)
595:The Herald (Melbourne)
372:The Merchant of Venice
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71:Her Majesty's Theatre
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33:Little Collins Street
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1392:Advocate (Melbourne)
1360:"Screen And Theatre"
1022:"A Day at the Races"
502:"THE KING'S THEATRE"
474:"THE KING'S THEATRE"
263:The Ten Commandments
239:Sumner Locke Elliott
1230:"The Invisible Foe"
655:Bendigo Independent
650:"NEW KINGS THEATRE"
590:"THE KINGS THEATRE"
556:resource.acu.edu.au
179:Margaret Nybloc in
918:"The Great Rescue"
341:A Day at the Races
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67:Princess Theatre
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276:Productions
197:James Nevin
189:Bert Bailey
165:Bert Bailey
142:, his wife
1415:Categories
1048:"Du Barry"
974:The Herald
461:References
193:John Henry
136:Maud Allan
94:Man to Man
1398:1 October
1372:1 October
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1292:1 October
1282:"Daddies"
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688:1 October
662:1 October
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