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King's Theatre, Melbourne

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176: 39: 281: 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. 80:
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
38: 256:. The theatre was then renamed the Barclay Theatre or Barclay Cinema. The theatre officially opened in 1958 and the first film shown was 244:
However a full return to live productions was short lived and in 1951 films were screened there again, as well as stage presentations.
138:, with musicians the Cherniavskys (Mischel, Leo and Jan) and international magicians Le Roy, Talma & Bosco, an act which featured 267: 1420: 70: 865: 453: 280: 134:
As well as melodramas and plays, the theatre also presented shows by other acts, such as controversial Canadian dancer
1334:"Rusty bugles: a comedy/ by Sumner Locke Elliott with the Independent Theatre Company; play produced by Doris Fitton" 530: 261: 227:'s Gaiety Theatres company, who leased the theatre. Warner Brothers screened films at the theatre until 1948. 1435: 328: 151:
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
594: 371: 207: 205:(1939)), comedians, musical revues (like the mostly American production of Olsen and Johnson's 107:
In the early years, the theatre presented a number of productions by the theatrical company of
478: 224: 128: 111:, sole lessee and manager of the theatre. Many of these productions featured Anderson's wife 32: 238: 759:"Facade of King's Theatre where Nicola (William Mozart Nicol) performed his hanging trick" 8: 654: 363: 252:
The interior of the King's Theatre, as well as the façade were remodelled for the owner
1364: 220: 201: 410: 257: 143: 1308:"Grand Opera "Il Trovatore", Kings Theatre, Melbourne (picture) Talma & Co" 820: 139: 112: 97: 1387: 1359: 969: 836: 784: 649: 620: 589: 501: 1414: 473: 28: 418: 402: 253: 233: 124: 120: 1210:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Melbourne: J.J. Miller Printing Co. 1919 188: 164: 89: 196: 135: 734:"'Anderson, William (1868–1940)', Australian Dictionary of Biography" 127:
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 214: 789: 506: 321: 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. 8 297: 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" 738:
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. 42:
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 23:
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 1412: 684:(Theatre Programmes Collection). Fred Lory. 1914 531:"Theatre Heritage Australia - The Kings Theatre" 247: 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 170: 16:Historical building in Melbourne, Australia 518:– via National Library of Australia. 490:– via National Library of Australia. 100:in a leading role, as well as her brother 83: 60: 96:, a drama which featured Anderson's wife 731: 279: 174: 131:also put on productions at the theatre. 37: 1413: 1256:"Quinney's by Horace Annesley Vachall" 818: 860: 858: 814: 812: 810: 808: 187:From 1915 the theatre's lessees were 701: 699: 644: 642: 615: 613: 584: 582: 580: 578: 576: 574: 572: 837:"Rusty Bugles is Clever Caricature" 528: 13: 1338:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1312:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1286:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1260:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1234:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1208:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1182:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1156:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1130:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1104:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1078:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1052:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1026:State Library Victoria (Australia) 1000:State Library Victoria (Australia) 948:State Library Victoria (Australia) 922:State Library Victoria (Australia) 896:State Library Victoria (Australia) 855: 805: 763:State Library Victoria (Australia) 711:State Library Victoria (Australia) 682:State Library Victoria (Australia) 183:at King's Theatre Melbourne (1919) 14: 1452: 822:Companion to Theatre in Australia 696: 678:"Maud Allan and the Cherniavskys" 639: 610: 569: 447: 287:, showing King's Theatre on right 1178:"Gran'dad Rudd / by Steele Rudd" 50:for the theatrical entrepreneur 1380: 1352: 1326: 1300: 1274: 1248: 1222: 1196: 1170: 1144: 1126:"Hindle Wakes/Stanley Houghton" 1118: 1092: 1066: 1040: 1014: 988: 962: 936: 910: 884: 829: 777: 751: 725: 269:One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 115:in a leading role. Her brother 976:. 16 September 1912. p. 7 670: 544: 522: 494: 466: 275: 237:, a drama about servicemen by 1: 1368:. 21 January 1950. p. 31 460: 322:My Mate, or a Bush Love Story 248:Barclay Cinema and demolition 1421:Former theatres in Melbourne 7: 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). 10: 1457: 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 288: 184: 43: 479:The Argus (Melbourne) 283: 178: 71:Her Majesty's Theatre 41: 33:Little Collins Street 1436:Cinemas in Melbourne 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 289: 185: 44: 996:"The Land of Nod" 386:The Invisible Foe 221:Garnet H. 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DeMille 109:William Anderson 77:William Anderson 67:Princess Theatre 52:William Anderson 1456: 1455: 1451: 1450: 1449: 1447: 1446: 1445: 1411: 1410: 1407: 1397: 1395: 1388:"Theatre Music" 1386: 1385: 1381: 1371: 1369: 1358: 1357: 1353: 1343: 1341: 1332: 1331: 1327: 1317: 1315: 1306: 1305: 1301: 1291: 1289: 1280: 1279: 1275: 1265: 1263: 1254: 1253: 1249: 1239: 1237: 1228: 1227: 1223: 1213: 1211: 1204:"De Luxe Annie" 1202: 1201: 1197: 1187: 1185: 1176: 1175: 1171: 1161: 1159: 1150: 1149: 1145: 1135: 1133: 1124: 1123: 1119: 1109: 1107: 1098: 1097: 1093: 1083: 1081: 1072: 1071: 1067: 1057: 1055: 1046: 1045: 1041: 1031: 1029: 1020: 1019: 1015: 1005: 1003: 994: 993: 989: 979: 977: 970:"KINGS THEATRE" 968: 967: 963: 953: 951: 944:"The Christian" 942: 941: 937: 927: 925: 916: 915: 911: 901: 899: 890: 889: 885: 875: 873: 870:www.nfsa.gov.au 864: 863: 856: 846: 844: 835: 834: 830: 817: 806: 796: 794: 783: 782: 778: 768: 766: 757: 756: 752: 742: 740: 730: 726: 716: 714: 705: 704: 697: 687: 685: 676: 675: 671: 661: 659: 648: 647: 640: 630: 628: 619: 618: 611: 601: 599: 588: 587: 570: 560: 558: 550: 549: 545: 535: 533: 527: 523: 513: 511: 500: 499: 495: 485: 483: 472: 471: 467: 463: 450: 337:The Land of Nod 278: 254:Norman B. 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Index

Russell Street
Bourke Street
Little Collins Street

William Pitt
William Anderson
Princess Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
William Anderson
Sir Thomas Bent
Eugenie Duggan
Edmund Duggan
William Anderson
Eugenie Duggan
Edmund Duggan
Olive Wilton
Roy Redgrave
J. C. Williamson's
Maud Allan
Servais Le Roy
Talma
Edmund Duggan
Bert Bailey

Bert Bailey
John Henry
James Nevin
Sinbad the Sailor
Hellzapoppin
Garnet H. Carroll

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