Quarterly Journal Summer 1996 – Page 19-23
by
Kevin Cork
While the School of Arts in Main Street may have been used for screening pictures in the years before 1920, Blacktown’s first permanent picture theatre was not erected until 1920-21. This was the Rivoli and was situated in Blacktown Road (later Main Street) on the eastern side of the present Warrick Lane. However, the story of the people behind the Rivoli started some six years earlier in a village south of Newcastle.
Catherine Hill Bay may seem a long way from Blacktown, but it was there that the Payne family first became involved in exhibiting films. That was in 1914. The ‘Greater Electric Bio. Pictures’ was purchased from W Rumble by Albert E. Payne in April 1914 for the sum of fifty pounds and the Paynes found themselves in the picture business. Experience and satisfaction were gained from this first venture. When the family moved to Epping in Sydney, Mr. Payne became a commercial traveler and ‘discovered’ Blacktown one day in his travels. According to Payne family history. he was enthused by the fact that it was a railway junction with growth potential and did not have a cinema.
John Lamb Stewart, who owned a large timber mill (site of the Warrick Lane car park), provided the land and the cinema building. Mr. Payne leased it from him. Architect for the building was A. S. Carfrae of Pitt Street, Sydney A New South Wales fire Brigades’ report, dated 25 November 1922, provided the following information about the theatre “…situated at the intersection of Blacktown Road and Mill Street … construction of one floor, wood and asbestos sheeting with iron roof … 118 feet by 37 feet (36.0 by 11.3 meters) … seating accommodation 680.”
The Rivoli, as it was known, opened on 16 December 1921, the license being in the names of A. E. Payne and W. Southwell. It is believed that Southwell, a grocer from Epping, financially assisted the equipping of the theatre. (By 1927 Southwell’s name had ceased to appear on the license.) Since electricity was not generally available in Blacktown until 1925-1927, a motor-generator was installed. The Rivoli was a family concern with all members helping, and the family moved to Blacktown in 1933.
The interior of the theatre was lined and relied mainly on the proscenium for its decoration. In the pre-talkie days, the proscenium was made of canvas and wood on which were painted pseudo-marble columns The remainder of the auditorium was plain, and lighting was provided by several hanging pendant light fittings. Entry to the building was from a small, open vestibule. From here, patrons walked straight into the auditorium.
When talkies arrived, a sound-on-disc system was installed and lasted until March 1936 when a new RCA sound-on-film system replaced it. Everyones (a film trade journal) noted in March 1936: “Exhibitor Payne. Snr. whose sons operate RCA theatre in Parramatta, Wentworthville, Belmont, Kurrajong and Thornleigh, is now adding RCA equipment to his own theatre, the Rivoli, in Blacktown.” In the issue of 11 March 1936, the magazine noted that the Rivoli had opened with the new sound system on Saturday, 7 March. Alan Payne, in the Payne family history recalled:
In April 1936. during the Saturday night performance of ‘Escape Me Never’ the old equipment failed to deliver the smallest portion of intelligible dialogue. On this occasion patrons left us in no doubt that their patience had been exhausted and so during the following week modem RCA sound equipment was installed. I remember standing with Father at the first Saturday performance and hearing him marvel that it was now possible to determine that the instrument being played was a piano.
With the new talkie equipment came other improvements. A new proscenium was constructed, the orchestra space covered in and new blue curtains with a bird motif painted on them covered the screen when not in use.
Besides pictures, the Rivoli was also used on occasions for dances. In 1937, however, the flat floor at the rear or the hall was raised in steps to provide better sightlines. In 1938, nearly 200 padded theatre chairs were installed in the stepped, gallery area. The older chairs from this area were moved to the: back stalls. The front stalls received the former back stalls chairs. Other minor redecoration took place including the installation of a new proscenium and grilles covering the side wall windows. The plaster work was designed by A. E. Payne. By this time, seating was listed as 524. It should be noted that, owing to the size or the area’s population, the Rivoli did not screen every night.
In 1938 A. J. Beszant, of Western Suburbs Cinemas Ltd, managed to purchase the freehold of the Rivoli from J. S. Lamb. This was done unknown to Mr. Payne who managed to rally support from the Motion Picture Exhibitor’s Association. Beszant reluctantly, according to Payne family memoirs, sold the property to the Paynes who continued to operate it. Mr. Payne died on 30 April 1941 and the theatre passed to his wife, Mrs. E. M. Payne. With several of her sons, the theatre continued to operate. As well, (mid 1940s) they ran an electrical, radio and music shop almost opposite the theatre.
Again, drawing on Alan Payne’s memories in the family history:
The theatre was now a sound business with the regular patronage and the years of struggle seemed, at last, to be behind us. I managed the theatre and Wal nursed the shop as it struggled to develop and grow. The future looked rosy and I began to feel on top of the world. Then it happened!
In 1946, the theater was completely destroyed by fire. According to the Board or Fire Commissioners’ records, the fire call was received at 2:07a m. on Thursday, 1O October. Although it was determined that the fire started at the northwestern corner of the building, the cause was unknown. A contemporary newspaper report stated that brigades from Parramatta, Wentworthville, Toongabbie and Blacktown were called out and fought hard to contain the fire. A strong wind sent sparks and hot galvanized sheets of iron hurtling against the side of the adjacent cottage, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Len Clifton who, with the help or neighbors, removed their furniture and valuables to safety.
** house originally occupied by a Mr. Les Bassell, whose daughter married Len Clifton of Blacktown. unsure if Bassell was still living there at time of fire. **
Mrs. Payne, not wishing to let others enter the Blacktown cinema scene, wrote to the ‘Theatres and Films Commission (the body responsible for granting cinema licenses) on 14 October: “I desire to inform the Commission that I have been the Exhibitor in these premise for twenty-six years and it is my desire to proceed as soon as possible with the erection of a new building with which to recommence my business.”
Wartime and post-war building restrictions meant that the new theatre did not take shape until the late 1940s. The site chosen was on the western side of what is now Warrick Lane and the new theatre, the Warrick, opened in 1949.
More information – Contact Blacktown & District Historical Society – Website