Retro Thingz's video: Capitol Theatre Melbourne Australia

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 a few memories of the Phillips with me on that occasion. The relevant chat can be found via this link ..... https://backinthedayblogspot.blogspot.com/2023/05/interview-with-peter-smith-oam-march_30.html Sources materials used in this video : Music : Stars and Stripes : Google - Free download - Public Domain https://www.mostfreebies.com/TheStars... Robert Wolfe plays the music from "42nd Street' https://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 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Theatre,_Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA-Kbm4NnL8&t=4s