The Padua Theatre

Located in Brunswick, the Padua was a beautiful, art deco style theatre. It was built and operated by Hoyts during the golden era of cinema. It was opened to much fanfare on 24th July 1937, screening an Errol Flynn movie, the Charge of the Light Brigade.
It featured a Hammond electric organ and bandstand which were on a revolving stage. When the stage moved, it revealed the screen. Stage shows also featured as part of the film programme.
The Padua was also a paragon of modernity, complete with a streamlined egg shaped ticket office, footwarmers, valet parking and even a crying room for babies.
As with all the cinemas of this era, the Padua suffered when TV came along, so much so that it was closed by Hoyts in June 1968. The property was sold, and leased to Tony and Franco Zeccola. Its superb Art Deco interior was gutted, and they reopened it in August 1969 as the Metropolitan, screening Italian films. It continued to operate until December 1981.
The building then sat vacant. It fell into disrepair and was vandalised. Sadly, it was demolished in February 1982. Non-descript shops, were built on the site, replacing the imposing Streamline Moderne edifice that was the Padua.
Credits:
Music: The Way You Look Tonight 1936 & opening theme from My Man Godfrey 1936, Universal
Images: Harold Paynting Collection at the State Library of Victoria, Photographer, Lyle Fowler
Audio visual: This is Television: GTV9 Archives, The Charge of the Light Brigade 1936, Warner Brothers
Sources: Narrative Transport: www.michaelpry...
Cinema Treasures:- cinematreasure...

[@machongbroombroom9756]

Watching here

[@JWMcLay]

My Grandad, (who passed just before I was born in 1983), used to be a Theatre manager for Hoyt's.
My Uncle used to go to work with him as a boy in the 40s/50s and got to see many of the old Melbourne theatres before many were lost to history.
Those stories are beautifully told in the doco "The Lost City of Melbourne". Which can be found on SBS on demand at present.

[@mutantplantation979]

I live closer to the Astor Theatre…. thanks for the info !

[@GlowingTube]

Συγχαρητήρια

[@mutantplantation979]

@@GlowingTube Right on Mr.G