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Picture Shows
The Fitzgerald Bros. British Biograph and Cinematograph was exhibited at the Kapunda Institute Hall in February 1903, and at Clare the following month. The Kapunda Herald reported: ‘There was an immense audience for such an entertainment, about 500 people being present, and the hall was literally "jam-crammed." The price of admission was one shilling all over the hall and children a silver coin… Seating accommodation was soon unobtainable. People stood in the passage-ways and others then got on to the forms, whilst paters raised small children on to their shoulders. There was great craning of necks and scrambling to get a view of what was going on, and for those who did not mind a little unprogrammed entertainment there was "whips of fun." The "gods" whistled "Get your hair cut" until the manager of the company deftly rolled up his leonine locks and secured them with a hairpin on the top of his head. It was, however, a good-natured crowd. During the performance a lady fainted, and it was only with difficulty that she was removed from the hall. Some of the pictures were good, but the cinematograph apparatus and manipulator were apparently not uniformly on sympathetic terms, and the "moving pictures" were not always successfully shown. There was also a "wonderful waxworks," depicting the Gatton tragedy. To see this gruesome exhibition the audience were told to ascend the stage and pass out into the narrow passage on the west side of the hall. This was a foolish arrangement, even if it were, under the circumstances, the best the manager could devise, for the narrow passage, in which there was the company’s luggage, soon became blocked, and the struggle extended to the stage. The jostling of the crowd did damage to the wings of the proscenium and to some chairs and forms, and Corporal Bushell and the secretary of the Institute had to go on to the stage to restore order… A portion of the entertainment, which created great amusement, was a competition in which a lad was required to stand in a swinging clothes basket and reach for an article placed at a distance on one side. Of course, when he reached (out) equilibrium was destroyed and he shot on to the floor, to the intense delight of the audience -- those who could see. The programme also included a song by a youth, who is by no stretch of the imagination a male Melba, and the accompanist was even less proficient as a novice in pianoforte playing.’ The Clare newspaper said that Edison’s polyphone would be used, 12 miles of film would be projected, and that some waxworks could be inspected.
GREAT WESTERN PICTURES.
Screened The Seekers, a 5,000 foot film in three parts, at the Clare Town Hall in January 1918. Manager was Charles Gardiner. Later in the year the company was still screening films at Clare, although both brothers were overseas on active service at World War I.
In March 1919 Great Western Pictures advertised a 5-part patriotic drama Her Country’s Call, ‘proprietors, Gardiner Bros. (Returned Soldiers).’ An item in the Northern Argus said, ‘Messrs Gardiner Bros. were in the moving picture business in the early stage of the war, but owing to the call for men found it their duty to enlist, and sacrificed their business in doing so. Recently one returned and was honourably discharged from military service, and has taken up the battle to restore the business, and is at present showing at various towns on the way to Adelaide to welcome home another brother from the firing line, who is expected shortly.’
The Lyceum Pictures were being screened at Clare and Blyth during 1911. In June that year they advertised the film The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, which was described as an Australian novel has been translated into many different languages. Lyceum Pictures was operated by a group of three young Adelaide actor-managers, Edward Lennon, Bert Lennon, and another named Hyman, who had entered the film business 1907 when they altered one of their theatres so that they could screen moving pictures as well as staging vaudeville shows.
On 18 August 1911 the Northern Argus noted: ‘The touring manager of one of Messrs Lennon, Hyman, and Lennon’s companies recently gave a rep. of this paper some interesting facts regarding the magnitude of his firm’s various undertakings. Few people in the provincial towns, he said, had any idea of the huge outlay involved in running such a colossal concern. To begin with, the firm had no less than six different companies, showing every night of the week, all the year round - Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Broken Hill , and three touring outfits. Consider for a moment, he said, the tens of thousands of feet of film required to constitute an entire evening’s entertainment for six separate companies, and for three at least of them, two changes a week. One of the firm’s outfits will present Captain Midnight (at Clare and Blyth). When a show of repute, such as this, is announced everybody should take advantage of the opportunity to witness it, especially as it has an educational and entertaining value. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," and after a week of drudgery and dull monotonous routine it is an opiate, a healthy restorative, and the next day one goes about one’s work with a kindlier and healthful feeling.’
For the benefit of its readers the Argus said that Captain Midnight was a ‘sensational Australian bush drama… For the information of those who do not know, Captain Midnight is a bushranger - not of the "deepest dye", however, but a good fellow. He is quite a mild gentleman with a kindly consideration for the good, and a detestation for the bad, and always courteous and considerate for the weaker sex.’
From the Northern Argus, 24 December 1915, under Blyth Notes - ‘Patrons of the Modern Pictures Show did not get much for their money, as owing to a break down in the lighting apparatus at the interval only the pictures shown in the first half were witnessed. The hall was well filled in anticipation of seeing the war pictures advertised. After an unusually late start, a number of ordinary films were screened, and after the interval a long delay occurred. After waiting fully half an hour several left the hall, but the majority stayed on hoping to see the star pictures. At the end of three quarters of an hour’s delay, during which time some of the audience displayed signs of impatience, the management were reluctantly compelled to inform the audience that they were unable to go on, but that they would issue tickets and that the show would be given on Friday, 17th. It appears that when the engine attendant went to start the engine after the interval he encountered trouble. Matters did not improve when a naked light came into contact with some benzine, and the engine became enveloped in flames. These were soon extinguished however, and the engine was started, but fresh trouble was in store, as the dynamo would not work satisfactorily, and as the attempt to procure a satisfactory light was futile, the remainder of the programme had to be abandoned as indicated.’
OLYMPIC PICTURE COMPANY.
The Olympic Picture Company paid frequent visits to the country districts north of Adelaide. In 1911 they were showing at Clare, Blyth, Brinkworth, Saddleworth, Watervale, Auburn, Kadina, Wallaroo and other towns. The manager was Hy. Kerrigan and one of their features was the Johnson-Jeffries Fight.
When reporting the Olympic Picture Company's intended visit to Clare and Blyth in August 1912 the Northern Argus said, ‘a few words in brief will describe their unique and envious position as a travelling picture company. Commencing some two years ago in a small way, they have now achieved the position of the premier travelling show of S.A. Their two circuits, playing every night but Sunday, have but once in the whole two years had to be shut down, a record hard to beat. The latest electric machinery, the most talented staff (each in his particular line) it is possible to secure, tend to make the show a success, the whole being under the personal direction of Mr Geo. G. Holland, an Adelaide identity, who directed his energies into the country districts after an exhaustive business and pleasure trip in England and U.S.A. Residents of these districts are indeed favoured by a company who seldom leave the railway, and only work on circuits covering ground from Gawler to Moonta every week…’
Olympic Pictures advertisements stated that their programmes were shown with the ‘latest model bioscope’ which was powered by a 10-HP electric plant. The proprietor was Mr George G. Holland, and the manager of No. 2 circuit was Mr A. Tims. An exclusive Olympic Picture attraction was the screening of scenes George Holland filmed at the Balaklava, Kadina and Wallaroo races. To see themselves on the screen patrons were advised to go to the races and 'plant yourself in front of the camera.’
In January 1913 the Northern Argus reported that the Olympic Proprieters had presented ‘a first rate lot of pictures. These included moving pictures of the Clare Races, which were very good so far as they went. Unfortunately, however, some of the films had been spoilt by the breaking of a portion of the camera when they were being taken, and consequently this picture was a very short one…’
The company screened an 8,000 foot film, Quo Vadis, at Clare in April 1914. In Adelaide's Silent Nights Dylan Walker states: ‘The demand for Quo Vadis was so great that when George Holland wanted the film for screening at his three Yorke Peninsula venues, he was only able to hire the film for one night, as Perth was next in line for the copy. Holland screened the film at Moonta, beginning at 7 o’clock, and as soon as the first reel had been shown a car waiting outside drove that reel the eleven miles to Wallaroo. As soon as the reel had been screened at Wallaroo another car would take it a further five and a half miles to Kadina. The same procedure was applied to the other eight reels. Such was the precision of the enterprise that neither the Wallaroo nor Kadina audiences were kept waiting for the next reel.’
Twelve months later the company advertised -- ‘Good music, 35-H.P electric plant, Geo. G. Holland licensed operator.’ They were screening their Olympic War Pictures which they had ‘secured during their recent tour of Victoria… The light generated by a 35-h.p. motor car is the acme of perfection, while the reputation of Olympic is sufficient guarantee of a good show with good music.’
Olympic’s advertising in October 1916 was certain to attract an adult audience. A film they were to screen at Clare dealt with motherhood and the care of children, many of whom, they said, die due to the inexperience of mothers. ‘Deaths in the prenatural state average three babies for each soldier slain, and South Australia is the worst offender. A moral lesson is to be gained on this subject by seeing the greatest picture boom direct from the Wondergraph entitled The Divinity of Motherhood. Never before has attention been riveted so much to a picture as this one, and it should be realised as a duty that everyone should see it. Absolutely no children will be admitted to see this subject, as they may ask awkward questions.’ No admission for children usually guaranteed a good adult attendance.
In 1917 Olympic again screened a film at Clare which was aimed at the adult market. It was called Remorse, or the Red Plague. Olympic advertising said, ‘N.B. Children under Sixteen not admitted. The greatest moral lesson to young men and women ever presented… Usual prices, plus taxes.’ The Northern Argus review said, 'The Chief Secretary only passed this picture (as a censor) on the understanding that no children under sixteen are to be admitted.’ The Red Plague was syphilis, the venereal disease.
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The proprietor of Olympic Pictures was George G. Holland. He was married at Broken Hill on 28 November 1906 and went to Victoria on business in March 1908 He went to America for 15 months, working his passage both ways, returning towards the end of 1910. He went to Broken Hill in 1911. In 1920 he divorced his wife, Felitia Maud Holland, claiming infidelity.
POPULAR PICTURE COMPANY, Clare
From 1911 a local company had screened silent motion pictures in the Clare Town Hall under the name of the Royal Picture Company. The name of the business was changed to The Popular Picture Company in January 1918, the change of name being made ‘at the request of the authorities.’
Arthur Whiteman (q.v.) had been appointed manager of the Royal Pictures in and in January 1919 the Northern Argus reported that Arthur Whiteman had returned from the front (World War I) and had resumed his duties as secretary and manager of the Popular Pictures.
In August 1920 tenders were invited for the purchase of ‘the plant and goodwill of the Popular Pictures at Clare. Plant includes 8-h.p. Lewis engine, with 70 volt x 60 amp dynamo, and accessories. Austral biograph, with iron stand and accessories, and arc lamp.’ The business and plant were bought by Albert E. Smith (q.v.) who continued showing pictures in the Town Hall under the name of Smith’s Pictures.
ROYAL PICTURE COMPANY, Clare.
Travelling picture show proprietors supplied the people of Clare with silent movie entertainment from 1897 until a local picture show company was formed in September 1911.
The local paper, the Northern Argus, reported that with ‘commendable enterprise Messrs Edwards and Abfalter, of Clare, have determined upon running a picture show under the style of "The Royal Pictures" weekly in Clare, and at stated intervals in the surrounding towns… Providing the weather is favorable Messrs Edwards and Abfalter will have snapshots taken of the football match for the premiership of the Mid-Northern Association to be played at Auburn on Saturday … and these will be shown at Clare on Wednesday and Auburn on Thursday.’ The pictures were also to be shown at Blyth every fortnight, and at Mintaro and Watervale.
The Clare Town Hall was packed on the opening night and a number of people had to be turned away. ‘The show was an absolute success. The pictures were a very fine lot, flickerless, and showing distinctly on the screen… First class music was provided by Mr Bishop’s orchestra.’ It seems the promised slides of the football match did not materialise. As an added attraction for one show a ‘popular young contralto singer’, Miss Ruby Scott, was engaged to ‘render her masterpieces’.
The types of picture advertised were variously described as comic, scenic, industrial, instructive and dramatic. There was a tour of the Zoological Garden in Antwerp, a reel showing Baker’s Comic Acrobats, and another showing how Dutch cheese was made. When the pictures were shown at Blyth the local brass band rendered selections outside the hall before the programme commenced.
Because November 1911 had been an unusually hot month the management of the Royal Pictures set up an open-air pavilion on Mr Bentley’s vacant lot adjoining the south side of the Town Hall. The only entrance to the pavilion was through the hall, and pictures were first shown there on one hot night at the end of the month when the day temperature had been 101 degrees. The Northern Argus reported that despite the moonlight most of the films had been shown clearly on the screen.
In 1912 the Royal Pictures ran a series of three beauty competitions. The first offered a prize of one guinea for the prettiest girl, and their advertisement said, ‘All we want, girls, is your photograph, and you can leave the rest to us. Don’t delay. We have a lot of entries already … only a limited number of entrants will be screened. Send your photo with name and address to Royal Pictures, Clare. If you have not got a photo let us make an appointment for you with our photographer, and we will take your photo free.’
The photographs were probably taken by one of the proprietors, Mr Edwards. Although his initials were never given in local newspaper reports, it is believed he was the local photographer, Arthur R. Edwards (q.v.).
Slides of the entrants in the ladies’ beauty competition were screened over four nights and patrons were provided with voting slips at the door which were collected in a ballot box. On the first night the hall was packed with people and some had to be turned away. The portraits of nine young ladies of the Clare and district, ‘most of them of very pleasing appearance’, were thrown on the screen, and the number of votes for each was reported by the Argus. The highest vote recorded on the first night was 186, with two entrants gaining only one vote each! On the fourth and final night, so hot that the open-air pavilion was used again, Miss Charity Fidge was declared the winner.
A gentlemens’ beauty competition followed to find the ‘most handsome man in town’, and slides of the ‘beautiful boys of Clare’ were screened over several nights. To conclude the series a competition was held to find the most beautiful baby, who was to be ‘no older than four years nor younger than 12 months’.The Argus reported that ‘a number of attractive children were shown on the canvas’, and that the audience had selected Hazel Allan, ‘a pretty little child of three years’, as the winner.
In July 1912 Mr A.F. Abfalter purchased Mr Edwards’ interest in the Royal Picture Company and became the sole proprietor. However, by September the Royal Pictures had been formed into a company with Abfalter appointed manager, and a new 12-horsepower electric plant was installed at a cost of £250. The Argus reported that the electric light had made a ‘wonderful difference’ to the appearance of the pictures, and that the ‘Royal Pictures Weekly’ had been introduced, a segment of films depicting interesting events in Australia and overseas. A popular item introduced was the screening of slides of local interest, which included snapshots of Clare residents and scenes photographed around town during the week. Occasionally photographs of general interest taken in the surrounding districts were shown, such as the salt industry at Lochiel.
In December 1912 a major change was made to the screening of the pictures. The hall was re-arranged so that the films were projected through an aperture in the wall of the dressing room behind the stage on to a screen on the western wall of the hall, and some of the audience were provided with seats on the stage.
In January 1913 the Northern Argus reported that Mr Abfalter was leaving Clare for Melbourne, and the following month the pictures were presented under the management of Arthur Whiteman (q.v.).
The Corporation purchased 30 feet of land on the south side of the Town Hall in 1914 and in November 1915 Whiteman was given permission to erect a screen and use the allotment as a pavilion for screening films in the open air during the summer months. The land had already been used for this purpose in 1911. However the practice was not without its drawbacks, as mosquitoes were a problem and one show was washed out by a sudden heavy fall of rain during a thunderstorm.
In March 1917 the company began showing pictures with ‘a new and up-to-date Biograph’ which they claimed was ‘absolutely flickerless’, a claim they had also made for some of their earlier projection machines.
In January 1918 the name of the business was changed to The Popular Picture Company (q.v.), the change of name being made ‘at the request of the authorities.’
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