THE OPENING NIGHT 

Welcome to the Civic Theatre!

Welcome! Tonight you are our guest, so please, let our selected staff of attendants, who will forever be at your call, take your coat for you.[1]

 

My name is Ron Sutton, and I am the manager of Scone’s New Theatre of the Stars. [2] In a time when new theatres are springing up in almost every city throughout the land, I am honoured to welcome you to the Opening of the Civic Theatre. The Civic – Australian built, is dedicated to the picturegoers of Scone, and we sincerely hope and trust that … within the portals of this new showplace you will find comfort, refinement, and the ultimate in motion picture art.[3]

 

If you don’t mind, please allow me to elaborate on some of the theatre’s most elegant features. Made possible by local capital, the theatre cost approximately £14,000.[4] The Civic contains state of the art cinemachinery equipment installed by the National Theatre Supply Company.[5]For our patrons greater entertainment we have installed in this theatre the world famous RCA High Fidelity Sound Equipment.[6] To ensure still a greater comfort at the Civic Theatre, the architects Messrs. Crick & Furse, chose “The Unit Air Conditioners”.[7]Do you realise what this means? It means that however sweltering outside, it will always be cool and equable in the “Civic”; that however wintry in the streets, cosy warmth will pervade the interior of the new theatre. Winter in Summer, Summer in Winter.[8]

 

 

I have held you long enough, dear guest. Please, enjoy tonight's screening of A Bride for Henry and Stolen Heaven. May you also be assured that this evening’s grand performance will be repeated week after week throughout the forthcoming years.[9]


[1] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 16.

[2] The Scone Advocate, 29th July 1938; 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 8. 

[3] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 3.

[4] The Scone Advocate, 29th July 1938.

[5] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 2.

[6] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 12.

[7] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 10.

[8] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 11.

[9] 1938 Souvenir Programme, page 7. 



Please, take a programme...

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Allow me to show you to your seat...

Original Seating Plan - Dress Circle
Original Seating Plan - Dress Circle
Original Seating Plan - Stalls
Original Seating Plan - Stalls

Photograph from the Opening Night - The Scone Advocate, 29th July 1938
Photograph from the Opening Night - The Scone Advocate, 29th July 1938

Enjoy the show!

WARREN HULL and ANNE NAGEL

- in -

"A BRIDE FOR HENRY"

(Direct from State Theatre, Sydney)

 

"Opened In Blaze of Splendour"

The Scone Advocate - 29th July 1938

Scone Theatres Pty. Limited

Memorandum of Association

22 November 1937

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The Original Directors

 9th December 1937

Resources:

The Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society generously gave me access to: the Souvenir Programme from the 1938 opening,  and the theatre's original seating plans. 

The Scone Advocate article from the 29th July 1938 were accessed via Trove.

The Memorandum of Association and the list of original directors are held at the NSW State Records Office.