The first presentation of the flickers, moving pictures or the cinema occured in Parramatta on Tuesday 8th February 1898. A cinematograph, as the event was called, took place in the St. John's Church Schoolroom. The purpose of the screening was to raise funds for the Sunday School. (1)
'The "living pictures" shown were very realistic, the street scenes and sea coast effects being especially admired' (2)
The evening was presided over by the Venerable Archdeacon Gunther, while Miss Harper officiated at the piano, it is not sure whether Miss Harper's music accompanied the films or acted as a musical interlude. Mr. J.B. Wakely (of Newcastle (3)) provide the cinematograph show. (4) Also, included in the show were limelight views, produced through the use of what was then referred to as a "magic" lantern or a slide projector.
Although the first screening in Parramatta occurred in April, 1898. This was fifteen months after the first screening in Sydney, during September 1896, by Maurice Sestier using a Lumiere Cinematograph, and sixteen months after the first recorded screening in Australia, by Carl Hertz on the 22nd August 1896 at the Melbourne Opera House. (5)
J.B Wakley was to make a return visit a couple of months later on Tuesday 19th April. This time the screening took place in the Macquaries Hall, George Street, Parramatta and was introduced by Rev. J.E. Carruthers, the Wesleyan Church Minister. Included with the films limelight views of Mt. Kosciusko and a display of Roentgen Radiographs, or X-Rays. (6)
Another one of the early film exhibitors who visited Parramatta was Alfred Mason, a 'native' of the town. Having returned from a tour of Singapore and Queensland and having just received the latest films from London, he wanted to commence his next tour, in his 'native' town of Parramatta. His tour commenced on Thursday, 13th October 1898, at Parramatta Town Hall. In addition to presenting the films on the 'Lumiere's Improved Cinematograph' (improved, that it could project slides as well as films (7) ), he also demonstrated Edison's latest Concert Phonograph, which provided 'brilliant and loud song and band music'. (8, 9, 10)
Alfred Mason presented a Saturday afternoon matinee on 15th October at Macquarie Hall, Parramatta. He then went on tour for the next three weeks visiting Granville, Rookwood, Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Kenthurst and Dural. He returned on Tuesday, 8th November to screen scenes from 'The Melbourne Cup'. (11)
There were no further advertised film screenings until the Merchant Discount Coupon Company gave a free exhibition on Saturday, 3rd and Monday, 5th June 1899. But this time the venue for the screening was a bit different. The films were screened he balcony of T.W. Pollock's store in Church Street, Parramatta. Interspersed amongst the films were magic lantern slides advertising local trades people who were distributing the coupons. (12) It would appear the films were supplementing the advertisement and not the advertisements supplementing the films.
J.C. Williamson, the theatrical entrepreneur, visited Parramatta on Tuesday, 3rd July 1900 and presented his "Anglo-American Bio Tableau" at Parramatta Town Hall. This was a presentation of films of the numerous events and scenes of the British Boar War. These films were described as:
'depicting stirring scenes of battles and operations of the British Boar War in South Africa specially photographed by permission of the Imperial War Office.' (13)
The films were also screened at a matinee the following day at 2.30 pm. (14) This exhibition had already been presented in Melbourne and at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney and was to commence at Sydney's Lyceum Theatre on 7th July. (15)
Another presentation on the subject of the Boar War and Australia's involvement was made by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson on Monday and Tuesday, 1st and 2nd October 1900. As a war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald, he gave lectures of his personal recollections about the War and of the Australia soldiers involvement. His lecturers were supplemented with illuminated pictures (lantern slides) of his own sketches and photographs. (16) In the latter part of October and after his lectures at Parramatta, fifty short films were included in the presentation. (17)
George Snazelle, British entertainer and raconteur, and Captain F. Edwards of the Royal Navy, presented West and Son's, documentary film series, Our Navy, on 18th June 1901, at the Parramatta, Town Hall. During the screening George Snazelle, 'describes in a chatty, pleasing and intelligent manner the different pictures as they are presented, interspersing here and there humorous anecdotes and appropriate songs'.(18) This method of presentation, a lecture and other entertainment, such as singing or humorous sketches, and not relying solely on the screening of the films was to become normal practice and continued for a very long time.
On Monday, 14th October 1901, there was a presentation of Mark Blow's 'Crown Bioscope Company's' filming of the Opening of Federal Parliament (1901) by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 7th October 1901.(19)
Mr. Rennie, the manager of the Parramatta branch of the Co-operative Coupon Company, gave a biograph exhibition from the top windows of his premises in Church St. on Wednesday, 27th August 1902. This exhibition was viewed by "some hundreds" of people, either standing or seated in Church Street.(20)
Mr. Rennie was the main provider of film entertainment at Parramatta for the next twelve months. He presented two more screenings in January 1903 and one in June 1903. The screening held on Saturday, 10th January 1903 is stated to have attracted 3,000 people.(21,22,23)The first advertised film screening that took place at Granville was on Thursday, 3rd September 1903. The Salvation Army, the most prolific Australian film producers of this period, screened their production, a two-hour slide and film documentary, Under Southern Skies (1902), at Granville Town Hall.(24)
There were only four recorded screenings in Parramatta or Granville between September 1903 and August 1906. On Friday and Saturday, 16th and 17th September 1904, Mr. A. Clark presented Edison's Kinetoscope, on 23rd March 1906 the Salvation Army screened again at Granville Town Hall and on the 25th May 1906 the Trevelyan's Entertainers screened films with their live performers.(25,26,27)
Tuesday, 21st August 1906 commenced the season of Bert Howard, his Howardscope and troupe of vaudeville performers. It was claimed that the Howardscope was able to produce the largest picture in Australia.(28) It would have probably have been one of the many film projectors available at that time that were given a unique name by its operators. Bert Howard screened films continually during his weekly performances until Monday 11th February 1907. Bert Howard also held screenings at Granville and Rookwood. It would be another twelve months until he returned to Parramatta. Another 'ex-native' of Parramatta, Mr. W. G. French, presented films and illustrated songs at the Parramatta, Town Hall on Monday, 10th (advertisement) and Monday, 17th June 1907. He wanted, 'to present to his native townsmen the greatest feast of splendor and laughter that is possible to witness'.(29)
Throughout the rest of 1907 and part 1908 there were many one night film screenings. In particular was the screening held on Tuesday, 13th October 1908. On that evening Campbell's Moving Pictures screened films at Parramatta Cricket Oval. The nights entertainment consisted of the St. John's Band and moving pictures. One of the films screened that evening was The Visit of the American Fleet to Sydney.(31) This film would have been of special interest to the people of Parramatta as there was much publicity about the American Fleet coming to Australia and when some of the members of the Fleet visited Parramatta, the Council put on special activities to mark the occasion. On Tuesday, 16th March 1909, the U.A.O.D. (United Ancient Order of Druids) (No. 9 District) presented a 'grand picture show' at Parramatta Town Hall. The main attraction of the evening was a screening of a film of the Grand Procession of the Druids, of the metropolitan and suburban districts, on Anniversary Day (26th January 1909) through the streets of Sydney. It would appear that this evening was the conclusion of a twelve month advertising program, for the promotion of the Druid lodge and the film had been a recent inclusion. The Honorary Secretary was Mr. A. E. Roberts and the Honorary Treasurer was Mr. H. J. Epps, while Mr. Olly Wilson was the stage manager.(32)
Three days later, on Friday 19th March 1909, a picture and variety show was given in aid of the Granville Political Labour Council, at Granville Town Hall. It would appear the greater part of the program consisted of moving pictures shown by the 'Barlowscope', lent for the occasion by Mr. F. Barlow, with Mr. Arthur Guest acting as operator and lecturer explaining the pictures as they were screened. One of the most interesting film screened was the series devoted to the Sydney Tram Strike.(33)
From Saturday 19th June 1909, West's pictures commenced weekly screenings, every Saturday evening, at Parramatta Town Hall. The films were billed as 'Direct from the Palace Sydney', so it would appear that once the films were screened at West's theatre in Sydney they would be screened at Parramatta.(34) West continued screening films, and by all accounts getting good audiences, until March 1910. Thomas J. West arrived in Australia from England in 1904. By this time he was already the owner of the largest cinema circuits in England and within seven years would be the largest exhibitor in Australia.(35)
Wednesday, 20th October saw the screening of films at the first permanent picture theatre in Parramatta. The Parramatta Skating Rink, situated in Macquarie St., was converted into 'The Cino-Casinograph', under the management of Mr. H. L. Dallas.(36)
The Cumberland Argus reported the opening as follows:
'The Cino-Casinograph is now firmly and satisfactorily established at the skating rink, Macquarie street, Parramatta notwithstanding the partial collapse of the lighting apparatus on the opening night.; On Thursday [2nd evening] things were O.K. and everything went swimmingly. Outside the grounds of the rink had been illuminated with electric lights and fairy lanterns; and a stall fronting the pretty flower beds and the well-lighted promenades. Delectable refreshments were dispensed by an attractive staff of ladies. The hall is most commodious, and needed little fitting inside save provisions for the talented orchestra engaged by the Cino-Casinograph promoters, and that for the comfort of the hundreds of patrons expected nightly. The views thrown on the screen, most successfully, on Thursday, included representations dramatic, scenic (including pictures of the delightful Riviera district of Europe), and comic. Mr. H.L. Dallas is the capable manager of the Cino-Casinograph, which should fill a social want in the life of the community. In order to provide for every emergency, the management had sent up from Sydney on a motor-trolly two extra electric plants and four engineers. The Cino-Casinograph will run nightly until further notice.'(38)
On the 13th November, the Cino-Casinograph introduced 'The Wonderful Cinephone'.(39) The Cinephone was an attempt to synchronise gramophone and film, the same procedure was used with limited success in the late 1920's and the introduction of talking pictures.(40)
The Cino-Casinograph continued screening every evening, with a change of program every Wednesday and Saturday, until its last screening on Wednesday, January 26th 1910.(41) When the Cino-Casinograph first commenced, the program was completely films by the time it finished operation it was a combination of films supported by live performers.
References
1. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 12th February 1898. p. 4.
2. Ibid.
3. Long, C. (1993). Australia's first films: part five: indigenous. Cinema Papers, no. 95, 43.
4. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 12th February 1898. p. 4.
5. Reade, E. (1970). Australian silent films: a pictorial history of silent films from 1896 to 1929. Melbourne, Lansdown Press.
6. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 23rd April 1898 p. 4.
7. Long, C. (1993). Australia's first films: part five: indigenous. Cinema Papers, no. 96, 33.
8. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 8th October 1898. p. 4.
9. Ibid. 12th October 1898. p. 4 & 5.
10. Ibid. 19th October 1898. p. 5.
11. Ibid. 5th November 1898. p. 4.
12. Ibid. 3rd June 1899
13. Ibid. 30th June 1900. p.
14. Ibid.
15. Reade, E. (1970). Australian silent films: a pictorial history of silent films from 1896 to 1929. Melbourne, Lansdown Press.
16. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 29th September 1900. p. 4.
17. Long, C. (1993). Australia's first films: facts and fables. Part nine: colonial cinema's conclusion. Cinema Papers, no. 100, 60-65, 84-85.
18. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 19th June 1901. p. 2.
19. Ibid. 12th October 1901. p. 9.
20. The Cumberland Herald. 30th August 1902. p. 10.
21. Ibid. 10th January 1903. p. 8.
22. Ibid. 17th January 1903. p. 7.
23. The Cumberland Weekly Times. 13th June 1903. p.
24. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 29th August 1903. p. 2.
25. Ibid. 14th September 1904. p. 2.
26. Ibid. 24th March 1906. p. 2.
27. Ibid. 19th May 1906. p. 9.
28. Ibid. 18th August 1906. p. 3
29. Ibid. 1st June 1907. p. 9.
30. Ibid. 8th June 1907. P. 9
31. Ibid. 10th October 1908. P. 4.
32. Ibid. 20th March 1909. P. 4.
33. Ibid. 24th March 1909. p. 2.
34. Ibid. 12th June 1909. p. 9.
35. Collins, D. (1987). Hollywood down under Australians at the movies: 1896 to the present day. North Ryde, Angus and Robertson.
36. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 16th October 1909. p. 12.
37. Ibid. 20th October 1909. P. 3.
38. Ibid. 23rd October 1909. p. 4.
39. Ibid. 13th November 1909. p. 12.
40. Reade, E. (1970). Australian silent films: a pictorial history of silent films from 1896 to 1929. Melbourne, Lansdown Press.
41. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocated. 26th January 1910. p. 3.
French's Moving Pictures
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