With the cinemas receiving a reliable supply of the latest films, mainly from the US. As an example, It was stated that the Butterfly Picture Theatre had 81,000 ft per week of new films (3).  Despite the number of films available, Alf Beszant often screened the same film at Bennington’s and the Granville Picture Palace. 

To attract audiences there was emphasis on additional entertainment at the cinemas.  Either to accompany the films or as a special performance.  Bennington’s had a 14 musician orchestra (Saturday nights only) and said it had the biggest orchestra outside of Sydney (4).

Some of the live entertainment that performed at the cinemas in Parramatta and Granville were:

Monday and Tuesday, 15^th and 16^th May 1919 – Victor Prince’s Pantomime Company performed ‘Robinson Crusoe’ at Bennington’s (5).

Saturday 2^nd August 1919 – Mandinoes Performing Dogs at the matinees of Bennington’s and Granville Picture Palace (6).

Saturday 9^th August 1919, the second anniversary of Alf Beszant operation of Bennington’s – Henri  Roussen, Canadian violinist, performed ‘Pierrot-Serenade’ (7).

Saturday 30^th August 1919, the Fish Jubilee Singers performed at Bennington’s (8).

Saturday, 23^rd September 1919 – Bennington’s additional program was, Cornet solo, “The Rose of No Man’s Land”, cornet and trombone duet, "Excelsion”; violin solo, “Traumeri”; also “No 2 Czaedas; the famous Trombone Sneeze, “Miss Trombone”, and “High Junks” selections by the big orchestra (9).

Tuesday 2^nd September 1919 – Bennington’s engaged 70 members from the State Conservatorium Orchestra, Signor Capelli, the Orchestra’s vocalist, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.  The prices charged were: 3/-, 2/-, 1/- (10).

Saturday 27^th September 1919 – Jack Cannot, late of J,C, Williamson, with all his song and imitations, appeared at Bennington’s (11).

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 17^th, 18^th and 19^th November 1919 – The Butterfly hosted, direct from the Theatre Royal, the young prima donna, Miss Carrie Lancley, accompanied by the Melody Maids: Miss Doris Stuble, solo pianist; Miss Eva Symons, solo vioinliste; Miss Nellie Simpson, solo flutiste and celloiste.  The Butterfly also included there would be no price rise (12).

Wednesday 24^th and Thursday 25^th March 1920 – Welso and his merry band of  Marionettes appeared at Bennington’s (13).

Tuesday 6^th April 1920 – The Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra made a return visit to Bennington’s (14).

Monday 12^th and Tuesday 13^th July 1920 at Granville Picture Palace and Wednesday 14^th and Thursday 15^th July 1920 at Bennington’s, Alf Beszant presented Astra, the mysterious mind reader and Silvester, the magician (15).

On Saturday, 19^th June there was a unique musical performance at Bennington’s.  On that evening the Prince’s Own HMS Renown Band and Concert Party performed.  The then, Prince of Wales, Edward, was making a tour of Australia and the Band and Concert Party from HMS Renown made a special appearance.  There were a number of films taken of the Prince of Wales visit to Australia.  These were screened at the Butterfly on 26^th July and included, HRH Prince of Wales ... Visit to Parramatta, The Entrance of the ‘Renown’ through Sydney Heads, The Landing of His Royal Highness the Prince and Scenes of the Processions and the crowds that Witnessed It (16).

Saturday, 11^th October 1919, saw the reopening of the Castle Theatre in Granville.  There were no details as to reason why it was closed (17).  On Thursday and Friday, 2nd and 3rd December, the Castle Theatre hosted the 9th Western Suburbs Brigade (Senior Cadets), Championship Boxing Tournament. During the week the Theatre also hosted 'The Visit of the Famous Troupe of French Boxers' who provided sparring exhibitions.

In the latter part of 1920 Alf Beszant took over Harry Mainsbridge’s interest in the Butterfly.  At that time he operated seven cinemas under the name of Western Amalgamated Cinemas:

Parramatta Cinema, no. 1 (Late Bennington’s)

Parramatta Cinema, no. 2 (Late Butterfly)

Auburn Cinema (Late Queen’s Theatre)

Burwood Cinema, no. 1, Burwood Rd.

Burwood Cinema, no. 2 (Late Butterfly, Burwood)

Granville Picture Palace, next to Post Office

Castle Theatre, South Street, Granville (18).

In December 1920, an Abridged Prospectus was issued to raise capital of £20,000 for Parramatta Cinema Ltd. There was to be 20,000 shares of £1 each.

The Directors were: Reginald Brown, Medical Practitioner, Parramatta (Chairman), Alfred James Beszant, Picture Theatre Proprietor, Granville (Managing Director) and Arthur Henry Collett, Gentleman, Parramatta.

The objects of the Company were to take over Bennington’s Cinema Ltd, build a new modern style cinema on the Bennington’s site, with a seating capacity of 2,500.  The new theatre was to have a stage for the presentation of theatrical productions.  The cost was estimated at £13,000.

The Butterfly Picture Theatre was only going to be used when it the new cinema was at maximum capacity, usually on Saturdays and public holidays.  When it was not required, ‘it will be made available for various entertainments, etc. as may appear advisable and profitable’ (19).

References

The Cumberland Argus and Fruit Growers Gazette

1.    8^th March 1919

2.    17^th May 1919

3.    29^th November 1919

4.    2^nd August 1919

5.    31^st May 1919

6.    2^nd August 1919

7.    9^th August 1919

8.    30^th August 1919

9.    23^rd September 1919

10.  30^th August 1919

11.  27^th September 1919

12.  15^th November 1919

13.  20^th March 1920

14.  27^th March 1920

15.  10^th July 1920

16.  19^th June 1920

17.  11^th October 1920

18.  4^th December 1920

19.  11^th December 1920.