The entertainment on offer to the residents of Parramatta mainly came from within the community.  Dances and balls were organised by the many of the community organisations of the town, with funds going to assist them with their work or to help other activities in the town, such as Parramatta Hospital.  The School of Arts arranged Spring Shows, musical and elocutionary competitions and lantern entertainment.  The churches would also arrange special concerts to coincide with significant religious occasions.

A Grand Gramophone Concert was organised by Mr. T. R. Moxham on the 3rd October 1906.  The concert opened with callisthenic displays, followed by the playing of Melba and Patti (Adelina Patti - Italian soprano opera singer) records.  The proceeds of this event was to go towards the Y.W.C.A. (Young Women's Christian Association) Piano and General Fund.(1)

The people in the town also formed the Amateur Dramatic Society, Parramatta and District Amateur Orchestral Society, and a Liedertafel (group formed for the pleasure of singing in chorus).  This involvement in music and dramatic arts was not just for adults.  At the end of each year the pupils of the various singing or music teachers would give their annual concert for their parents and friends.  Brass Bands were also popular with a number being established in the Parramatta/Granville area, such as Parramatta Baptist Church Band, Parramatta Citizen's Band and Clyde Band.  During World War I, a band was established for the 20th (Parramatta) Regiment. 

From outside the township entertainment was provided by the professional showman, circuses, vaudeville troops, some screening films, dramatic theatre companies, including some specialising in Shakespeare.  

From the nature of entertainment on offer to the residents of Parramatta it would probably have been egalitarian in its approach.  Everyone would have been encouraged to attend and support the activities run by their fellow community members.  Even the professional shows would have encouraged maximum attendance, although the more affluent members of the community would probably sit in the more expensive seats at the front.

However, the Metropolitan Quartette Concert Company, was aiming at a more discerning audience for their concert held on Thursday, 17th May 1906.  They advertised their concert would 'give the greatest possible intellectual pleasure to all true lovers of high class music'.(2)

But with the commencement of permanent picture theatres in Parramatta there was a change in the type of entertainment now offered to the town's residents.  It would be a wrong to think that the screening of motion pictures replaced the other entertainments that were on offer, but they did have an impact.  The moving pictures provided for the first time mass entertainment for the towns people.  They offered entertainment every evening, other than Sunday, and with the amount of films being produced throughout the world, especially from the United States, programs were being changed three or four times weekly.  The cost for attending a night at the moving pictures could also a factor.  The price being charged was called "people's prices", 3 pence and 6 pence.  While the dances and travelling shows charged between 1 shilling and 5 shillings.  Also, they were open to anyone irrespective of gender, age or religion.

Benefits

When hard working and respected members of the community feel on hard times due to an accident, illness or the death of the breadwinner, benefit evenings were held to raise funds for these needy members of the community.  These benefits were usually organised by a committee of local residents.

Prior to the commencement of the screening of films in Parramatta, benefits (or Continentals as they were also called), took place in the Town Hall or other community hall.  They were organised by a committee of local residents and usually consisted of the community's professional and not so professional musicians and entertainers performing an evenings entertainment, consisting of singing, recitations, comic routines and musical numbers.

On Monday, 22nd October 1906, Bert Howard invited the boys from the Westmead Home and one hundred men from the Asylum to attend that evening's performance given by his Howardscope and entertainers.(3)  Although, not strictly a benefit, it was the first recorded time when the screening of motion pictures provided something more than an income for the operator.

The first benefit to use motion pictures was for the, "widow and orphans of the late Mr. M. O. Gittoes, who died in the Parramatta Hospital". It was held on Thursday, 17th September 1908 in Parramatta Town Hall.  The machine belonged to Mr. Tom Murphy and was called Murphy's Great Kronojector Picture Machine.  From the reports the benefit was very successful, "the hall was literally packed from floor to ceiling, 'standing room only'".   The evening was not totally devoted to moving pictures there were numbers by the orchestra and songs by individual performers.(4,5)

Mr. Murphy's Kronojector was used for another benefit three months later.  On Friday, 18th December 1908, at Parramatta Town Hall, a benefit was held for the widow and two young children of Mr. Noah (Perry) Barter, who had died recently at Price Alfred Hospital.  In addition to the Kronojector, there were a number local and metropolitan artists and the St. John's Brass Band played outside the hall prior to the commencement of the evening.(6)

Benefits were not just for individuals, in 1908 the L.O.L. [Loyal Orange Lodge], no. 8 held a kinomatograph entertainment at the Macquarie Hall, Macquarie Street, Parramatta to raise funds for their work.(7)  While in 1909, the Granville Political Labour League Group and the [Granville] District Football Association held similar functions to raise funds for their organisations.(8,9)

Once the permanent pictures were established in 1910, the venue and format of the benefits changed.  No longer did the benefits consist of live professional and amateur performers at the Town Hall.  They now consisted of a new program of films and musical acts arranged by the picture theatre proprietor. 

Initially, benefits were held on any week night but it did not take the theatre proprietors long to ensure that they were scheduled for either Tuesday or Wednesday, which were probably nights when attendance would have been down.  This would ensure that there would be a full house on those nights and in most cases expenses for the operation of the theatre would be deducted prior to distribution of the proceeds from the evening.

The first benefit to use a picture theatre was on Friday, 29th April 1910 in the aid of Mr. James Smith, "who has had a serious bout of illness in his family".  The theatre used was the only one at that time, Parramatta (Bennington's) Picture Palace in George Street, Parramatta.  The "pictures and the place of entertainment were kindly placed at the disposal of the [organising] Committee by Messrs. Bennington Bros.".  The St John's Brass Band was also in attendance.(10)

The Parramatta District Hospital was the recipient of many of these benefits.  One such benefit was held at the Butterfly Picture Theatre on Tuesday, 6th September 1910.  For this benefit Bennington Bros., through a generous act of goodwill closed their theatre for the evening.  The amount raised from this benefit was £43 11s.

Not all benefits were for needy individuals or organisation.  On Tuesday, 19th September 1911 a benefit was held for Mr. Lou Deitz in recognition of his assistance in the organisation of benefits for others over the past ten years.  On this evening, in addition to the films screened, the Citizens Band played selections and vaudeville artists were also included in the program.(11)

Once World War I commenced there was a shift towards the raising of funds for the men at the front.  Needy individuals and organisations where still catered for but the list now included, Parramatta Patriotic Fund, Granville Patriotic Association, Red Cross Society, Parramatta Voluntary Workers Association and one especially for "our wounded heroes", the Australia Day Fund.  All three picture theatres, Bennington's, Butterfly and Star, sponsored a benefit for the Australia Day Fund, and all these benefits were conducted at a similar time in July 1915.

The benefits were not only for the support of our soldiers.  Benefits were held for the Belgian Relief Fund, Belgian Red Cross Fund, to assist the victims of the invasion of Belgium by Germany at the beginning of the war.  There was also a benefit held at Granville for the Italian Red Cross Fund.

Pictures theatres also proved to be a place to arrange spontaneous collections.  In November 1915, Mr. P. Stettler collected  3s. and 4½d. at Bennington's Picture Theatre in aid of the Sheepskin Vests Fund.(12)  Sheepskin vests were sent to the soldiers to try and provide them with warmth during the winter months.

The distribution of the proceeds from some benefits were not without criticism.  A benefit was held on behalf of the Granville Patriotic Association, at Bergin's Picture Palace, on 9th October 1915, the proceeds were to purchase watches for the soldiers going to the front.(13)  This act was criticised two weeks later as a waste of money to purchase wristlet watches, when the money could have been spent on warm clothing.(14)

There was a lot of pageantry with some of the benefits.  One held in March 1912 at the Castle Picture Palace, in aid of the local hospitals, under the auspices of the Granville Brotherhood, commenced with a procession from the fire station of friendly societies, with the marchers being accompanied by three bands.(15)  The benefit held for the Parramatta Patriotic Fund on 31st August 1914 at the Butterfly Picture Theatre was preceded by a parade of troops and bands through the town commencing at the Lancer Barracks and finishing at the theatre.(16)

Reaction to the Cinema

During the first thirteen years there was little public reaction, other than well attended screenings, to films in Parramatta and surrounding suburbs.  This may have been due to the thought that films were just a passing novelty and the public's unquestioning acceptance of the films being screened or the nature of their presentation, itinerant showman coming to the town for one or two nights and moving on.

Once the permanent picture theatres were established comment and criticism started to emerge.  This comment and criticism may have come from people with a genuine concern for the moral development of the community, in particular the children, or it may have been that this form of mass entertainment was proving a threat to the other more established social institutions of the town.  The films being screened in picture theatres began to present competition to the hotels and the churches and assisted in the shift of community focus.  More people, many thousands, would attend the picture theatres on a Saturday evening than would have gone to church the following morning.

Moving pictures supplanted the way benefits would be staged for the needy in the community.  There was still a need to have an organising committee but there was no longer any need to arrange performers as everything was provided by the picture theatre proprietor.  People who once were being recognised in the town for their musical talent through their assistance at the benefits were no longer asked for this assistance.

The first recorded public comment came from the Rev. James Worboys, at the close of the service at the Parramatta Baptist Church on Sunday 10th July 1910.  He was supporting a move by the heads of the various churches to ban "fight pictures" (films of boxing matches).(17)  It is not sure whether this ban was for all fight pictures or one in particular.  On the 4th July 1910, Jack Johnson, a "person of colour", knocked out the white ex-champion, Jim Jeffries, in Reno, Nevada, USA.(18)  There was considerable reaction to the film in the United States, which eventually lead to the banning of the filming and screening of fight pictures.(19)  Although there was considerable discussion about the fight there was no such ban placed on fight pictures in Australia and the Johnson - Jeffries Fight (1910) was screened at Parramatta, in November of that year.(20)  Although the screening was five months after the fight, this would not be considered an excessive delay for a film to come from the United States.  This presentation was followed by the screening of many fight pictures over the next few years.

After this there was the occasional article regarding films in the local paper, one article compared the moving picture to the penny dreadful or that films should only be used for educational purposes and that it would, "be a calamity to allow our rising generation to grow up with an interest only in blood-curdling drama, sentimental love scenes or bold buccaneers or bushrangers".(21)  One letter to the paper, from "Moralist", complained that the film titled, Mrs. Tanqueray, was utterly demoralising(22) or Mr. Beeby advocating a curfew for children to stop them attending picture shows.(23) 

But in an article titled 'Sequel to a Moving Picture' a more specific allegation is laid:

It was freely stated at the time that the terrible burning fatality at Granville not long ago was caused by the children acting a fire scene from a picture show.(24)

Public meetings were also called to address the issue of censorship.  In March 1912, Granville P and C held a meeting in Granville Town Hall and resolved to urge the Chief Secretary, in the interests of young people, for rigid censorship.

Some picture theatre proprietors were sensitive to the concern expressed by the community.  In May 1911, the proprietors of Bennington's Picture Palace stated, that they would not show anymore Australian bushranging pictures.(25)  This decision preceded, by twelve months, the decision by the New South Wales Police Department, who at this time was responsible for censorship of films, to ban all bushranging films.  It appears that these films made a mockery of the law and glorified bushrangers to audiences largely composed of children and young adults.(26)  The Butterfly Picture Theatre did not act in a like manner but continued to show bushranging films, to packed houses, until they were finally banned.

But, Henry Mainsbridge of the Butterfly Picture Theatre was not totally without regard for community sentiment.  In October 1916, he introduced a policy:

To offer at all times only such entertainments as will be consistent with the dignity of Australian manhood.  Our house is a theatre for Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Wives, where purity of thought will be considered above all things.(27)

In addition to this, for the Australian film Remorse or The Red Plague (1917), screened at the Butterfly on Thursday and Friday 8th and 9th March 1917, was described as, "the greatest evil the screen has ever had the privilege of showing" and "it touches every phase of a terrible evil".(28)  The story centred around a naive country boy who visits the city and is led astray and contracts venereal disease.  The Chief Secretary's Office allowed the screening provided, no children under the age of sixteen were be admitted.(29)

The call for the censorship would not have been restricted to citizen groups from Parramatta and surrounding suburbs, and the New South Wales Government responded to their cries.  In November 1912, the police were given further powers governing the screening of films.  Any person conducting a picture show was to submit to the nearest police station, a copy of the weeks program and screening dates.  A short description of each film was also to be supplied for the information and guidance of the officer inspecting the program.  If required, the films were to be screened for the police.

The power to censor films was given under the "Theatres and Public Halls Act, 1908", Regulation 60 - (Part V), which stated:

(l) No objectionable cinematograph pictures shall be exhibited in any licensed theatre, public hall, or temporary structure, including any pictures representing-

(i)    Scenes suggestive of immorality or indecency.

(ii)    executions, murders, or other revolting scenes.

(iii)   Scenes of debauchery, low habits of life, or other scenes such as would have a demoralising effect on young persons.

(iv)   Successful crime, such as bushranging, robberies, or other acts of lawlessness, which might reasonably be considered as having an injurious influence on youthful minds.(30)

In December 1912, the New South Wales Government added an extra section to one of the regulations.  Films that had passed the censorship authority of "The British Board of Film Censors, London" and "The National Board of Censorship of Motion Pictures, New York", need not be screened for the police.

Four years later the New South Wales Government established its own Board of Censors.  The Board comprised:

-       The Chief Secretary (Chairman)

-       The Minister of Education

-       The Under Secretary, Chief Secretary's Department

-       The Under Secretary, Department of Education

-       The Director General of Public Health

-       The Inspector of Police.

The federal government followed suit in 1917 by establishing its own censorship board.

On the 10th, 11 and 12th November 1919, the Butterfly Theatre screened another film that came with a parental warning.  The film was Damaged Goods (1919), and was plea for a pure life before marriage.  The advertisement for the film in the, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Gazette for 8th November 1919, proclaimed the following and included words of advice for parents:

Moral Cleanliness is the Keynote. The Sins of the Father the Theme. It deals with a Great, Big Human Problem in a Great, Big Way. It treats a Daring Subject Boldly, yet Delicately. THE GRAVEST OF ALL DANGERS CONFRONTING US ARE IGNORANCE, PRUDEST, QUAKERY, HYPOCRISY. NO GIRL IS SAFE WHILE THE DOUBLE STANDARD OR MORALITY EXIST. PARENTS – You should investigate the heath of your daughter’s prospective husband as a business house would the character of an application for employment. Every boy and girl should know of the pitfalls of life before being thrown upon their own resources. No Individual Under 16 Years of Age Admitted By order of Commonwealth Film Censorship Board.

References

1.    Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate.  29th September 1906.  p. 9.