The former Ambassadors theatre in Hay Street Perth, was based on a grand, spanish style atmospheric theatre in America, the Riveria in Omaha, Nebraska, which opened in 1927, one year before the Ambassadors, and is now preserved as the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Theatre. The Riviera was also the model for The Capitol Theatre in Sydney, which opened on the 7th of April, 1928, with the Ambassadors opening on the 29th of September, that year. The Capitol has been restored to magnificence as a live theatre in that state. Hundreds of atmospheric theatres were built in the US between 1924 and 1932, but only a few in Australia -- of which the Capitol is the last remaining. Additional venetian and roman elements were incorporated in the design of the Ambassadors, and the Sydney Capitol, with the theatre interior designed to evoke a romantic courtyard, with a ceiling lit to imitate a star studded night sky, as if the audience were seated in an open-air garden, surrounded by exotic plants and birds. The theatre also featured a Wurlitzer organ, which would rise from the floor to entertain moviegoers, before the screening commenced. A band also performed from the orchestra pit, and there were stage shows. The orchestra was dispensed with in 1931 and the exterior redesigned in "moderne" style in 1938, a late type of the Art Deco design. The organ was replaced in 1946, by a white grand piano that had a decorative role. The Ambassadors closed on 4 February, 1972, and was demolished soon afterwards. The black and white film was taken by the late Ken Alexander (former projectionist, cine cameraman and TVW film editor). The film was provided courtesy of Barry Goldman, a friend and colleague of Ken Alexander. The narrator is former TVW and ABW host and reporter John Hudson. The colour photos come from the collection of cinema pioneer, the late Ron Tutt.
Visibility: 2619
Duration: 4m 15s
Rating: 14