The Metro Theatre in Hindley Street in Adelaide. Photo courtesy of State Library of South Australia. https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9807
A few weeks back I went to the University of South Australia Architecture Museum located just off North Terrace in the city. This museum is a treasure trove of drawings, plans, letters, periodicals etc. of many buildings past and present in South Australia. Here I was able to look at original copies of designs for some of the picture theatres within South Australia. I photographed many of the drawings and I really look forward over the next few posts in sharing some of these images with you. I do need to return to the museum as there is much more that I would love to look at. It is an invaluable tool for research.
(detail of drawing) issued by Thos. W Lamb in New York, USA.
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
In amongst the drawings I did view were several for the Metro Theatre in Hindley Street in Adelaide. Built in 1939 for MGM, Ross Thorne describes it as ' traditionally art deco' in design (1981, p. 224). The Metro Cinema was designed by Thos. W. Lamb Inc. in New York USA. The local associated architect was F. Kenneth Milne; the builders were Fricker Brothers (Thorne 1981, p. 224).
Transverse through Grand Foyer, Store and office. (detail of drawing) issued by Thos. W Lamb in New York, USA.
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
Drawing issued by Thos. W Lamb in New York, USA.
Courtesy of the University of South Australia Architecture Museum
The metro was built to American guidelines. Thorne describes the exterior as 'momumental skyscraper style' (1981 p.225). The building certainly stood out from those that surrounded it.
When I interviewed Allan Hall for my previous blogs here and here, he mentioned that the roof was build to withstand up the 6 foot of snow (Interview with Allan Hall, dated 19th March, 2021), an unlikely event in Adelaide. Allan also mentioned that the projection angle was 'pretty severe' and the Metro had 'the most insane projection angle' and that they had 'to lay the screen back, to accomodate the focus, otherwise it would be out of focus in one place or another, and that they cut the masking to make it look as if it was square'(ibid).
Image courtesy of State Library of South Australia. https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9106
Drawing issued by Thos. W Lamb in New York, USA.
Courtesy of the University of South Australia Architecture Museum
The opening night was 6th October 1939 officiated over by Mr N.B Freeman, the managing director of Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer (The Metro Theatre of the Stars, News (Adelaide), 6 October 1939). This was a little over one month after the start of WWII. At the cost of £120,000 to build, the Metro Cinema was given the title of 'Adelaide's Theatre of the Stars' (ibid). Every comfort had been thought about, including iced drinking fountains, and receiving sets for deaf patrons. It had been insulated against outside noises such as rain and hail, and it was airconditioned for those warm summer nights (ibid). There was seating for about 1200 patrons.
Drawing issued by Thos. W Lamb in New York, USA.
Courtesy of the University of South Australia Architecture Museum
The image above shows Miss Metro, hostess for the theatre in the main foyer area in October 1939. Image courtesy of Trove. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/11345060
Some of MGM's cavalcade of stars sent their best wishes. Image courtesy of Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/11345060
I remember Hindley Cinemas as the Metro that it would become in the 1970s - it was very purple I recall. We went as a school group to watch the 1979 film, My Brilliant Career. And, I also remember one Saturday night trying to get tickets to see Grease, but it was sold out. Those were still the days that you needed to book ahead to see the latest films on a Saturday night.
References
Thorne, Ross 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, Architecture Department, Sydney University, Australia.
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