Glenelg Ozone c 1938.
Image from Decoration and Glass
Courtesy of Trove
The Ozone Glenelg was built in 1937. The Ozone cinema chain was owned by the Waterman family and they owned cinemas in several suburban and country locations in South Australia prior to the building of the cinema in Glenelg.
Stairs of white Italian marble and wrought iron balustrade.
Image from Decoration and Glass
Courtesy of Trove
The architect was F. Kenneth Milne and it was built by Fricker Bros, the furnishings were supplied by The Myer Emporium (SA) and the marble work by AS Tillett (Building and Construction 1937, p. 8). The Iron framework by Hallweld in Norwood (Building and Construction 1937).
Image from Building and Construction(incorporating The Builder) Nov 11, 1937
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
Image from Building and Construction(incorporating The Builder) Nov 11, 1937
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
The interior was designed to complement the exterior, with clean lines and curves. The lounge was complete with a fireplace and above it was a painting of the Buffalo, painted by Louis McCubbin - who was the Director of the National Gallery (Building and Construction 1937, p. 9).
The theatre was 'surveyed acoustically, air-conditioned, light controlled and sympathetically furnished' (ibid). The Advertiser on the 9th of October 1937 reported that the new cinema would have a crying room where mothers can watch the program without having to worry about their crying child disturbing other theatre patrons (p.13). The crying room provided toys for the children and they were decorated with characters from children's cartoons (Decoration and Glass 1938, p. 39).
On the 19th of October 1937, The News reported that the new cinema would have "Weather made to order" with air conditioning to keep patrons warm in winter and cool in summer (p. 8).
Images from Building and Construction (incorporating The Builder) Nov 11, 1937
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
The ribs in the auditorium were illuminated providing a unique lighting scheme for the audience (Building and Construction 1937, p.11). The carpet was made by Templetons of Scotland, the same company that had made the carpets use in Westminster Abbey during the coronation (The News 19 October 1937, p. 8).
Images from Building and Construction (incorporating The Builder) Nov 11, 1937
Courtesy of University of South Australia Architecture Museum
At a ceremony attended by 2000 people, the cinema was opened by the local Mayor, Mr W Fisk on Friday 5th November 1937, who called the 'theatre worthy of the town and a town worthy of this splendid theatre' in his opening speech (The News 6 November 1937, p. 5).
References:
'Even Babies Are Catered For In New Glenelg Cinema', The Advertiser (Adelaide), 9 October 1937, p. 13.
'Happy Opening Ceremony; New Ozone Theatre', The News (Adelaide), 6 November 1937, p. 5.
'New Ozone Theatre will be Show Place of Australia; Many Features of Interest for Theatre Patrons', The News (Adelaide), 19 October 1937, p. 8.
'South Australian Theatre; Appropriate Marine Decorations add Charm to this Seaside Cinema at Glenelg', Decoration and Glass., v.3, no.11, 1938-02-28, p. 39.
'The New Ozone Theatre, Glenelg', Building and Construction (incorporating The Builder), Nov 11, 1937, pp 8-11 & 21.
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