Adelaide Plan No 11. c1911-1914 - which clearly shows the location of the Pavilion Picture Theatre. Image courtesy of State Library of South Australia - https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/C+112/01
I came across this plan late one night and I was fascinated firstly by the skill of the craftsperson that drew it up, and then the detail. All the shops and services that were once a part of Rundle Street and the surrounds are all there. I wasn't in particular looking for information about the Pavilion Picture Theatre. I was actually looking in general for images of Rundle Street in the 1910s, in the hope of stumbling across something, and I did. Isn't it beautiful! This is just one of many plans available at the State Library of South Australia and on their website.
Details for image as above. Image courtesy of State Library of South Australia - https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/C+112/01
I just love the detail that has gone into these drawings. For the Pavilion Picture Theatre alone we can see that there were shops at the front of it, which were a refreshments ( cool drinks) and confectioner these two shops were run by a Mr White of "White-Rose Confectioners' in Sydney (The Advertiser(Adelaide) 21 June 1912, p. 12). The dress circle was positioned above the shops. There is mention of a ladies and children's retiring room, (The Mail (Adelaide) 15 June 1912, p. 6), but I cannot see where that might have been on this map anyway. I assume the room under the screen was for storage or access for the orchestra?
The Pav - The Advertiser (Adelaide) 21 June 1912. Image courtesy of
Thorne gives a good description of the interior in 1933 when it was The Rex, but he does mention the indirectly lit domes (1981 p. 260). These domes were designed to assist with people entering and leaving the building as it ran a continuous 1 1/2 hour programme throughout the day by providing some indirect lighting (The Advertiser (Adelaide) 21 June 1912, p. 12). On the street plan above you can see them as 'S'.
'The Pavilion Picture Theatre opened on June 22, 1912 until the late 1920's. It was used as a miniature golf links. It opened as the Rex Theatre in March 31,1933. The theatre with its pleasing Edwardian facade was the first cinema in South Australia to play continuous pictures from 11am to 11pm. The Pavilion housed a Wurlitzer theatre organ, the first in South Australia, and was played by organist Dorothy Dempsey for many years.' images and words courtesy of SLSA https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+6199
The Pavilion Picture Theatre was located on the plan above at 121-123 Rundle Street, Adelaide. On the Friday evening of the 21st June 1912 the Lord Mayor. Mr Lavington Bonython officiated and announced 'The Pav' opened (The Advertiser (Adelaide), 22 June 1912, p. 23). One of the highlights of the opening night was the screening of a film that showed how 'The Pav' was built - with tradesmen working at lightening speed (Ibid). From Saturday 22nd June it was open to the public and would show films continuously from 11am until 11pm (The Mail (Adelaide) 15 June 1912, p. 6). it was designed by John Kirkpatrick, a Sydney based architect (Walker 1995, p. 30). The Pavilion Picture Theatre would close in the 1920s.
The Sport (Adelaide) 29 June 1912, p. 1. Image courtesy of Trove
References
1912 - 'Adelaide's New Theatre - The Pav - To be opened tomorrow' - The Advertiser (Adelaide) 21 June 1912, p. 12. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/952039
1912 - 'Amusements - The Pavilion Picture Palace' - The Advertiser (Adelaide) 22 June 1912, p.23 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/952068
1912 - 'The "Pav"' - The Mail (Adelaide) 15 June 1912, p. 6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/952068
Thorne, Ross 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, Architecture Department, Sydney University, Australia.
Walker, Dylan 1995, Adelaide’s silent nights: A pictorial history of Adelaide’s picture theatres during the silent era 1896-1929, National Film and Sound Archive
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