Radium Hill drive-in c 1952
image courtesy https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+70347
This is the first drive -in theatre written about in this blog, and it is one that contends that it was actually Australia's first drive-in. I was recently reading an article by Ben Goldsmith which spoke about the history of the drive-in theatre in Australia. Goldsmith states that the first drive-in Australia was a Hoyts Skyline which opened in Burwood in Melbourne in February 1954 (1999, 153). Radium Hill drive-in opened in June 1951.
Radium Hill is situated in the mid-north of South Australia. It is about 20 kms south off the main road between Adelaide and Broken Hill. Radium Hill was a uranium mine and a township naturally grow up around the mine. I recently read some letters and notes written by Kevin Kakoschke held at the State Library of South Australia, and I have been given written permission from June Kakoschke (copyright holder) to publish from those letters and notes. Thank you June.
All the information that follows is from the letters and notes held at the State Library of South Australia. Referencing is as listed below. Kevin talks about the set up of the drive in at Radium Hill which first opened in the old camp area in June 1951. The capacity was limited, four cars would park alongside the projector cubicle to enable them to hear the movie. There was seating for those without a car and patrons were welcome to bring their own chairs. Initially there was no admittance fee charged. It would screen 16mm films.
The screen were some white painted sheets of steel nailed onto posts. The inital screen did eventually blow down and over the years a more susbstantial one was erected. The original projectionists were Lionel Hill, Les Lees, Jerry Manuel and Norm "the pommie' Pointer.
The facilities were very basic. The only refreshments for sale was milk. Although many patrons brought their own 'long necks'. The ablutions were simply - go around the back. Once more women and children moved to Radium Hill a funnel was installed and for privacy an enclosure was erected about the funnel.
The patrons were open to the elements, in summer dust storms could sometimes make it impossible to see the screen. It was worse if it rained just a little, as the red dust that was on the screen would then simply turn into mud. For winter the patrons were advised to wear your warmest clothes and maybe bring a blanket. Although fire buckets were provided for those on the bleachers.
In 1953 the Radium Hill social club took over the running of the drive-in and it was moved to between the single mens' camp and the married personal camp. By September 1955, 35mm films were able to be screened from a bio box that was now projecting to a newly built proscenium screen using Radophone arc projectors. Along with the changes an entry fee was introduced and an eight foot high corrugated iron fence. On Saturday afternoons children were able to watch matinees in the civil hall.
By 1957 widescreen films using Vistavision, Cinemascope etc were being shown, and car speakers had been installed. There were still seats available at the front for those that did not drive, with the fire buckets still available for cold winter nights. An outdoor stage had been built and there was also a kiosk and a toilet block. Films were shown three times a week, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Access to Radium Hill and the drive-in was restricted to only those that worked at Radium Hill and their families that lived on-site. However special access was granted (after an application was requested) to a couple of the nearby stations, so they too were also able to attend the films.
Was Radium Hill Australia's first drive-in? I would love to know your thoughts? And once again thank you to June Kakoschke for allowing me to publish from the letters and notes.
Please do not reproduce in part or in whole without written approval from the author
References
Goldsmith, B. (1999). ‘The comfort lies in all the thing you can do’: The Australian Drive-in – Cinema of Distraction. Journal of Popular Culture, 33(1), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3840.1999.3301_153.x
Kakoschke, K. (2007), History of the Radium Hill drive in, accessed June 2022 https://catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:443/record=b3120951~S1
There were dozens of outdoor picture theatres that operated in towns across Australia that had space at the rear or side for some cars prior to WW2. The earliest reported (Everyones) was in 1929, but there were certainly others earlier than that. During WW2 Townsville had a drive-in made specifically for cars with ramps and large screen as we know them today, but did not have in-car speakers. This venture had closed by 1946. Skyline Burwood (1954) was the first drive-in with in-car speakers, ramps, screen, concession stand etc The fact that it endured and started the boom that eventually ran to over 320 drive-ins is why it is acknowledged as the first, but as you can see, it is…