Today I was able to see inside the Vogue Theatre on Belair Road at Kingswood. Like most theatres it was built close to either a train station, or in this case it was a tram stop that was just outside the door. The tram has long ago gone, and sadly the theatre itself is no longer used as a theatre, but it has found a new life as a church. The current owners look after the building and do their best to bring it back to its full glory.
Image: author's own
It was the last theatre to be built in South Australia before the onset of WWII. The Vogue Theatre was a member of Dan Clifford's Star Theatre chain, it was the 17th within the chain ('New Kingswood Theatre Opens Tomorrow', The News, 11 July 1939). It cost £16,000 to build, seated 1300 patrons and it was fitted with special ventilation to keep it cool during the summer months (Ibid). The auditorium had terrazzo flooring, here you can see the Star symbol of the Star Theatre Group.
Image: author's own
The church that has possession of the building do take care of the building and are certainly interested in restoring as much as possible back to the original 1939. The lady that took us through today told us that the carpet on the foyer although new, is based on carpet that they believed was there in 1939. The seats they believe are the original, but have been re-upholstered, possibly in the 1970s, when it was known as The New Vogue Theatre. The doors and panels are Queensland Walnut ('New Kingswood Theatre Opens Tomorrow', The News, 11 July 1939), and the guide told us that they have only recently been restored to their full glory, having previously been covered in 'ghastly' paint.
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The women's powder room was given special attention in the article about the opening that appeared in the The News on the 11th July 1939. Much of it remains as it was, however, the middle panel of mirror which included a nude mermaid motif has disappeared. The seating area has had to have the glass top restored, but those beautiful chrome seats are the original ones.
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The men's toilets are not be outdone, and have the most amazing urinal, and I couldn't resist showing it to you all. Obviously there has been some modern touches added to it, but isn't it beautiful.
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Onto the star of the show the proscenium, it has been altered since 1939, partly because of new fire safety requirements. The curtains are new also.
All images: author's own
This is photo of how it looked in 1939
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This is a close look at friezes and grill works as they appear today.
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This is a beautiful theatre and I am so happy that it has found a new life, a "revival" so to speak.
Image: author's own
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Look at the Star on the side of the seat and the lighting too, which are also in the stairs leading out to the foyer.
Image: author's own
The bio boxes were sadly off limits today,
Image: author's own
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