The Odeon Star Semaphore Cinemas, usually referred to as the Odeon Star, is an independent multiplex cinema in the beachside Adelaide suburb of Semaphore, South Australia. It is the oldest purpose-built cinema in Adelaide, opened on 22 May 1920 as the Wondergraph Picture Palace.

History

Picturedrome

In September 1910, before there were any indoor picture theatres in Semaphore, the Continental Wondergraph Company bought land on the esplanade, intending to establish a tea garden and open-air cinema.[1] On Monday 26 December, Wondergraph gave the inaugural screening at its "Picturedrome",[2] although the construction of the kiosk and tea garden had been delayed. The seating faced the sea,[3] and several silent films were projected onto a solid concrete "silver wall", a new technology claimed to have been brought to Australia by the European company.[4]

In winter, the Greater Wondergraph Company (formed in Adelaide in 1911[5][6]) showed films at the Semaphore Town Hall, which was referred to as the Semaphore Wondergraph.[7][8] In July 1912, a film of the British Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Scott was shown at the Semaphore Wondergraph.[9] Competitor Ozone Theatres also used the town hall for showing films in the winter months.[10]

A scheme to enclose the Picturedrome was advertised in November 1914,[11] but this was apparently not concluded. Films were last advertised as being shown there at the end of summer in March 1915.[12]

In December 1917, an advertisement refers to the "Semaphore Wondergraph Residential Cafe", right opposite the beach, for short stays.[13]

The Picturedrome, which seated 1,000 patrons, was adjacent to the Customs Boarding Station, which still stands today, on the corner of the Esplanade and Semaphore Road.[14]

New indoor cinema

In 1920, Wondergraph had a "palatial" new indoor cinema built on Semaphore Road,[15] to cater for the people of the Lefevre Peninsula in winter. The magnificently fitted out building was designed by prominent South Australian architect Eric Habershon McMichael[16][17][lower-alpha 1] and built by Messrs. Emmett Brothers. By this time the trams were running to Port Adelaide. The theatre opened on Saturday 22 May 1920 with the screening of the 1920 American silent comedy film What's Your Husband Doing?.[18] It had a seating capacity of 1,246 in orchestra and balcony levels, described at the time as "palatial".[18]

In September 1920 Dan Clifford bought Wondergraph's suburban circuit, including the Wondergraph Semaphore, which cost him £15,000.[19][20][21] In 1921 the freehold was transferred to Clifford, and then in November 1923 to his company, D. Clifford Theatres Ltd.[22] A vaudeville troupe known as The Dandies performed at the Wondergraph before its name change.[14]

It was renamed Star Theatre in 1930 (like most other cinemas in the Clifford Theatre Circuit),[23] and in January 1931, sound equipment was installed to cater for talkies, in order to compete with the Semaphore Ozone Theatre.[24] No, No Nanette was screened as the inaugural talkie at the cinema.[22]

After a takeover by Greater Union Cinemas in 1946[24] it was extensively refurbished[22] or rebuilt,[25] and was reopened as the Odeon Star on 12 June 1952.[26][27] It was still owned by Clifford Theatres at this point.[28]

With the beginning of the TV era in 1959, attendances declined, and the cinema eventually closed on 13 November 1976,[22] and the building converted into a furniture shop.[23][24]

After a few changes of hands and function, it was renovated and restored to its original purpose, and has continued to operate as the Odeon Star since December 1991. It was reopened as the Odeon Star on 19 December 1991, initially with only circle seating, accommodating 320 patrons, while the stalls area continued as "Hoff's Secondhand Emporium" until 1997. It was once again refurbished in 1997, becoming a three-screen cinema and (seating 300, 150 and 140). It was part of the Wallis Cinemas chain for some time,[23][29] but by 2009 was being run by independent operators, then Terry, Jacky and Joe Proud.[30] The Prouds put it up for sale in November 2018.[31]

The Odeon Star celebrated its 100th anniversary on 22 May 2020.[32][24]

Today

As of December 2022 the Odeon Star shows new release mainstream and arthouse films, charging A$10 for any session, any day.[33]

It is also one of several venues for the Adelaide Film Festival in October each year.[34]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ McMichael also designed the Wakefield Street Private Hospital, among other notable buildings.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Semaphore prospects". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXV, no. 19, 914. South Australia. 8 September 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 20 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Wondergraph at Semaphore". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXV, no. 20, 007. South Australia. 26 December 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 20 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Wondergraph". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 1, no. 253. South Australia. 26 December 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 20 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Wondergraph at the Semaphore". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 1, no. 254. South Australia. 28 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 20 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "General news". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LIV, no. 16, 461. South Australia. 20 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Entertainment enterprise". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 2, no. 431. South Australia. 22 July 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Semaphore Wondergraph". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 739. South Australia. 19 July 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Semaphore Wondergraph". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 770. South Australia. 28 August 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Semaphore Wondergraph". Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 750. South Australia. 31 July 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 20 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "Hugh Waterman and sons extend the Ozone cinema chain from Adelaide's Semaphore in 1911 to eastern states". AdelaideAZ. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Advertising". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LVII, no. 17, 501. South Australia. 17 November 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Advertising". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXX, no. 21, 319. South Australia. 10 March 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Advertising". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LX, no. 18, 472. South Australia. 27 December 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. 1 2 Port Adelaide Historical Society (16 May 2021). "Wondergraph Theatre". Mosaic Online. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Palatial picture theatre". Port Adelaide News. Vol. 7, no. 40. South Australia. 21 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the Semaphore Wondergraph Theatre, now the Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema". Port Adelaide Historical Society Inc. 24 May 2020 – via Facebook.
  17. 1 2 "Eric Habershon McMichael". Architects of South Australia. University of South Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  18. 1 2 "Semaphore Wondergraph: palatial new theatre opened". Daily Herald. Vol. XI, no. 3175. South Australia. 24 May 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Semaphore Wondergraph". History of South Australian Picture Theatres. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Theatrical enterprise". Port Adelaide News. Vol. 7, no. 58. South Australia. 24 September 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "Semaphore Wondergraph changes hand". Port Adelaide News. Vol. 7, no. 58. South Australia. 24 September 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Wondergraph / Star / Odeon, Semaphore". CAARP: Cinema and Audience Research Project. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  23. 1 2 3 Roe, Ken. "Odeon Star Semaphore in Adelaide, AU". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the Semaphore Wondergraph Theatre, now the Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema". Port Adelaide Historical Society Inc. 24 May 2020 – via Facebook.
  25. ↑ "New Theatre". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 94, no. 29, 225. South Australia. 12 June 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "Big crowd at new theatre opening". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 94, no. 29, 226. South Australia. 13 June 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ↑ "The odd spot". News (Adelaide). Vol. 58, no. 8, 997. South Australia. 10 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "Sema4's New Odeon Star Highly Praised". Messenger (Port Adelaide). No. 66. South Australia. 12 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ↑ Contemplari (29 July 2020). "Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema originally Wondergraph Picture Theatre built 1920, South Australia". Flickr. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  30. ↑ "Contact us". Odeon Star Semaphore Cinemas. 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  31. ↑ Kellner, Lydia (6 November 2018). "Want to carry on the tradition at the Odeon Star Cinema?". realcommercial.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  32. ↑ "Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema originally the Wondergraph Picture Theatre of 1920, South Australia". Flickr. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  33. ↑ "Home". Odeon Star Semaphore Cinemas. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  34. ↑ "Venues". Adelaide Film Festival. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2022.

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