Information
The Imperial Theatre started life as ‘Crown Pictures’ in 1915, in the era of the silent movie. During these early years, Victor Vizer would play the piano, Herbert Bishop the violin, and Hilda Philips (Bishop) would sing to create the appropriate atmosphere for each scene in the movie. It became the Imperial Theatre around 1926, and under the new management of James Geraghty in 1930 it underwent many improvements as an Art Deco theatre. After that time, bookings were needed to secure a seat each Saturday night, and it was usual for the theatre to accept 300 reservations a day. However, business declined over time and eventually the theatre was closed and then demolished in 1983.
Citations
Worker, 18 March 1915; Wynnum Manly Historical Society Inc., Newsletter, No. 67, October 2014, p. 9.
Image Citations
Crown Theatre, Wynnum, 1915. Brisbane City Council. Brisbane Images. BCC-WYN-57.
Map References
MLMS. 2 mile AG1 series 1906–1915—Moreton district. 2 Mile to the inch. Moreton 2 Mile map AG1 series sheet 2. AG1