Information
In April 1953, the Housing Commission advertised a lease for the ‘Establishment of Picture Theatre, Serviceton Housing project’. Boss Brothers (a major housing contractor at the growing Serviceton/ Inala project) developed, built and operated the theatre, with it opening in 1956. It was a 1,000-seat theatre, with all the seats made at the Boss factory at Darra. It had a big Cinemascope screen, only slightly smaller than the City Regent. The theatre played to packed houses until television came along in 1959. The Ritz was converted to dance hall and function room in 1965 and it was re-opened as ‘The Coconut Grove.’ A suspended slab was constructed above the cinema’s sloping floor and the new 150’ x 60’ dance floor was claimed to be the second largest in Brisbane. The Coconut Grove was not a commercial success. Brisbane Lions Soccer Club bought it and used it as their clubhouse until their Pine Road facilities were built, then continued to use the building as a Bingo hall for many years. The Brisbane Samoan Assembly of God purchased the property from the Lions in 2002.
Citations
Vicki Mynott, 150 years: Richlands, Inala & neighbouring suburbs in Brisbane’s south west, Richlands, Inala & Suburbs History Group Inc., 2009.
Image Citations
Ritz Picture Theatre, Lilac Street, Inala. Undated. Richlands, Inala & Suburbs History Group Inc. files.
Map References
Qimagery. Greater Brisbane 1960. Scale: 1:16,000.