Memories of the Elita Theatre - Part 2 By Doug Best The film exchanges were spread all over town. Columbia, Universal, RKO and B.E.F. (British Empire Films) were situated next to Shell House in Ann Street, between Creek and Wharf Streets; Paramount and Warner Bros. were in Ann Street, between Wharf and Queen Street; 20th Century Fox were in a lane off Adelaide Street (between Wharf and Queen Streets); Unitied Artists were next to Custom House (where the SS Koopa used to berth) while MGM were situated in Elizabeth Street, by the side of the Metro Theatre. The Elita screened at 7.30pm Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings, with a maninee on Saturday and Public Holidays. The costs were: centre seats 2/7D (26¢) 1/11C (20¢) and 1/3D (13¢); with a different programme on Tuesday and Wednesday the prices were 1/11D and 1/3D, which included an Amusement Tax of 7D, 5D and 3D. When a blockbuster film was being shown a queue would form outside the ticket booth well in advance of opening and it was not unusual for theatres back then (especially city theatres) to have a ‘FULL’ sign on show. With no screening on Thursday, occasionally during the war years, Len Todd - who also conducted the shop in front of the theatre - would produce and direct a Vaudeville stage show in aid of the well remembered radio station 4BH “Smoke for Sick Soldiers” charity. Len was able to assemble some great artists, many appearing courtesy of the Cremorne Theatre, which was the home of vaudeville at that time, to do their bit for the war effort. Among them I recall performers such as Peggy Mortimer, a very young violinist who later was to become mother of Peta Toppano of television fame, Evie Hayes, Roy Rene, and Andy Shearer. With local talent Dawn and Robin Pitkeathly, Mavis Monk, Dot Powell, Irene Greer, Frank Masters and many more, the local people turned out in great numbers to support this worthy cause. Back then no business opened on 25 April, ANZAC Day. As the Elita had no screening that night, the local Ashgrove RSL would hold the ANZAC night Remembrance Service in the theatre. Being eager to ensure all went well with the evening, one year I asked the bugler if he wanted the microphone turned on for the the playing of the Last Post, to which he replied “Only if you want to deafen everybody here!” Believe me, we most certainly did not need it. I think the bugler was Mr Crossan of Ashgrove. Around 1944, the RSL decided to hold the service in their own Memorial Hall, situated in Waterworks Road opposity the theatre, down towards St. Finbarr’s, as numbers were getting fewer. That night there was a fire in the shop at the corner of the theatre and luckily a passerby, Stewart Watt, noticed smoke coming out from under the door and with quick thinking he rang the manager, Reg Lefrancke, who in turn rang the Ithaca Fire Brigade (which was then located in Enoggera Terrace at Red Hill), then the Police who handled the situation without any real damage being suffered. It was in this same shop on the 21st October 1990 the fire started which destroyed the Elita theatre, which had provided many happy times to locals over a number of years. Following the fire it was replaced by the present block of shops. I was transferred to operate the projector at the State Theatre in 1945 but in 1948, for the last time, I returned to the Elita theatre for a few nights to help out. I recall some of the great movies screened at the Elita while I worked there, it may bring back fond memories for some readers. These movies portrayed a variation of feelings such as excitement, laughter, tears, thrills, and enjoyment evoked by the greatness of the stories and their stars. “The Squatter’s Daughter” a 1933 Australian production with John Warwick, and Jocelyn Howarth, who was renamed Constance Worth when she went to Hollywood. “Sanders of the River” (1935) Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks and Nina Mae McKinney “Showboat” (1936) Paul Robeson, Irene Dunne and Allan Jones “Florian” Robert Young and Helen Gilbert (1940) “The Great Waltz” the story of Johann Strauss featuring Fernand Gravey (1938) “Rebecca” with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine (1940) “Wuthering Heights” 1939 production with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon “Captains Courageous” Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore and Freddie Bartholemew (1937) “Boys Town” series with Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney (1938) “The Plainsman” Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur (1936) “Jesse James” Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly, Randolph Scott and Brian Donlevy (1939) “Return of Frank James” Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Jackie Cooper and John Carradine (1940) “Blossoms in the Dust” (1941), “Mrs Miniver” (1942), “Madame Curie” (1943) Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon and lots more with Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Leslie Howard, Rex Harrison, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour just to mention a few. I recall with great affection memories of my time working at the Elita Theatre, the many life-long friendships formed and that period of my life working in the theatre industry. Photographs courtesy of Pat Johnson, widow of Elita Theatre owner, Wallace Johnson The following is a list of the theatres I can remember, before the era of television, which may be of interest to the younger generations. Some of the names I can not remember and would appreciate, if any readers could assist in providing the theatre names, to contact me on 3366 4778. City Theatres: Regent, Majestic, His (then Her) Majesty’s, Wintergarden, St. James, Metro, Forum, Tivoli, Lyceum, Carlton News Reel Theatrette Fortitude Valley Theatres: Civic, Embassy, Rex Drive-in Theatres: Boondall, Starlight Aspley, Skyline Sunnybank, Keperra, Coopers Plains Suburban Theatres: Albion - Capitol Alderley - Annerley - Boomerang Annerley - Odeon Ascot - Arcadia Ashgrove - Elita Bulimba - Camp Hill - Planet Chermside - Dawn Clayfield - Savoy Cribb Island - Darra - East Brisbane - Triumph Graceville - Regal Gaythorne - Civic Grange - Liberty Hawthorne - Inala - Indooroopilly - Eldorado Kelvin Grove - Prospect Lutwyche - Imperial Mitchelton - Morningside - Nundah - Paddington - Plaza Paddington - Paddington Red Hill - State Rosalie - Beverly Sandgate - Beach Sandgate - Mayfair Sherwood - Shorncliffe - Pier South Brisbane - Princess St Johns Wood - Ambassador St Lucia - Avalon Stones Corner - Alambra Taringa - Toowong - Elite Toowong - Jubilee West End - Rialto West End - Roxy Windsor - Crystal Palace Wooloongabba - Broadway Wynnum - Imperial Wynnum - Star © Hot Metal Publications