Cinema in a park setting
ANY mention of a cinema in Geelong West usually points to the Pix Theatre in Elizabeth St, but there was a much earlier cinema in West Park.
It was originally an open air cinema, but a roof was installed and the new fully enclosed cinema was opened in 1915. Much of the seating comprised wooden benches, and there was upholstered seating in a cordoned off area available at a price. During World War I, West Park Theatre played host to an anticonscription rally.
Initially the theatre was run by Geelong West council, but following advice that the council was not allowed to charge admission to any of its buildings the theatre was offered for lease.
The council’s parks and gardens committee meeting in July 1916 was told that only one tender had been received, being from TJ Fowler of Henry Fanks and Co, the newsagent on the corner of Malop and Moorabool streets.
Fowler’s tender was eventually accepted. The films were shown first at a cinema in the CBD and taken to Geelong West by bicycle for screening after interval. The cinema showed silent movies and was closed before the talkies arrived in about 1930.
The West Park Theatre was reopened in March 1936, complete with a Western Electric sound system and with a seating capacity of 1400. The first sound film screened there was West Point of the Air starring Wallace Beery.
Film screenings had ceased by the 1960s and the building was used as a boxing stadium and a fun parlour before opening as a table tennis centre in 1961, when it was leased by the Geelong Table Tennis Association.
The association occupied the building until 1977, when it moved to a new centre on Church St. The former cinema remained vacant until 1979 when it was demolished to make way for a new rink for the Geelong West Bowling Club.
The bowling club has since relocated and the area will in future be used for housing. Contact: peterjohnbegg@gmail.com