Babinda theatre a taste of the past

THE Munro Picture Theatre is a Babinda heirloom which has stood the test of time – and even a cyclone or two.

Stepping inside the 1950sera theatre is a call back to a bygone age, but it’s exactly the way owner and operator Fred Lizzio intended it to be after Cyclone Larry devastated Far North Queensland.

The theatre building had its tacked-on roof ripped off during the 2006 cyclone which the Babinda Pharmacy owner initially thought would be the closing credits to Babinda’s cinema institution.

“It was just absolute devastation,” he said.

“The old RSL hall’s roof had actually bombarded our roof. “It was a shambles.” A community outcry from the town’s youth helped motivate Mr Lizzio to bring back the theatre.

“I’ve got so many letters from the kids wanting the theatre back,” Mr Lizzio said.

“They certainly supported me in writing letters which enabled us to get a grant on top of the insurance company paying me out in full when they didn’t have to,” he said.

“It made it worthwhile to put in a good standard of equipment and we were able to acoustically line the auditorium which improved the entire cinema experience.

“It was 12 months of trauma but I’m certainly glad I did it.”

Mr Lizzio initially bought a better film projector with a xenon bulb enabling the operators to essentially automate the entire film.

However, when the GFC hit, an incentive to purchase equipment brought the theatre into the digital world with a new projector and Dolby EX digital surround sound system.

“It’s still a unique experience. We purposely didn’t set it up like modern theatres,” Mr Lizzio said.

The Munro Picture Theatre screens flicks from FridaySunday nights starting at 7.30pm. Admission is $10.