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69:, in the 1920s. The theatre's design was innovative at the time, in particular the roof structure, which Snell had studied in England. Only the rear rows at the back and upstairs dress circle was covered by a roof. The stage was on wheels to be moved for boxing matches and the floor was concrete in anticipation of future roller-skating events and social dances. It could seat 860 people.
132:
The Star
Theatre was destroyed during Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and never reopened. Manager Tom Harris had died the year before after 40 years in the Northern Territory. His son, Tom Harris Junior, renovated the theatre, turning the projector room into a flat where he and his wife would live for a number
104:
had its world premiere at the Star
Theatre on 3 January 1955. Harris arranged for a member of the Warhiti tribe "to sing songs and burn sticks to prevent any unwanted rainfalls during the screening. He decorated the theatre for the opening with pandanus, grass mats and Aboriginal artefacts. Large
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The balcony was reserved for Darwin high society while working class and
Aboriginal people, who were given permission from the Chief Protector of Aborigines to break their night-time town curfew so they could attend, were expected to sit downstairs. It cost 2/6 pence to sit upstairs and only a
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The Star was renovated again and turned into a small shopping village containing a number of small shops and cafes. It continues to be a shopping arcade, now known as Star
Village. The original projector is still on display near the entrance to the arcade.
81:
which had a film reel that was reported to be 10,000 feet long. The film was shown "without the slightest hitch except that Mr
Allwright while attending to the engine got his hand caught in a rapidly moving belt and badly lacerated several fingers".
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and his wife. Tudawali decided to sit downstairs. It was reported that a number of
Aborigines who were invited had paddled in from Bathurst Island to attend.
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The Star lost popularity during the 1960s when two new cinemas opened in Darwin by
Michael Paspalis, the open-air Parap Theatre and the drive-in cinema at
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The business was leased to manager Tom Harris who later purchased the theatre. Harris was a popular figure in Darwin.
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An application to heritage list the theatre was made in 1995 but was unsuccessful due to opposition from the owners.
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34:
113:, better known as Bob Wilson, who were permitted to sit in the balcony with the Northern Territory Administrator
515:"Colour, Excitement at Premiere". Vol. 3, no. 206. Territory Stories, Northern Territory Library. The
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The partially open air theatre was built by Snell and Gordon, the company of well-known Darwin builder
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468:. Vol. 9, no. . Northern Territory, Australia. 23 December 1954. p. 1
440:. Vol. 10, no. 1. Northern Territory, Australia. 6 January 1955. p. 8
85:
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Ngarla Kunoth speaking at the Darwin premiere of Jedda at the Star
Theatre in 1955.
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The Star
Theatre finally opened on 14 September 1929. The first film shown was
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384:. No. 76. Northern Territory, Australia. 27 September 1935. p. 8
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crowds gathered along Smith Street to catch a glimpse of the film's stars
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329:. Northern Territory, Australia. 20 September 1929. p. 4
376:"AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. T. D. HARRIS OF THE "STAR" PICTURES"
25:
Postcard of the audience within the Star
Picture Theatre
412:. Northern Territory, Australia. 1 June 1920. p. 2
602:
Buildings and structures in Darwin, Northern Territory
432:"N. T. World Premiere Of 'Jedda' Delights Critics"
496:. Victoria, Australia. 4 January 1955. p. 1
186:"History: Darwin's Tradition of Open Air Cinema"
217:. Northern Territory Library. December 1937.
8:
504:– via National Library of Australia.
476:– via National Library of Australia.
448:– via National Library of Australia.
420:– via National Library of Australia.
392:– via National Library of Australia.
337:– via National Library of Australia.
284:"A history of the Star Theatre of Darwin"
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61:Star Theatre under construction in Darwin
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33:was the first purpose-built cinema in
460:"Territorians Await "Jedda" Premiere"
288:Journal of Northern Territory History
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409:Northern Territory Times and Gazette
607:Theatres in the Northern Territory
488:"Native star dodged the spotlight"
16:Former cinema in Darwin, Australia
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612:Cinemas in the Northern Territory
158:"Star Theatre under construction"
97:shilling to "sit in the blacks".
545:. Northern Territory Government
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282:Brister, Charles (1995).
326:Northern Territory Times
517:Northern Territory News
578:12.46409°S 130.84306°E
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79:The Cat and the Canary
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493:The Argus (Melbourne)
250:(Photographs). 1930.
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73:Centre of social life
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583:-12.46409; 130.84306
543:NT Heritage Register
156:Fletcher, V (1928).
100:The Australian film
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45:. Destroyed during
519:. 6 January 1955.
348:Lea, Tess (2014).
244:"Fancy dress ball"
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39:Northern Territory
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465:Northern Standard
437:Northern Standard
404:"Old Territorian"
381:Northern Standard
361:978-1-74224-173-9
248:Territory Stories
215:Territory Stories
162:Territory Stories
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525:10070/220124
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67:Harold Snell
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53:Construction
31:Star Theatre
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581: /
569:130°50′35″E
416:8 September
321:"TOWN TALK"
257:10070/11238
223:10070/31816
171:10070/13190
128:Current use
596:Categories
566:12°27′51″S
549:17 October
144:References
133:of years.
122:Nightcliff
115:Frank Wise
300:1034-7488
294:: 35–43.
124:in 1964.
43:Australia
37:in the
358:
351:Darwin
298:
35:Darwin
102:Jedda
551:2016
502:2016
474:2016
446:2016
418:2016
390:2016
356:ISBN
335:2016
307:2016
296:ISSN
230:2016
197:2016
109:and
29:The
521:hdl
252:hdl
219:hdl
166:hdl
41:of
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
