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The History*

1971 Ben & Anna Parri become the new exhibitors and there is a name change to Olympia Theatre Leederville - Together they run the theatre successfully for a 7 year period.

1979 - Cyril Watson was the next to take over the lease of the theatre in Oxford Street. At this time, the freehold was then owned by the Carboni family. Watson, together with partner Roger Hunt and his wife Christine, worked hard at upgrading the theatre; and it was also rewired and the curtain mechanism repaired.

Reopened as the New Oxford*

It then re-opened as the New Oxford on 18 August 1979 showing family-type films. The response was not as good as expected and Watson tried ‘R’-rated films to boost attendances. This had the desired effect and new fittings and carpets were purchased as a result. A coffee bar was also opened upstairs. In 1981 a new roof was installed and a large 13-metre screen, new projection equipment and new seating were purchased. Shortly after that the coffee bar and upstairs lounge were turned into a small cinema, using one of the old projectors which had been reconditioned. This sat around 150 people and it was named ‘Star Theatre’. Watson began providing live music on Sunday afternoons and it was around that time that he bought the rights to ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy' which proved to be so successful. It became the longest running film, showing at the theatre for three years.

In the mid 1980s, the theatre, now fully refurbished, began to show other independent films and in both 1998 and 1999 it was named the best Indie-Urban Cinema in Australia. In the 1990s, it was renamed the Luna Cinema. Alterations were made to the existing cinema and in 1995 there were celebrations for the launch of twin cinemas within the complex. A summer picture garden was also opened at the rear of the adjoining shops at No 163-167 Oxford Street, which seated 200. Two extra screening rooms are located in the former residential section of No 163.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -