St. James Theatre

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Uploaded on: October 31, 2026

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1. 1. (Ted) Gravestock (1888-1947) a touring manager for Fullers, was appointed house manager of the St James at the time of its opening in 1926. He remained in this post when the theater converted to film screenings, and stayed on with John Fuller, who appointed him general manager after the brothers separated their interests in May 1934. However this arrangement turned out to be short lived, with experienced movie man Reg Pollard being appointed as Assistant Manager when MGM took control in July. In October 1934 Metro’s Bernard Freeman announced that Pollard would take over as their manager, a position he remained in for decades – until his death in 1967, I believe. Pollard had started his career at the Pitt Street Piccadilly in 1920, subsequently working in management at Sydney’s Prince Edward and Capitol, as well as the Melbourne State and Capitol.

Also on the St James management team following the theater opening with Nanette in 1926 was Captain C. D. Leeds (1890-1944). He left town a few years later to run the Hillston Globe in country NSW for a while before returning to the city managing Fuller’s Roxy/Mayfair 1932-35. After a short stint at the Melbourne Metro and Hoyts Victory Malvern he moved to Moree NSW in 1937 to manage the Capitol cinema there. Tragedy struck seven years later when he committed suicide by shotgun while tax officials were at his home investigating Entertainment Tax matters. His two sons followed him into the military and also theater operation. After the closure of Hoyts Moree and Armidale which he ran, younger son Lyle moved to Sydney and managed the Regent theater during the J. C. Williamson revival season of “No No Nanette” in 1973.