Bercy Cinema

128 Bourke Street,
Melbourne, VIC 3000

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curmudgeon
curmudgeon on April 2, 2019 at 11:10 am

Greater Union Chairmam, Sir Norman Rydge and his wife were keen travellers and consequently new cinemas were named after favourite travel destinations. The Majestic, after major renovations, was named The Chelsea in honour of the Chelsea Flower Show in London. Following the twinning of the State Theatre the name Forum was a tribute to his love of Italy and Rapallo was named after the famous seaside resort in Italy. Bercy was also a favourite resort in France.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on April 1, 2019 at 8:18 am

Why the name Bercy?

alanlazarus
alanlazarus on June 4, 2018 at 10:49 am

There was a ticket seller at this location with a rather enormous hair-do. Very tall.
When the Bercy the lady moved to a similar job at the Greater Union Russel Street. Quite a sight.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on February 23, 2018 at 1:59 pm

When did tne former Cox Department store open and close? Is the building heritage listed?

curmudgeon
curmudgeon on February 22, 2018 at 2:21 pm

With respect popcorn-pete The former Bercy had a new second storey installed length wise after closing with a second floor installed to become a world-renowned Chinese restaurant ( The Flower Drum") that still operates. The lower half of the auditorium became a Centrelink office for while before being converted to a popular gaming venue-still operating as a 24hour venue named “Welcome Stranger” Was never a hotel (I assume you meant an accommodation)hotel.

popcorn_pete
popcorn_pete on February 21, 2018 at 7:16 pm

The Welcome Stranger is a hotel, although it may very well have a gaming area and bar.

trevfromoz
trevfromoz on December 24, 2016 at 9:50 am

I used to be assistant projectionist here in 1968 showing “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” It was the premiere cinema in Melbourne at the time. Magnetic sound, but glass slides for adverts during the interval, with a great risk of cracking, great memories.

PhillipGrace
PhillipGrace on March 21, 2010 at 8:20 am

The last pair of Carbon Arc lamps in the city area (Cinemeccanica Super Zenith 450) went out of use when the cinema closed in 1983. A Dolby CP 50 stereo processor and stereo pick-ups in the projectors were permanently installed for season of “Psycho 2”. The chief projectionist insisted on a high standard of installation. Prior to this the original National 4 channel valve sound system was in use. Magnetic sound replay had its last run with “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, which sounded very good in the theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 30, 2009 at 7:51 pm

A photograph of the former Bercy Cinema, that I took in March 2004:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/3489512538/