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Taken on: March 13, 2004

Uploaded on: July 20, 2025

Exposure: 1/180 sec, f/6.7, ISO 50

Camera: Minolta Co., Ltd. DiMAGE Xt

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Photo - The Original Manresa Hall

Lost memory writes - In 1934 George Young approached the order with the idea of converting the The Manresa Hall into a cinema.

This would entail the installation of a screen and the construction of a projection booth, along with the purchase of equipment.

Mr. Young’s offer was accepted, and the Apollo Cinema was opened on 29th September 1934, by the Mayer of Hawthorn, with the lessees confirmed as Mr. & Mrs. George Young.

The theatre accommodated 650-seats in the stalls and 150-seats in the balcony. The debut film was supplied by Paramount Pictures titled “Cradle Song” starring Dorothea Wieck & Evelyn Venable. This was about an abandoned baby raised by nuns and was approved by the good Fathers of the Jesuit Order.

In 1936, the Apollo Theatre bid farewell to the George Young family, and the lease was acquired by Mr. David Laidlaw. The nearby Glen Theatre re-opened in June 1939 resulting in reduced attendances, making it impossible for the Apollo Theatre to remain in business. The Apollo Theatre was closed two weeks later. The final screening was Columbia Pictures “One Night of love” starring Grace Moore & “Sunset in Vienna” with Lili Palmer from General Film Distributers.

The Apollo Theatre had operated as a cinema for 6 years before reverting back to the Manresa Hall.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -