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Uploaded on: September 13, 2025

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The Lyric theatre later to become the Forum.

Located in Sydney city centre on George Street, between Valentine Street and Ultimo Road. The Lyric Theatre was opened by Canadian born J.D. Williams on 31st March 1911.

The rather plain auditorium had decoration mainly on the front of the two circles. Seating provided for 865 in the stalls, 400 in the dress circle and 650 in the gallery. It was one of the tallest theatres in Sydney but Greater Union, who soon took over operations, were to wish it was one of the widest. When it was equipped for sound films, the acoustics were improved by adding panels of softwood lattice to the side-walls.

The old fashioned decor was later replaced with sharply angled Art Deco style and the proscenium simplified. For most of its early life prior to major renovation it ran double bill revivals.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -