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Poster Image supplied by Paul Brennan.

Universal Newsreel (sometimes known as Universal-International Newsreel or just U-I Newsreel) was a series of 7- to 10-minute newsreels that were released twice a week between 1929 and 1967 by Universal Studios.

A Universal publicity official, Sam B. Jacobson, was involved in originating and producing the newsreels. Nearly all of them were filmed in black-and-white, and many were narrated by Ed Herlihy.

The Century Newsreel Theatre was opened on 26th June 1940, located in the basement of the 14-storey Century office building designed by architectural firm Marcus R. Barlow & Associates. The Century Newsreel Theatre was designed by architectural firm H. Vivian Taylor & Soilleux in an Art Deco style.

The ceiling had stepped bands containing concealed lighting and the side-wall had a sculptured bas-relief feature of two youthful ‘Aryan flying ladies’ (similar to those in the Odeon Leicester Square in London, England). In 1958 it was re-named Century Theatrette.

In December 1965 it went over to Continental European feature films and was re-named New Century Theatre, screen films such as Claude Lelouch’s “A Man and a Woman” (Une Homme et une Femme) which ran for over a year.

In the 1970’s the auditorium was draped, covering the original decorative details and it was re-named Swanston Cinema. In 1980 it became screen 2 for the nearby Capitol Theatre and was closed in November 1985. It was converted into a nightclub named the Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom - Notes by Ken Roe

Contributed by Greg Lynch -