Majestic Theatre, Launceston
![]() The Majestic Theatre in 1917 | |
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Address | 76 Brisbane Street Launceston, Tasmania Australia |
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Coordinates | 41°26′11.5″S 147°8′22.85″E / 41.436528°S 147.1396806°ECoordinates: 41°26′11.5″S 147°8′22.85″E / 41.436528°S 147.1396806°E |
Owner | Neil Pitts Mensware |
Capacity | 1,510[1] |
Construction | |
Opened | 2 June 1917[2] |
Closed | 28 February 1970 |
Years active | 1917–1970 |
Architect | Marino Lucas (design) |
Website | |
Official site | |
Place ID | 3,891[3] |
Status | Permanently Registered |
The Majestic Theatre is a historic former theatre and cinema in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
History
The Majestic Theatre was constructed for approximately £A18,000 by Greek–Australian businessman Marino Lucas, opening to a full-house on 2 June 1917. Hundreds of attendees remained outside the building, unable to secure a seat.[4] The theatre could seat 1,510 patrons (450 in the dress circle, 700 in the stalls, and 360 in the back stalls) with a proscenium measuring 9.1 by 7.6 metres (30 ft × 25 ft).[1]
It was Marino Lucas' second theatre in Launceston, following the success of the Princess Theatre.[5] Designed under the supervision of Lucas, the Majestic was architecturally influenced by Lucas' Ithacecian roots. "The architecture is Grecian," commented the Launceston Daily Telegraph, "and at the top one can see glimpses of the ancient Pantheon style."[1]
Centrally located within the Launceston tramway network on a main street, during the Great War the Majestic became the busiest and most profitable cinema in Tasmania, leading to Sydney's Capitol Theatre calling for the Majestic to cease trading during the height of the Spanish flu epidemic in 1919.[6][7] Anthony J. J. Lucas, the brother of Lucas, may have been influenced by the Majestic's phenomenal success when he planned to construct a centrally positioned theatre in Melbourne. The iconic Capitol Theatre on Swanston Street, Melbourne was designed by Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin under the direction of J. J. Lucas in 1924.
The Majestic hosted the world premiere of Ken G. Hall's Gone to the Dogs in 1939.[8]
Actor Michael Pate visited the Majestic in 1950 to promote the film Sons of Matthew.[9]
Due to the rise in television ownership, the Majestic closed on 26 February 1970. The final film projected was Sweet Charity. It was purchased by brothers Neil and Don Pitt, who converted the building into a menswear store, transforming the mezzanine into a café and utilising the dress circle foyer as a workroom and auditorium as a storeroom.[10]
Contemporary use
The Majestic Theatre has operated as Neil Pitt's Menswear since 1970. The theatre's 1929 projection equipment is on display in the store.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "THE NEW MAJESTIC. IMPOSING AND BEAUTIFUL THEATRE". The Examiner (Tasmania). 31 May 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "MAJESTIC OPENS TO-MORROW". The Daily Telegraph (Launceston). 1 June 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage Register. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ "NEW THEATRE FOR LAUNCESTON". Daily Post (Hobart). 4 June 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AMUSEMENTS. NEW THEATRE AT LAUNCESTON". The Mercury (Hobart). 31 May 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "LARGEST TASMANIAN THEATRE". The World (Hobart). 5 March 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC IN SYDNEY". The Daily Telegraph (Launceston). 30 April 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "STAGE AND SCREEN SHOWS". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XCVIII, no. 49. Tasmania, Australia. 9 May 1939. p. 4 (LATEST NEWS EDITION and DAILY). Retrieved 30 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FILM STAR VISITS LAUNCESTON". The Examiner (Tasmania). 24 April 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Armitage, Rosemary. "Neil Pitt's Menswear". rosemaryarmitage.com. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ Howson, Denzil (1996). "Cinema Record Quarterly Journal, Issue 13". p. 17. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
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