RICHARD PARTON – 2025 QUEENSLAND CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR
Richard Parton has been a stalwart of the industry – not just in Queensland, but nationally 3 for over 60 years. He started In the Industry in 1960 with Independent Film Distributors. In 1970 he joined Roadshow Film Distributors, operating out of Qld by Birch Carroll and Coyle (Roadshow was then a new Film Company owned by Village).
In 1985 he became Manager of Birch Carroll and Coyle Queensland. Birch Carroll and Coyle Qld was owned by Greater Union, headquartered in Sydney and in 1996 Richard was promoted to the position in Sydney as General Manager of the GU Cinema Circuit.
In 2003 after returning to Queensland to enjoy retirement, his first boss in 1970, Terry Jackman, asked him to help expand his cinemas at Loganholme. That expansion took 11 years and he finally retired in 2014 when Terry sold his Cinema interests.
Richard also helped organise The International Movie Convention (AIMC) held on the Gold Coast for many years. And today he remains involved through the Industry’s Benevolent Society in Queensland.
