We are very sad to inform you of the passing of our Victorian branch member, Lesley Alexander, who passed away suddenly on Friday January 29th. Lesley was 84 years old, having been born on September 26th 1936. Lesley worked most of her career at the Village Rivoli Cinemas and at the Village Cinema Centre in…
The Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers wishes to recognise the sad passing of TESSA McCANN back in August 2013 after a long illness. Tessa was born in Goulburn (NSW) in 1946. Many years later in Noosa (Qld) she would meet Ian McCann and the two were Wed after a short romance. The couple were inseparable,…
Dear Cinema Pioneers, We are very sad to inform you that former Victorian Branch President of the Cinema Pioneers and one of the cinema industry’s most respected executives, Graeme Hodges, passed away Monday morning. Graeme was also former National Cinema Pioneer of the year as well as a Victorian Cinema Pioneer of the year and…
Dear Cinema Pioneers, Sadly cinema industry doyen Maurice Scott passed away on Saturday after a long illness. He was arguably one of most respected and well known theatre managers of our time. He was also an excellent raconteur and ranks amongst the most entertaining speakers I have heard. Close friend Ross Campbell has prepared the…
I’m sad to inform you that well known former Hoyts projectionist Brian Scott passed away Saturday morning. Brian commenced at Hoyts Padua Theatre in Brunswick in 1949 as a page boy, he was later given the opportunity to transfer to the bio box and commenced his training as an assistant projectionist. After becoming proficient he…
Dear Cinema Pioneers, Sadly Village veteran and long time Cinema Pioneer Frank Westaway passed away late last week. After many years working for the ABC, Frank commenced doing projection shifts for Village drive-ins and suburban twin cinemas. He spent some time at Boronia Twin and also worked at Frankston Twin, Knox Twin and Clayton and Croydon drive-ins…
Dear Cinema Pioneers, I’ve been informed that Hoyts veteran Ray Hasse passed away last Thursday. Ray commenced in the cinema industry with Watermans Theatres who were based in Adelaide. He later transferred to Melbourne as Concessions Manager for Hoyts when they purchased the Watermans operations. Ray and his wife Joan moved back to Adelaide when Ray retired. …
Sadly, we have been informed that Cinema Pioneer Marie Whitaker passed away on Saturday 7th October (2017) after a long battle with cancer. Marie commenced her career at Peninsula (Dromana) Drive-in. She worked alongside husband Lloyd and brother in law Paul for many years at the drive-in and the Rosebud cinemas. Marie and Lloyd participated…
Sadly former Victorian Branch President David Aalders passed away on 16th September (2017). David commenced his career as an assistant projectionist at the old Sunshine Theatre which was operated by George and Roc Kirby. David’s role grew with the company as the number of Village drive-in and hardtop theatres expanded through the 1950s and 1960s.…