| Reference Type |
web
|
| Title |
A brief history of the Greater Union organisation |
| Chapter/Web article title |
Greater Union Birch Carroll& Coyle |
| Author(s) | GUO |
| Town |
Melbourne |
| State |
VIC |
| Country |
Australia |
| Publication Date |
|
| Citation Date |
|
| Site URL |
http://www.greaterunion.com.au/aboutus/history.asp |
| Comments |
A brief history of the Greater Union organization
This website is about the big event at Greater Union from 1910 to 1982. It tells about what happen and how differences of greater union year by year. It demonstrated the development of greater union in some stage. It are apparently comparable between this years.
1910
Scotsman Thomas James West, formerly a press agent for Barnum & Bailey, establishes West's Pictures.
1912
West merges with two other pioneering companies, Spencer's Pictures and Amalgamated Pictures, to create the General Film Co of Australasia.
1913
The Greater JD Williams Amusement Co, a large exhibition and film supply outfit, joins General, bringing them together as Union Theatres and Australasian Films.
1918
Former travelling vaudevillian and lawyer's clerk, Stuart Doyle, is appointed general manager, and later, joint managing director of Union Theatres/Australasian Films.
1928
Union Theatres renovates and opens The Capitol in Sydney - a great monument to movies. During the first two days, 23,000 people visit the transformed circus arena. Later The Ambassadors opens in Perth and enjoys similar success.
1929
Union builds and opens the magnificent State Theatre in Sydney, above which the company's head office still remains. The building towered above all the surrounding architecture.
1930s
The Depression forces Doyle to liquidate Union and form Greater Union Theatres; distribution arm becomes British Empire Films (BEF); National Theatre Supply Co forms; Cinesound Productions launches. Cinesound produced films about Australia for the next 40 years including the now legendary Ken Hall films, such as On Our Selection and Dad And Dave.
1937
Norman Rydge appointed chairman/managing director, bringing Greater?nion, after some earlier losses, a modest profit in 1939 and further growth during World War II. Rydge, a 37-year-old accountant, had been one of Australia's leading tax consultants, the publisher and editor of Rydges Business Journal, held the controlling interest in Menzies Hotel Ltd and was the former Mayor of Canterbury. He stayed with the company until his death in 1980.
1945
UK-based J Arthur Rank Organisation buys 50 % of Greater Union's shares.
1955
Company joins with Hoyts to kick off some of the first drive-in cinemas in Australia and begins refurbishing venues to accommodate stereo and 70mm film and combat television; Greater?nion acquires a shareholding interest in the WA chain, the Ace Group.
1960
Sir Norman Rydge and Roc Kirby, founder of the Village circuit, do a handshake deal to form a highly lucrative showbiz partnership that endures to this day. At the time, television was having a devastating affect on cinemas. "Build theatres," said Sir Norman, "We'll be with you - the industry's best years are ahead."
1960s
Company changes name to Greater?nion Organisation (GUO) and interest in Village increases to a third; refurbishing program continues.
1965
Rydge retires as Managing Director of GUO and is succeeded by BEF General Manager Keith Moremon - who at the age of 15 joined Greater Union as an office boy.
1971
GUO buys MGM's Australian theatre chain for $4.8 million, taking its circuit to 200 (150 co-owned or operated by partners). The deal also gives access to MGM product, with BEF becoming MGM- BEF Distribution, and signing exhibition deals with Cinema International Corporation and Cinema Center Films augmenting other longstanding deals the company had with other majors, particularly Universal and Walt Disney.
1975
Moremon resigns and is replaced by general manager David Williams, who brings with him an expansion program via multi-screen complexes in each state's capital city; company re-enters film production with Peter Weir's Picnic At Hanging Rock; MGM-BEF becomes Greater Union Organisation Film Distributors.
1982
GUO increases its holdings in film developing outfit Colorfilm from 50% to 100% and purchases Hoyts' interests in 21 drive-ins. The company revamps its image, adopting a new logo and renaming the distribution arm Greater Union Film Distributors and supply company Greater Union Theatre Supplies. More complexes open and plans for a fourplex in the centre of Sydney are unveiled.
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