| Attempted robbery (01-01-1950) |
During a performance ('Hello 1950') in which actors were on stage, the actors' dressing rooms were ransacked. The performers, however, returned to their rooms before the theft was completed and chased the thieves.
Margaret Buckley allegedly grappled with one of the thieves but was overpowered. Max Blake, according to The Argus (2nd January 1950) and The West Australian (2nd January 1950) caught one of the thieves and held him until police arrived.
Max Blake was apparently an ex-commando of the New Zealand Army.
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| Change in program policy (1952) |
The Plaza had previously run its vaudeville shows for a fortnight, a decided to change the shows to run for a week, changing every Friday night.(The Argus, 9th February 1952)
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| Closing |
Unknown when Plaza Theatre closed down officially. After problems with meeting Health Department regulations in June 1960, Menck informed the Department a year later that the property had been sold.
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| Entertainment constantly changed - A. R. Harwood. |
Manager Alex Roy Harwood made changes to the Plaza's forms of entertainment. First in 1941, writing to the Health Department to ask advice on turning the venue into "an A-class, or fully live theatre" in 1941 and then Harwood submitting a proposal to re-introduce stage shows in 1949, after the Second World War influenced more pictures being shown until then.
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| False police officer (1936) |
Charles Frederick Constance walked into the Plaza, claiming to be a police constable and attempted to place a charge on the manager of the time, James McCully. Admitted he lied after being questioned by Constable T. Cunningham. Was fined 5 pounds. Incident took place 27th November, 1936. (Reported by The Argus 23rd December, 1936)
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| Joff Ellen/Rosie Burgess stage relationship |
According to Aussie Language's obituary for Rosie Burgess (see reference, 2005) there is mention of Burgess' meeting Joff Ellen in the 1940s to 50s. Joff was known to perform vaudeville acts at the Plaza and the obituary makes reference to them meeting at the Plaza and forming a stage partnership.
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| Secured suburban live artist theatre status (vaudeville) |
The Tivoli Theatre (Melbourne) shut down vaudeville productions in July 1950 (The Argus, 8th July 1950), leaving the Plaza Northcote as the only suburban theatre with live vaudeville performances.
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| Tram track replacement blamed for bankruptcy (1956) |
Alfons Klimek (former leasee of the Plaza) accusing the tram tracks being relayed and sending him bankrupt (The Argus, 23rd August 1956). Traffic had to be redirected from High Street, however business did not pick up once the job was completed. Mentions 800 pounds worth of renovations being done under Klimek when he first leased in February 1954.
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