A.E. Lydford	Manager	Original Owner/Manager
Hugh Carr	Manager	took over the role of manager in the early 30's

Beau Sabreur		One of the two films show on the opening night of the New Mentone Theatre
Jesse James		one of the two films show on the opening night of the New Mentone Theatre
Northwest Frontier		The final film to be shown at the New Mentone Theatre
Once Upon A Time in the West		one of the final two films to be shown at the New Mentone Theatre

journal - Cinema Record Issue 4 17. The New Mentone Theatre  4. 00-08-1994

Trevor Walters

This Article gives a detailed history of The New Mentone Theatre. It documents it from the time of construction through to when it was demolished and it cont...[full record]

web - Kingston Historical Website : New Mentone Theatre .

Leo Gamble

A brief online article in regards to the New Mentone Theatre.[full record]

web - Kingston Historical Website - Opening the New Mentone Theatre: 1928 . 08-08-2006

Leo Gamble

An online article that focuses primarily on the history of the New Mentone Theatre. It gives a detailed account of the events leading up to and including the...[full record]

New Mentone Theatre.

The New Mentone Theatre was situated on the corner of Balcome Road and the Nepean Highway, Mentone. The Owner and Builder A.E. Lydford built the theatre on land that had previously been condemned to build on. the 1306 sea theatre opening in 1928 to a showing of 'Beau Sabreur' and 'Jesse James', both Paramount Films. Although it opened in the days of silent films Mr. Lydford considered himself to be quite an entrepreneur and was the first cinema manager outside of city centre to install electric sound equipment and therefore the New Mentone became the first suburban cinema to screen 'talkies'. The New Mentone was one of largest and most luxurious theatre in Victoria. It even had it's own orcherstra and a famous white baby grand piano. Mr. Lydford and his three sons operated the theatre until the early 30's when due the depression he was forced to sell and the management of the theatre was taken over by Hugh Carr. the theatre continued it's success until the late 50's where like most cinemas, it saw a large decline due to the invention of the television. The amount of screenings were scaled back until eventually the New Mentone was forced to close it's doors in 1961 with a double feature of 'Northwest Frontier' and 'Once Upon A Time in the West'. A year following it's closing it was demolished and the site it once stood is now part of the expanded Nepean Highway.