BONZA - French Cinema

Film Weekly: motion picture directory	Cinema & Theatre Historical Society featured an article regarding the Verne Cinema; this article was particularly interested in Australian suburban cinemas. This article was written in 1997, which is almost forty years later from when the Verne Cinema ceased function as an entertainment site, allowing the text to have a nostalgic tone. The text written clearly demonstrated the positives of the cinemas active life, paying fine attention as to why the Verne was a significant location. Due to the fact that this article was written without any first-hand experience it is obvious that all information included such as structural details had been researched and recycled. Although this journalistic piece is a recount of details it does project the Verne Cinema from a modern perspective, that allows an external understanding to formulate. Through this modern view point it contributes to the discussion that if individuals do not consume in suburban cinemas- many locally significant multiplexes would be lost along with the communities historical triats. This article describes the cinema in a descriptive manner paying close attention to the aesthetics of the cinema, highlighting what the cinema was like during it%u2019s active days. With the information gained through this article, it was able to contribute to the discussion as it demonstrated the even though the Verne Cinema was a successful operating theatre it still could resist failure. Even though no specific answers were provided it did propose that the Verne Cinema fell victim to the dominance of mainstream corporate cinema franchises. This suggestion contributes to the discussion of how a successful cinema closed down.
Interview with anonymous Stonnington Council Member	Through an interview conducted with an anonymous Stonnington Council member it was revealed that the Verne Cinema was formerly known as Centenary Hall and was described to be a 'local, historic, social and aesthetic significance to the city of Stonnington'. Originally the hall was constructed as a community recreational center- serving as a location for numerous activities such as a dance hall, theatre rehearsals, celebratory events and even as a polling booth. However despite the halls ability to serve more than one purpose it predominately acted as a cinema, one that became known throughout Stonnington as a prominent entertainment site. Through research the council member managed to physically describe the hall, stating that because the hall was located on an urban streetscape and two storeys high it was not immediately identifiable as a hall, but because of the halls popular reputation- many residents were able to recognize the cinema. Verne Cinema (Centenary Hall) was described to have a large gable roof with wooden and flat exterior walls/floor that managed to encompass 400 seats. The front of the venue featured a timber door followed by a hall that was decorated by movie posters, residential photographs and images of the Stonnington area. The reliable information collected through the interview was able to provide precise details about the operation and description of the Verne cinema, the anonymous council member was able to suggest reasons for the closing down of the Verne Cinema. A large contributor was the fact that at the time the Verne Cinema was not a property that was personally owned- it belonged to the council. Through it%u2019s existence the Verne Cinema experienced many lessees who finically struggled to keep the cinema functioning whilst also paying rent to the council. The anonymous council member was able to provide specific information about the gradual close of the cinema, stating that the property was acquired by Hammond, Olsen & Co who eventually recognize the potential to make money thus converting the cinema into a knitting factory, and then later redesigning the property into a printing works. However despite revenue the printing works closed down of almost 20 years of operating, since then the Verne Cinema has been used for rental activity purposes rather than serving as one sole use. Today the cinema is used as a multi-purpose hall, generally used for social and community gatherings. The council member also stated that the Verne Cinema was the only operating cinema in the Stonnington region, stating that because of this it allowed individuals to feel apart of the community. This interview significantly provided an understanding of the Verne Cinema that could not be found within any article or report. Information gained allowed the Verne Cinema to be seen from a different perspective as the answers to questions detailed the cinema%u2019s existence in a practical and clear sense that not only contributed to the discussion but also introduced new factual sources that provided intelligence and viewpoint that could not be found anywhere else. (Huy Au 211396657).
Interview with Grace Tipping	Grace Tipping a local Malvern resident has been living in Malvern for almost all her life; through her residency there she was able to experience the Verne Cinema in its successful operating days. Through an interview conducted with Grace Tipping a variety of things were learnt, although she was able to recall specific details about the cinema she was able to shed light on the atmosphere of the cinema- providing a first hand account of what it was like to be at the Verne Cinema. According to Grace Tipping the cinema was a very community centered place, where everyone came to have a good time and enjoy themselves. She stated that %u2018at that time there wasn%u2019t really much to do outside your house for fun- other than restaurants, the cinemas was always an exciting and different thing to do%u2019. She continued to describe that the cinema was a very popular place, somewhere that she constantly looked forward to going as it was not only convenient but because many local residents tended to go on a regular basis as well. A particular memory that is vivid in Grace Tipping memory is going to see a movie called ' From here to Eternity'- Grace describes the movie as being one of the most romantic movies in history and that the cinema would rightly so play the movie multiple times a week. When asked why she personally believed the Verne Cinema ceased operating she could only answer with assumptions such as competitive cinemas (that eventually bloomed around the area), accessibility to other entertainment sources ( such as the rise and convenience of television), finical issues (through the course of the cinema operating days it experienced many owners) and the last owner who eventually turned the cinema into a factory. Grace Tipping still today lives in Malvern and remembers the significance of the Verne Cinema quite strongly. Despite being unable to recall accurate descriptions of the Verne Cinema, Grace Tipping was able to provide a personal account which described the cinema in a positive sense. The information gained attributed to the question what happened to the Verne Cinema? And although she could not provide a clear answer she gave suggestions that could be researched and later pondered upon.
Malvern's Verne Cinema	Within the article featured in Film Weekly, it reviewed the quality and the standard experience of the Verne Cinema- paying much detail to the aesthetics of the venue rather than any historical or periodic features however it did reveal qualitative factors. The Film Weekly article was obviously aimed at it%u2019s market readers which specifically includes %u2018movie fanatics%u2019- this text provided an external secondary opinion that revealed the Verne Cinema to be more than a notably community focused venue, and that it was still enjoyable for those living outside the Stonnington region, %u2018a popular location to enjoy quality sounding and visually appealing movies that are current and relevant to the audience%u2019. The article itself wasn%u2019t particularly large yet the value of information and description of the cinema could still be encompassed; it managed to define the atmosphere thus help understand the success of the venue. The primary focus of the article was detailing the location, disregarding any indication of reasons as to why such a popular cinema could not survive in a community driven society. Film Weekly was known as a credible journal that personally investigated and researched their subject matter therefore the information gained helped contribute to a logical argument. The information provided allows readers to experience the cinema through word, clearly illustrating the reasons of popularity. Even though the article predominately focused on the positive attributes of the Verne Cinema, its description allowed readers to understand an underlying message that smaller community cinemas need to be appreciated as they are basically on the verge of extinction. The Verne Cinema not only entertained the surrounding community but also was an locally iconic site. The article indicated that the smaller cinemas are now being demolished or subsequently adapted, and their original use and function obscured. The positive analysis may have been influenced by the magazine desperation to protect local cinemas. In spite of this, the article was able to truly show what the Verne Cinema was, and what it should be remembered as.
The Heritage Citation Report	The Heritage Citing report specifically discussed the Verne Cinema (formerly known as Centenary Hall) outlining the cinemas significance to the Stonnington community whilst also including other information regarding the cinemas structural and historical value. The report provided by the Stonnington council states that the first twenty-five years of operation the venue was a popular entertainment site for residents, as it provided them with something to do at the end of the week. In comparison to other resources collected this report provided the most information as it clearly described every element of the cinemas existence from initial opening to suggested reason as to why the cinema closed. Throughout the report however there is continuous praise regarding how the cinema united the community and helped create the city of Stonnington to become the family-centered and social neighborhood it is known for today. The report has a slight bias yet is still reasonably credible, as the information is presented factually with specific information (such as dates and names) to reinforce the reports reliability. The report was accessed through the Stonnington Council website making the paper accessible to the general public interested in the historical context of the council, the information provided within the report gives a vast over-view of the Verne cinema practically providing every information related possible- allowing the discussion of the cinemas closure to understood in a clear elaborative sense. The Verne Cinema is described with high acclaim in the report it is heavily regarded as significant as it is reprehensive of the type of small suburban cinema first constructed in the suburbs at the time that the movies with soundtracks became popular in the late 1920%u2019s and early 1930%u2019s. Designed with the multiple uses of cinema, dance hall and lodge rooms, it provided an entertainment venue for the suburbs. Stonnington%u2019s report states that the cinema provided a location for many community groups including the scouts, Red Cross, local theatre and dance groups however even after its closure the Verne Cinema still managed to have beneficial repercussions as the conversion of the cinema into a knitting mill and printing works created the necessary employment. The value of the information gained outweighs any bias opinion provided by the council. The report acts a factual document that attempts to retain the essence of history whilst explaining the successful social environment of Stonnington. Through the report the Verne Cinema is detailed enough that it leaves no room for imagination, it precisely observes the context and form of the cinema in an investigative manner clearly listing areas of significance such as the historical context, description, a comparative analysis and a statement of significance.
The Verne East Malvern	Within the article featured on page 23 of Cinemarecords it details information that outlines the structural and historical aspects of the Verne cinema. The article is direct and factual and contains no trace of bias it simply provides information. The information provided is demonstrated in a formal sense specifically by giving names, dates and other details significant to the Verne Cinemas existence. Through the article it features information in regards to the architecture of the cinema, according to the article the Verne cinema was originally designed as dance hall but was eventually converted into a picture theatre because the lessees saw a demand for an entertainment center, which was proven correct as the venue served better as a cinema than a dancing hall. Originally the property was named Centenary Hall but was later changed to Verne Cinema, it is assumed the name change was to help provide the venue an identity that clearly explains what the property was. The article articulates specific information essential to the understanding of the Verne Cinema, it revealed that the cinema opened on the 26th of January 1934 and was built by A. Ashmore Innellan however due to the transformation from dancing hall to cinema many of Innellan%u2019s construction were altered (such as re-designing the cloak room into a ticket booth). In answering the discussion question of what were the attributing factors that led the Verne Cinema closure? The article featured a story that noted an event that suggested a reason as to why the cinema closed. To keep the theatre warm, Lawrence Bros. (owners at the time) used a Wunderheat firebox, which on one night the flue of the heater caught fire and consequently filled the hall with smoke and damaged areas of the cinema. After this event occurred the Lawrence Brothers decided to depart from the Verne Cinema allowing the next tenants to utilize the property in any way they could. After Lawrence Brothers, the Australian Theatre Movement became the new lessees and used the venue for theatre purposes rather than cinematic screening- however their ownership of the was short lived and the Verne Cinema ceased being an entertainment venue. The insight that the Cinemarecord gave provided additional cues and information to understand the Verne Cinemas closure. The article was significant because the facts and details amongst the article provided intelligence that was specific and directly related only to topic at hand. It provided stories and minor features that would generally be disregarded or forgotten by other journalistic pieces, fortunately it allowed the comprehension of the closure to become clearer.