BONZA - Australia & New Zealand Database

Name

Lou Somprou

Birth Year

0000

Death Year

1991

Country

Australia

Comments

Somprou grew up in Fitzroy where his parents conducted ballroom dancing classes. In 1910, Somprou's father decided to supplement the family's income into running one of the new invented moving picture theatres. This was a highly successful investment for the Somprou family; however as cinema became more popular newer and more improved theatres put an end to the family enterprise.

Somprou spent most of his years working in various cinema's around Australia. His first job at the age of 16 was at Hoyts as an assistant projectionist in 1960. He went on to work for the Metro-Goldwyn Mayer film distribution company located behind the Hoyts Deluxe Theatre, and then obtained work at the Amalgamated Theatres which eventually was taken over by Hoyts.

During his career, Somprou was never an operater, but worked front of house and eventually ended up managing a number of Hoyts Cinema's including the Plaza Theatre Essendon. One of Somprou's main jobs was to organise the switching of the single 1000 feet reels between each group of theatres.

Somprou worked well into his 70's as a dedicated member to the Hoyts enterprise and was respected by all who knew him. Dieing at the age of 98, sadly little records of his life was recorded, with his wife dieing years before him and their daughter passing away as a teenager.

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