Re Sentinel Times Tuesday, February 11, 2025 “Its on at the Union Theatre”.
This interesting article had me searching through some of the old Powlett Express articles from the period which I am presently, slowly indexing.
It raised the question in my mind which I cannot answer. Did the “Union Theatre” and the “Soldiers Theatre”, operated by the then Wonthaggi R.S.S.L.A., both operate as a
picture theatre from 1925, giving Wonthaggi two movie venues at that time? Would be interested to know if that was the case.
I have a lot of information on the “Soldiers Theatre” which took over the Wonthaggi theatre in January 1922 as reported in the “Powlett” offering both movies and live performance, for example, “The Kid” with Charlie Chaplin, and, “Special Musical Treat, with Miss Amy Castles, in a “Grand return farewell concert”, prices, 6, 4 and 2 shillings; book at Farrell’s.
My first reference in the “Powlett” to the “Union Theatre”, (and I am sure there are other references), is a report on 15th February 1927, where newspaper reports on a meeting called by the Mayor, J. H. Wishart and attended by 200 people to address issues surrounding the disputed ownership of the “Soldiers Theatre”.
The Mayor requesting that any speaker must be prepared to swear their statement in a court of law. An interesting meeting to say the least.
The meeting called for the Government to institute a public inquiry. This dispute is reported on 27th July 1928 to be in the County Court, and case lost by the Wonthaggi R.S.S.L.A. This led to more acrimony, between the Sub branch and the “Powlett” reporter who wrote a column called “Truth in Journalism” with one sentence, “As to senility or vindictiveness... At which time there was a call to stay court proceedings. These men played it tough, but then they were tough men in a town with an interesting past.
Rod Gallagher, Inverloch.
