later the PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE
The Melrose was a 2,000-seat open-air venue located in Murray Street between Forrest Place and William Street, Perth,
It began as open air gardens around 1908 showing short, silent films interspersed by Vaudeville.
The Theatre opened on February 11, 1911, built by Thomas Coombe and managed by T.J. West.
OPENING OF MELROSE TBEATRE
The splendidly roomy theatre was opened with great eclat last night, the opening ceremony being performed by the Premier. It was little short of marvellous that on a night when all the world is supposed to be shopping, the thousands of seats in the spacious building should have been occupied, but the place was packed right away to-the back row of seats. Mr. Scaddan offered his congratulations to West’s Pictures, Ltd. and the late Harry Rickard’s Tivoli Company upon their enterprise in carrying out so colossal an undertaking, also to the architect and contractors upon the way the building had been planned and erected. He said that the Melrose Theatre was by far the biggest place of entertainment that he had seen in any of the States, and the enormous concourse of people proved, not only that the combinations of moving pictures with vaudeville was a popular one, but also that the prosperity of the State was a solid fact. He was certain that the future would prove this to be so. The long and attractive programme was thoroughly enjoyed by all those present. [1]
The open-air site operated until the early 1920s before being rebuilt and replaced by the comparatively luxurious Prince of Wales Theatre in 1922. [2]
ENTERTAINMENTS.
PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE. OPENING ENTERTAINMENT.
“We want you to make it your theatre,” said Mr. T. M. Coombe, on the stage of the Prince of Wales Theatre last night, “where you will see the highest class of entertainment in the best surroundings that money can buy you.” A large audience occupied the splendid new theatre for the initial performance of its first programme. At the outset Mr. Coombe, accompanied on to the stage Mr. Stuart Doyle (managing director of Union Theatres, Ltd.) and Mr. W. A. Gibson (managing director of Australasian Films) who have journey hither from the East to attend the opening. Mr. Gibson told the audience that the theatre was the outcome of ideas absorbed in many cities of the world, and that the result was the finest theatre in Australia. After an overture by the admirable orchestra conducted by Mr. Lionel Hart the entertainment commenced appropriately with some pictures of the Prince of Wales at various functions in England. Capitally produced local pictures by Westralian Films, Ltd.. played amusing tricks with the traffic in Hay street, showing it in slow and accelerated motion, and in reverse and there were some very charming Pathe-colour scenic pictures. Miss K. Fanning, announced as Westralia’s Margaret Cooper, won the approval of her audience with songs at the piano, despite her ill-for tune in having a torrential downpour of rain convert her performance for some moments into little more than dumb show. A comedy film recording facts hitherto unknown concerning Noah and the denizens of the ark was followed by the “Hawaian Four,” a quartette who presented popular songs on banjos and guitars, with orchestral support. The greater part of the Second portion of the programme was devoted to Thos. H. Ince’s screen spectacle, “Hail the Woman.” The story expounds inconsistencies in the male precept and practice so far as woman is concerned. A strong cast of players headed by Florence Vidor, Theodore Roberts, Lloyd Hughes, and Madge Bellamy, interprets well its depiction of “one-eyed” intolerance and the ultimate triumph of a saner and gentler spirit. Throughout the evening the orchestra provided enjoyable music, and the whole entertainment was warmly applauded. [3]
In March 1929, The Prince of Wales Theatre advertised the screening of its first Talking Picture movie, bringing the end of an era and employment for many musicians.
THE FIRST REAL TALKIE AT THE PRINCE OF WALES’ THEATRE.
After years of silent pictures, which America, the seat of the Movie Industry, has brought to perfection, audiences all over the world are to be given an opportunity of attesting the wonderful discovery of “Cine-sound.” in other words the “Talking Picture,” to be co-ordinated in Australia with the Western Electric System. Just as the gramophone, some 15 years ago, gave promise of making rapid strides, so does “Cinesound”. Western Electric System intend to revolutionise the moving picture world. The silent picture will still be with us, with “Cinesound” Western Electric System as an added attraction. There will be the sound picture—the synchronised sound picture—the talking sequence, and last, but not least, orchestration by film. The full, rich volume of human voices will emanate from the film, and what is more wonderful still, no matter how far back in the theatre a patron is seated, that voice from the screen, with its full power, will be heard as clearly as if the seat was in the front of the house. “The Jazz Singer” will be the first Cinesound to be presented by Union
Theatres—at: the Prince of Wales Theatre, “‘The Jazz Singer” is the very film that revolutionised the movie industry from silence into speech. It features Al. Jolson, the highest paid minstrel singer in the world, who it is said was born with a sob in his vocal chorus, that just get into the “hearts of the people and thrills them as only a sympathetic voice can. Cinesound will be exclusive to the Prince of Wales Theatre in Perth, and during the next few weeks Western Electric experts will be engaged in preparing for the initial presentation of the sensational entertainment, “The Jazz Singer.” There are many other items to accompany the long feature and each of these will have its own interest.[4]
PREFERENCE POLICY
RETURNED SOLDIERS’ PROTEST
Mass Meeting to be Held To-day
Today, at 3 p.m in the Prince of Wales Theatre, a mass meeting of returned soldiers is being held to protest against what is considered the general disregard of the preference policy by the Government. Invitations to accept positions on the platform have been accepted by many prominent citizens, who served with distinction during the war years. The theatre will be opened at 2 p.m., and from that hour until the commencement of the meeting, a purely “digger” orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. W. Harrison, will entertain with selections and community songs. There will be eight speakers to put forward the resolutions to be submitted, and they will be drawn from various parts of the State. The convenors (Perth sub-branch of the R.S.L.), has received many letters and telegrams of support from sub-branches throughout the country, also from many kindred organisations. The British United Services Association has asked to be allowed representation on the platform, and their request has been agreed to.
The meeting will be strictly confined to ex-service men only, and all entrants must produce something to satisfy the doorkeepers of their bona fides.[5]
The Prince of Wales Theatre on Murray Street in Perth was demolished in 1960 after Bairds department store purchased the property and the adjacent Gayne’s building.
[1] Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 – 1955), Sunday 24 December 1911, page 2
[2] STAGE SCREEN AND SOUND West Australian Newspapers Limited
[3] West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Friday 8 December 1922, page 10
[4] Westralian Worker Friday 15 March 1929 page 7
[5] Sunday Times Sunday 28 June 1931 page 6