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Townsville Cinema Group | ||||
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Townsville Cinema Group, one of Australia's oldest film societies, screens 35mm feature films from around the world every second Thursday (March to November) at Warrina Cineplex, Dalrymple Road, Currajong. Foreign language films are subtitled. |
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Brief history of the Townsville Cinema Group
BRIEF HISTORY OF TOWNSVILLE CINEMA GROUP
The origins of the present film society go back to the foundation of James Cook University. An organisation known as the Townsville and District University Society was set up in the late 1950s to lobby government for the creation of a university centre in Townsville. When the University College of Townsville was established in 1961, the University Society took on the role of supporting its development and providing various cultural activities for the new university and for the city.
The Townsville & District University Film Society was the brainchild of Dr Ian Dickson. It was set up to provide an extra cultural activity and also to fund student scholarships at the new university college. In 1961 he initiated the screening of 16 mm feature films in the Theatre Royal (destroyed in the fire that raged through the Town Hall complex in Flinders Street, and now the site of Northtown on the Mall). Other members of the original committee included Mr David Pearse, Dr Geoff Broadbent, Mr Jack Bordujenko, Mr Jim Proud (Treasurer) and Mr Bruce Gibson-Wilde (Secretary). Screenings at the Theatre Royal required a great deal of manpower — to move two 16 mm projectors and a table up to the dress circle, hang a large screen from the fly-tower on stage; and then remove them all after the show!
Film societies screening on the 16 mm film gauge were very common during the 1950s and 60s throughout Australia. At that time very few “art films” were shown in the commercial cinemas; subtitled foreign language films were rare. It was the film societies that provided this extra range of feature films to small appreciative audiences. Often the films came free from embassies and consulates — French, Canadian, Russian, British, etc. — as part of their cultural activity.
When the Refectory wing was added at the university’s Pimlico campus in 1962, screenings were transferred to this venue — more convenient for the fortnightly screenings, although much manpower was still required to set up projectors, screen and chairs for each screening.
By 1962 the film society had become the Townsville Cinema Group, an independent society but still using the university facilities. During the 1960s the membership of the film society became more general and not so concentrated on people associated with the university.
After the University College became the autonomous James Cook University in 1970, screenings transferred to the Douglas campus. About this time it was decided to screen in 35 mm format, initially at the Sun and Astor theatres (both now gone), although some 16 mm screenings continued at the Douglas campus for several years. In 1973 screenings on 35 mm gauge moved to the new Warrina Cinema (now Warrina Cineplex).
By the 1980s, however, all screenings were in the commercial 35 mm format at the Warrina. In this regard the Townsville Cinema Group is unique in Queensland. All of the film societies established in the 1950s and 60s have disbanded, and (to the best of our knowledge) none achieved the full conversion to commercial 35 mm format.
The Management Committee of the Townsville Cinema Group is grateful to the management of the Warrina Cineplex for their continued support over many years, which has been essential in maintaining the operation of the film society.
Although the Townsville Cinema Group has seen difficult financial times, it is still in operation after more than 45 years, with the same aim as in 1961 — to provide a comfortable venue for enjoying the best of the world’s feature films.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Townsville Cinema Group is an incorporated association. Membership of the association is open to everyone, on payment of an annual subscription.
The Management Committee is elected each year at an Annual General Meeting, held normally in May.
Management Committee (2007-08):
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President: |
Bill White |