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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T183000
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UID:10001145-1787250600-1787254200@www.historyvictoria.org.au
SUMMARY:Movies at the Mechanics' Institute
DESCRIPTION:Our Bruce Turner Lecture \nIn the early years of cinema\, the Mechanics’ Institute played a surprising role in bringing movies to life. Travelling showmen used these halls to share the wonder of film with small towns and growing suburbs across Victoria. \nJoin Royce Harris\, Archivist and President of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society\, as he uncovers how these early screenings grew into regular film events that entertained communities and supported the Institutes financially. \nThe talk includes rare and fascinating images from the CATHS archive\, showing the many venues that once hosted picture shows\, some of which are still standing today. \nRoyce Harris is the President and Archivist of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society (CATHS)\, whose archive is housed in the PMI Victorian History Library’s building. \nHe grew up in a small country town\, where local picture shows were a treasured part of community life. His lifelong interest in the history of cinema and Institutes has shaped much of his work. Royce contributed to the book These Walls Speak Volumes\, compiling a detailed list of 172 Mechanics’ Institutes known to have shown films. \nThrough his research and CATHS’ remarkable archive\, Royce brings to life the story of how Mechanics’ Institutes helped shape the early movie experience in Victoria.
URL:https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/event/movies-at-the-mechanics-institute/
LOCATION:39 St Edmonds Road\, Prahran\, VIC 3181\, 39 St Edmonds Road\, Prahran\, VIC\, 3181\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Victorian History Events
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ORGANIZER;CN="PMI Victorian History Library":MAILTO:library@pmi.net.au
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