Wintergarden Theatre usherettes, 1926. Foxy.
Moving Pictures came quickly to Brisbane after they were invented in 1895. Australians made the first full-length feature film and the national film industry was big - although Hollywood soon took over and dominated. At first, moving pictures were shown in very makeshift locations (sheds, tents, etc.) but soon theatres were showing films on screens in place of live acts. When it was seen that the moving picture fad was here to stay the first dedicated Picture Palace was built - The Wintergarden.
Opening 1 August, 1924 with
Where the North Begins, it was a lavish new arrival heralded in the local paper for months beforehand. Over 10,000 individual lights of changing colours hidden behind the intricate fretwork ceiling created a fantasy space. A Wurlitzer organ, the largest in Brisbane (at the time) was installed to accompany films and represented an orchestra of 100. The theatre was naturally ventilated through ingenious techniques.
