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Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 6

Some moneyed people in Melbourne evidently believe that the future of the evening entertainments rests with the' moving pictures. Therefore they are prepared to encourage popular taste in that direction by erecting picture theatres such as have yet been seen nowhere outside America. One of these theatres is to he built on what is virtually an island at the junction of Oollms and Swanson Streets. The building alone, which will include a cafe and possibly a cabaret, besides several suites of offices, . will cost £300,000, apart from the cost of the site. The theatre will seat 3000 ■ and apace is to he provided for an orchestra of forty members. The architect is to be an American who quite lately was supervising the erection in the States of seventeen theatres of his own designing. Another Melbourne syndicate is making preparations to build, also in Swanson Street, an even bigger theatre with an accommodation for an audience of 3500, a large organ, and an orchestra or sixty. This place, too, will cost £300,000. The " legitimate” drama was never housed- so elaborately in its palmiest days, before the film play threatened its popularity.