Theatre Renown, Midland.
c. 1978Colour digital scan of original image.
Gilbert Trefry and his employer Albert Herbert left the goldfields of Day Dawn in 1918 and bought into the picture showing business at Midland. They were showing silent movies at the old Empire Theatre and the Midland Town Hall two nights a week. At that time movies were manually run by the operator cranking a handle so Herbert designed a water motor to run what could have been the only water-run movies in the world.
In 1927 Herbert and Trefry built the Theatre Renown in Helena Street, claimed to be one of the most modern and comfortable theatres in the metropolitan area. The new theatre nearly sent the two men broke and just as they were recovering from their massive investment, silent films were superseded by ‘talkies’ which required further investment in new equipment.
When Herbert died, Trefry continued to operate the theatre until 1954 when he leased the business to Consolidated Theatres. The theatre closed in 1968 after which the building was used as a furniture store. The building was demolished in the late 1970s.
Details
Details
The Theatre Renown was the first purpose-built theatre in Midland.
Western Australia
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Nearest geotagged records:
- Helena Street, Midland, viewed from the junction of Great Northern Highway. (0.01km away)
- First electric light pole erected in Midland Junction. (0.05km away)
- Church of Ascension, Midland. (0.06km away)
- Coles building, Helena Street, Midland. (0.06km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1724 McGREGOR, 10 Light Horse (0.13km away)
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- 23 Spring Park Road, Midland. (0.14km away)
- The R&I Bank building, corner of The Avenue and Great Northern Highway. (0.14km away)
- Church of Ascension, Midland. (0.15km away)
- Webster Motors, Great Northern Highway, Midland. (0.15km away)
View all geotagged records »
Copyright and Reference
Copyright and Reference
Image is to be attributed 'Courtesy of Midland and Districts Historical Society Inc. and Elizabeth Herbert'.
Midland and Districts Historical Society
Midland and Districts Historical Society
Other items by Elizabeth Herbert
- Views along Great Northern Highway, 1978.
- The R&I Bank building, corner of The Avenue and Great Northern Highway.
- Helena Street, Midland, viewed from the junction of Great Northern Highway.
- Coles building, Helena Street, Midland.
- Methodist Church, Midland.
- Webster Motors, Great Northern Highway, Midland.
- St John Ambulance building, Great Eastern Highway, Midland.
- Church of Ascension, Midland.
- Salvation Army Hall, Great Eastern Highway, Midland.
Other items from Midland and Districts Historical Society
- Belle View Homestead, 2017.
- CBH Wheat Silo, Bellevue, 2017.
- Houses on William Street, Midland.
- 60 Sayer Street, Midland.
- Houses in Morrison Road, Midland.
- Houses in North Street, Midland.
- Houses in unidentified locations, Midland.
- Houses in Henry Street, Midland.
- 9 Gartrell Street, Midand.
- Lynwood, 18 Great Northern Highway, Midland.
- Houses on Great Northern Highway, Midland.
- Houses in Margaret Street, Midland.
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