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Theatres/Venues 3a: Brisbane

Brisbane CBD and South Bank ……. p.1
Fortitude Valley, New Farm & Spring Hill…… p.2
Southern Suburbs…… p.3
South-Western Suburbs…… p.4
South-Eastern Suburbs…… p.5
Northern Suburbs…… p.6

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ACADEMY OF MUSIC: See Albert Hall [1]

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ALBERT HALL [1] / GAIETY THEATRE

aka Academy of Music / Liddy’s Gaiety Theatre

(1881-1999) Adelaide Street.

Situated  between Edward and Albert Streets, Brisbane’s first Albert Hall opened on 20 September 1881. Seating around 1000 people it was initially used for musical concerts and dramatic performances. The building was remodelled and renamed twice – he first in time in 1884 (Academy of Music) and again in 1886 (Gaiety Theatre). It was also known briefly as Liddy’s Gaiety (1890-91). The building became a parcels Post Office in 1899 and was demolished in 1909 to make way for extensions to Finney Isles’s shop frontage.

Entertainments staged in theatre between 1886 and 1899 included those by the Taylor-Carrington Company (Harrry Taylor and Ella Carrington), Wilson Forbes Dramatic Company, Hamilton’s Dramatic Company, the Great Pantomime Company, and the Gaiety Pantomime Company.

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ALBERT HALL [2] (1901-1968) Situated on Albert Street, between Ann and Turbot Streets, used by local musical, choral and elocution groups as well as visiting performers, university drama societies. The building’s second level housed the Central Methodist Mission and during the depression Albert Hall served as a soup kitchen (run by the Methodist Ladies Guild). Between 1940 and its closure the halls was used by various local companies including Twelfth Night Theatre Co., Brisbane Arts Theatre, Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society, Brisbane Opera Society and Musica Viva. The Queensland Government demolished the building to make way for the S.G.I.O. offices and the S.G.I.O. Theatre (later Suncorp Theatre).

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BOHEMIA THEATRE

aka The Ritz / Bohemia Stadium

(1912-ca.1955) Stanley Street, South Brisbane.

The Bohemia initially used for boxing/wrestling matches and community meetings. Between the late 1910s and mid-1920s it became popular as a variety house. The theatre was closed down in 1935 and then re-opened in September 1938 by Les Turner as the Ritz Theatre. Also known as the Bohemia Stadium it was bought by the Brisbane City Council in the 1940s and eventually demolished to make way for a car park.

The northern end of Stanley Street, where the Bohemia used to stand, no longer exists as a traffic thoroughfare having been absorbed into the South Bank Parklands. A Map of Brisbane and Suburbs from the 1920s shows the original street plan for the South Brisbane/South Bank area (available courtesy of the National Library of Australia).

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CREMORNE THEATRE

aka Cremorne Gardens

(1911-1954) Southbank, Brisbane.

Built by Edward Branscombe for his Dandies costume companies, the open-air Cremorne Gardens (later Cremorne Theatre) was located adjacent to Victoria Bridge. Purchased by John N. McCallum in 1916, the venue was later leased out to various theatre and film concerns but remained under the McCallum family’s control until it burned down in 1954. Among the companies and people associated with the venue during its 50-odd years were the Dandies, Courtiers Costume Comedy Company, Town Topics, Huxham’s Serenaders, Pat Hanna’s Famous Diggers and Will Mahoney and Evie Hayes.

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EMPIRE THEATRE

aka St James Theatre / Paris Theatre

(1911-1986) 176 Albert Street, Brisbane.

Built especially for Ted Holland and Percy St John, the Empire was situated between Queen and Elizabeth Streets and hailed on its opening as one of the finest purpose-built vaudeville theatres in the southern hemisphere. Following their deaths in 1914 and 1915 respectively, the theatre was managed by the Fullers until the original lease expired in 1918. The company then took over control and it subsequently became known as Fullers’ Empire Theatre. From 1930 onwards the venue operated largely as a cinema. It was demolished in 1986 to make way for the Myer Centre.

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GAIETY THEATRE: see Albert Hall [1]

HOYTS REX: See Rex Theatre (Fortitude Valley)

LIDDY’S GAIETY THEATRE: See Albert Hall [1]

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MASON’S CONCERT HALL

aka Victoria Theatre / Royal Victoria Theatre / Queensland Theatre

(1865-1880) Elizabeth Street, Brisbane.

Hotelier/entrepreneur George B. Mason, credited with introducing regular theatrical performances to Brisbane, opened his concert hall on 25 January 1865 with Governor Sir G.F. Bowen in attendance. The first entertainment offered was a combination of variety performances and dramatic representations by professional and amateur artists. Over the next 15 years the theatre was frequently renovated. It was also known variously as Mason’s Theatre, Victoria Theatre, Royal Victoria Theatre and Queensland Theatre. The building was demolished in 1880 by James Thynne who built the Theatre Royal in its place.

For further details into Mason’s Concert Hall see Simon and Delyse Ryan’s “Theatres.” The Academy Literature and Drama Website (2012).

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PALACE GARDENS

(1912-1924) Corner of Ann St and North Quay, Brisbane.

Situated on the Brisbane riverside in the heart of the CBD, the Palace Gardens was an open-air entertainment venue built initially for Ted Holland and Percy St John by a consortium comprising Edward Branscombe, John N. McCallum and Holland and St John. At various times the Palace became an open-air cinema, and presented drama and boxing. Among the variety companies to play there were Walter George‘s Smart Set, Chas Weston’s Royal Strollers, Carlton Max’s Follies, Harry Borradale‘s Sparklers and C. Post Mason‘s All-Star Vaudeville and Photoplays company.

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PARIS THEATRE: See Empire Theatre

QUEENSLAND THEATRE: See Mason’s Concert Hall

REX VALLEY: See Rex Theatre (Fortitude Valley)

THE RITZ: See Bohemia Theatre

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ROMANTIQUE CABARET

(1928-1930) Victoria Place, South Brisbane (southern end of the Victoria Bridge, adjacent to the Brisbane River)

The Romantique Cabaret was a riverside cafe and dance palais established by Septimus R. Doolan in November 1928. Under his management “formal” entertainments” were presented twice weekly, with the venue reverting to dance-only evenings or function-venue during the remainder of the week. The formal nights were initially staged under the direction of C. Ernest Moss, with high profile comedian Billy Maloney employed to oversee and star in the vaudeville programme. The first orchestra was under the direction of Wally Higgs. Addie Cantwell took over as new event director in April 1929. Billy Smith became the new music director in May. Doolan sold his interest to a newly-established consortium in November but the economic crisis saw their plans to make the venue a “favourite haunt of Brisbane fail. The company was voluntarily wound-down in November 1930.

Image source: Brisbane Courier 8 Dec. 1928, 2.

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ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE: See Mason’s Concert Hall

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SCHOOL OF ARTS [1]

aka North Brisbane School of Arts / Old School of Arts

(1851-1878) Corner of Queen and Creek streets.

One of the earliest buildings used for public performances in Brisbane, the first School of Arts opened in October 1851. Although mostly used for educational presentations and community events, it was also occasionally used by touring and local entertainments. A rebuilding in 1866, followed soon after by an economic depression, created financial difficulties for the organisation and led to a forced sale in 1872 to the Queensland National Bank. The School of Arts subsequently leased the building until 1878. It remained available for hire (as the Old School of Arts) until demolished ca. 1884 to make way for the bank’s new premises.

In addition to the long-running (Original) Brisbane Amateur Minstrels, other variety troupes to appear there included the Court Minstrels (1863), Brown’s Christy Minstrels (1864), and the Christy Minstrels [2] (1865).

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SCHOOL OF ARTS [2] Located in Ann Street, the second School of Arts building was erected in 1866 as a clearing house and hostel for new domestic servants. Acquired by the School of Arts committee in 1873 the property was then leased out while the organisation rented the Creek Street building from the Queensland National Bank. No professional variety or theatrical companies have yet been identified as using the Ann Street premises after the School of Arts eventually moved there in May 1878. The building operated under its auspices until taken over by the Brisbane City Council in 1965.

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ST JAMES THEATRE: See Empire Theatre

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THEATRE ROYAL

(1881-1987) Elizabeth Street, Brisbane.

Built as a replacement for Mason’s Concert Hall, the 1350 seat Theatre Royal opened on 18 April 1881. Between 1899 and the 1910s variety was the dominant entertainment at the Royal, with major lessees being Percy St John, Thomas Delohery and Ted Holland, Harry Rickards and James Brennan. Electric lights were installed in 1911. Commandeered by the US Army for entertainment during WWII, it was later leased by Will Mahoney. After being closed in 1959 it used by musical and theatrical groups and prior to being demolished in 1987 operated as a nightclub.

Image: Architectural drawing of the facade of Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 1891. Source: National Library of Australia.

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TIVOLI THEATRE

(1915-1965) Albert Street (opposite Brisbane Town Hall).

The 1,800 seat Tivoli was built by Hugh D. McIntosh and opened on 15 May. The opening saw the Tivoli Follies play the main auditorium with a vaudeville company upstairs in the Roof Garden. Despite being part of the Tivoli circuit the theatre never managed to overtake the popularity of the Fullers‘ Empire Theatre [above] during the 1910s and 1920s. It was purchased by the Brisbane City Council in 1963 and closed in 1965. The Council demolished the theatre prior to constructing the King George Square.

The Tivoli Follies featured 44 performers – notably Jack Cannot, Vaude and Verne, Isabelle D’Armond, Alfredo, Jack Haskell & Mademoiselle Clero. Companies and firms linked to the the theatre in later years included J.C. Williamson’s, Philip Lytton, Kings Dramatic Company, William Anderson Premier Dramatic Company, and Vaudeville de Luxe. The Roof Garden theatre held more intimate performances including: “Signaller Tom Skeyhill‘s Gallipoli War Lecture Season.”
Image source: State Library of Queensland.

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TOWN THEATRE: See Rex Theatre (Fortitude Valley)

VICTORIA THEATRE: See Mason’s Concert Hall

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies. For information concerning copyright issues see “Copyright” attachment in the AVTA “About” page.

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REX THEATRE (Fortitude Valley)

aka Town Theatre / Hoyts Rex / Rex Valley

(1936-ca. 1974) Wickham Street (between Gipps and Brunswick streets).

Although best remembered as a cinema, the Rex Theatre’s first lessee, Graham Mitchell, operated it as a vaudeville house for some 14 months. The building, situated on the northern side of Wickham Street, dated back to the late 1900s when it served as a warehouse. At the time of its purchase by E. Crafti and A.J. Carter (Crafti’s Investments Pty Ltd) it was owned by Foy and Gibson. The basement was remodelled into a theatre, with the remainder of the building converted in three shops. The Rex was used for occasional live productions up until its closure. Sinbad the Sailor (featuring Peggy Ryan) was produced there in 1950, for example.

Graham Mitchell’s Jesters opened the Rex on 9 May 1936. The feature artists were Nat Hanley, Syd Beck and Len Rich.

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies. For information concerning copyright issues see “Copyright” attachment in the AVTA “About” page.

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DUTTON PARK GARDEN THEATRE

(1908-1920s) Dutton Park Reserve (off Gladstone Road, Dutton Park).

In the wake of E.J. Carroll‘s success in 1908 with his open-air Continentals entertainment Roderic McCallum initiated twice weekly concert, film and variety shows in the former Dutton Park Reserve in 1909. The Brisbane Tramways Company, which built the gardens and pavilion in 1908, also provided its own band up until 1911. Used primarily as a sport ground during the war years, musical entertainment was briefly revived in 1921 when George and Agnes Rahilly-Brown staged jazz dances and juvenile variety concerts there over the summer months. It later reverted to hosting sporting clubs.

For details relating to Agnes Rahilly-Brown see the Sunshine Kiddies entry
Image source: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies. For information concerning copyright issues see “Copyright” attachment in the AVTA “About” page.

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies. For information concerning copyright issues see “Copyright” attachment in the AVTA “About” page.

ALBION PUBLIC HALL

aka Albion Hall Pictures / Empire / Capital Theatre

(1888-ca. 1968) 344 Sandgate Road (corner of Birkbeck Street)

The Albion Public Hall opened on 9 May 1888 with a fancy dress ball, and over the next seven decades served an important role in the cultural life of local residents, as well as those from neighbouring suburbs. The hall was used for public lectures, meetings, concerts, moving picture exhibitions, live theatricals (including drama, minstrelsy and vaudeville), a dance hall, and as a training facility for local dance schools. The first variety company to play the hall was the Ohio Minstrels (a local amateur troupe) in September 1888, while the Star Electric Photoplay Company became the first film exhibitor to show moving pictures there (April. 1911). Although it was eventually converted into a permanent cinema from ca. 1918 the hall continued to be used for other purposes when required.

1. The building was designed by Brisbane architect Victor Emmanuel Carandini
2. The Albion Public Hall was popular with local minstrels during the late 1800s and early-1900s. Known Other local troupes included: The Bourbon Minstrels, and the Albion Christy Minstrels.
2: The Star Electric Photoplay Company was later known as Kirwin’s Electic Pictures. At this time the venue was also known as Albion Hall Pictures.
3. The building functioning as a permanent picture theatre from 1918 (known as the Empire Picture Theatre). It became the Capitol Theatre in 1934, and continued to operate under that name until ca. 1968.
4. The building was given a total redevelopment in 2014 and has since become home to a number of food and beverage outlets, along with health and beauty service providers.
1909. Image source: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

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ARCADIA THEATRE [2] (Ascot)

(ca 1923-1949) Corner of Racecourse Road and Kent Road (directly opposite Windermere Rd).

In 1923 Mrs J. Williams acquired the site on which an Arcadia Theatre had been operating since at least 1915 and rebuilt it as a 3,000 seat horseshoe-shaped picture house. From 1929 to 1931 the venue was operated by an as-yet unidentified proprietor. After its purchase by Lyric Theatres Ltd in 1931 the Arcadia was renovated and given a sound projector. Ascot Theatres Pty Ltd took over the cinema in 1935 and maintained ownership until 1949. A few years later it was demolished to make way for a third cinema – the Ascot (1953-1969). Although primarily a picture theatre, the Arcadia nevertheless presented live entertainments at various times. These included vaudeville, between-films acts, jazz bands, pantomimes, theatrical productions and community singing radio broadcasts.

1. The Courier Mail records in early-1953 that the first Arcadia Theatre was established in 1912 (“Theatre Night for Red Cross.” 14 Jan. 1953, 5). See Elite Picture Gardens [below] for further details.
2. Mrs J. Williams was a former vaudevillian who worked professionally as Eva Lee between ca. 1897 and 1916. From around 1907 she presented an act billed as Eva Lee and her Two Piccaninnies.”
3. Among the biggest names to work the Arcadia stage were D.B. O’Connor, The Gilberts, Grace Quine, and Jenny Howard.
4. A supermarket and chemist shop now stand on the site.
Image source: Telegraph (Brisbane) 16 July 1935, 21.

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ASCOT THEATRE: After Ascot’s second Arcadia Theatre closed in 1949 the building lay vacant for several years and was then demolished. A new cinema, the Ascot, opened on 22 January 1953 and operated until 1969 under the ownership of Savoy Pictures. The final film screened at the Ascot was reportedly It’s a Mad Mad World. There was no connection between the Arcadia and Ascot theatres apart from being located on the same corner of Racecourse and Kent roads. A supermarket and chemist shop now stand on the site.

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CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE (Windsor)

aka Windsor Picture Palace / Crystal Palace Dansant / Crystal Theatre

(1920-1999) Lutwyche Road (near the corner of Le Geyt Street, 1920-1964; then Le Geyt Street, 1964-1999)

Like most suburban cinemas around Australia during the early-twentieth century, the Crystal Palace was not always just a picture house. It was used for balls, public dances, public meetings, community singing, variety entertainment, and private functions. During the 1920s and 1930s the theatre was popular with local dance clubs, schools and regularly served as an electoral polling station. Among the known variety acts to appear there were The Dixie Kids, Marshall Palmer (singer), Victor the Great (magician), Dorello (juggler), Princess Mahelona (South Sea beauty). The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe was also staged there in 1929. The venue, which had its name changed from Windsor Picture Palace to Crystal Palace in 1927, appears to have operated exclusively as a cinema from 1940 onwards. It closed down in 1999 and was demolished the following year.

1: Between February and October 1938 the venue was also known for one night each week as the Crystal Palace Dansant. In addition to dancing, these evenings invariably included novelty vaudeville acts and singing.
2: The Crystal Theatre’s location was changed in 1964 when the proprietors shift the building’s entrance from busy Lutwyche Road to Le Geyt Street – just around the corner.
Image: View from Lutwyche Road; Source: Windsor and Districts Historical Society.

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ELITE PICTURE GARDENS (Ascot)

aka Arcadia Theatre [1]

(ca. 1912-1922) Corner of Racecourse Road and Kent Road (directly opposite Windermere Road).

Very little is known about this venue due to the fact newspaper advertising was rarely ever used, and hence it received little additional coverage. The Courier Mail records in 1953 that the first Arcadia Theatre was established in 1912, but no supporting evidence has yet been found. The earliest confirmed record found to date is a 1915 article in the Queensland Figaro which reports on a Belgian fundraiser held at the Elite Picture Gardens courtesy of the manager Mr George Hunt. Three advertisements placed in the Telegraph and Courier Mail newspaper in 1921 and 1922 identify it as either the Arcadia Picture Theatre or Arcadia Gardens Theatre. As with most cinemas operating in this era the venue very likely included live entertainment at some stage – when occasionally or on a regular basis.

1: “Theatre Night for Red Cross.” Courier Mail (Brisbane) 14 Jan. 1953, 5
2: “Gossip From Women’s Clubland.” Queensland Figaro (Brisbane) 17 Apr. 1915, 14-15. The address for the Elite Picture Theatre in this article is incorrectly given as Racecourse Road, Hamilton instead of Racecourse Road, Ascot. This same mistake has also been identified on a number of occasions in relation to the second Arcadia Theatre.

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ELITE PICTURE GARDENS (Wooloowin)

aka Elite Pictures / Elite Picture Pavilion

(1913- 1923) Dixon Street (next to Wooloowin Railway Station).

Although established in a largely residential area, Wooloowin’s first picture house was ideally situated next to the local railway station and a short distance from the nearby tramline. It operated as an open-air venue, and hence closed down during the winter months. Although few details regarding the engagement of variety performers have been located to date, due in large part to its limited advertising and subsequent newspaper coverage, there is evidence available to suggest that this occurred at various times, and possibly on a more regular basis. The Elite was also used for benefits and patriotic concerts, which often comprised films, live performers and music – invariably performed by the house band (or “orchestra”). Wooloowin Amusements Ltd demolished the building in 1923 and erected a new picture house its place.

1: William H. Healy is believed to have built, owned and operated the Elite Picture Gardens for most, if not all, of its 10 years of existence.
2: No recognised professional entertainers have yet been linked to the picture house.

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HAMILTON BAND STAND

aka Tramway Band Stand / Old Pierrot Ground / Hamilton Continentals / Tivoli Gardens [2] / Tivoli Lyric and Continentals

(ca. 1901-1913) Hamilton Reach riverbank grasslands adjoining the Hamilton Training Wall, Kiosk and the intersection of Hamilton, Eagle Farm and Racecourse roads (diagonally opposite the Hamilton Hotel).

This riverbank area had been used by the Tramway Band from the early 1900s before a stage was eventually built for performances and public meetings. The first professional company to play the stand was Harry Primrose’s Pierrots over the 1906/1907 summer. Later companies included Wyn Leslie’s Pierrots (1907/08) and the Hamilton Continentals (1910/1911). In early 1911 Bella Sutherland took over its lease and reopened it on 30  September as the Tivoli Gardens [2]. The Imperial Electric Pictures (Oct.) Aubrey Morley’s Tivoli and Lyric Continentals (Nov.), and Albert Bennett’s Tivoli Continentals (Dec. 1911 – ca. Mar. 1912) appeared under Sutherland’s lesseeship. By the summer of 1912 competition from her newly-built Tivoli Gardens [3] and the Elite Picture Gardens (both in Racecourse Road) led to band Stand’s demise as a venue for professional entertainers.

1: The first concert identified with the area (prior to a stage being erected) was on 28 March 1901 when Messrs A. Whitlam, T. Boast and H.T. Daniels, assisted by the Tramway Band, gave an open-air concert. Bandmaster Burns was in charge (Brisbane Courier 28 Mar.1901, 2).
2: For further information regarding the Hamilton Continentals, Tivoli and Lyric Continentals, and Tivol Continentals, see the AVTA’s “Amusements” page (in Industry Misc: 1). Scroll down to “Continentals.”
3: Among the best known performers to appear at the Hamilton Band Stand (during the Tivoli Gardens era) were Mark Truscott (illustrated singer), the Marsden Trio, Bessie and Eilleen Phillips (later known as the Phillips Sisters), and Harry Clifford (film lecturer).

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ROYAL PICTURE THEATRE (Wooloowin)

aka Royal Pictures

(1923-1933 ) Dixon Street (next to Wooloowin Railway Station).

Built by Wooloowin Amusements Ltd on the site of the former Elite Picture Gardens, the Royal Picture Theatre is believed to have opened for business in late-October or early November 1923. Little information regarding live entertainment has been located to date. However, the proprietors reportedly designed the venue with concerts in mind. There were also special provisions for dances, skating and similar entertainments, along with dressing rooms. Seating capacity was said to be 1,400. Although the Royal initially attracted audiences due to its close proximity to Wooloowin railway station and the nearby Lutwyche Road tram line, competition from an increasing number of nearby cinemas (notably in Albion, Lutwyche, Clayfield, Kedron Park, Kalinga, and Hamilton), saw the Royal eventually struggle. The situation was not helped by the Great Depression, and it closed sometime in late-1932 or early-1933.

1: Two former theatrical identities from the Capricornia region of Queensland, Bob Raine and A.E. Carroll, reportedly took over the lease of the venue in late 1930. It is not clear how long they managed it.
Image source: Brisbane Courier 9 June 1923, 10

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STAR THEATRE (Kalinga)

aka Kalinga Picture Palace / Kalinga Theatre

(ca. 1920 – early 1960s). Lodge Street (Dawson Street intersection)

An open-air picture theatre operated in Kalinga from at least September 1920. The earliest reference found to date is in an electoral advertisement published on 4 October that year. The venue was known as the Kalinga Picture Palace (aka Kalinga Pictures) until late-1925 or early 1926. It was known as the Star Theatre until the late 1940d and thereafter as the Kalinga Theatre. During its lifetime the building was often used by local community groups and schools for various events, with this made possible because films were not always screened every night of the week. The extent to which live entertainment was presented is currently unknown due very limited programme advertising in the metropolitan newspapers. The building, which reportedly seated between 400 and 500 people, was destroyed by fire in the early-1960s and replaced by a service station.

Image: Star Theatre, 1937. Source: Windsor and Districts Historical Society.

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TIVOLI GARDENS [1] (Hamilton)

aka Tivoli Gardens & Theatre Under Canvas / Tivoli Theatre / Tivoli

(1907) Location 1. Hamilton Road, opposite Toombul Wharf (and adjacent to the Hamilton Town Council Chambers in Cooksley Street); Location 2. Edward Street (near the Mary Street intersection).

The first Tivoli Gardens was a canvas venue erected on four acres of land at the Breakfast Creek-end of Hamilton Road (now Sir Kingsford Smith Drive). Its proprietor, former actress, entertainer and entrepreneur Bella Sutherland opened the Tivoli on 30 March 1907 with Brisbane’s Mayor and Mayoress in attendance. The entertainment was provided by a 20-member vaudeville troupe, headlined by Ward Lear. Two weeks later (15 Apr.). Sutherland relocated the tent to a vacant block of land near the city’s Botanic Gardens. It is identified as being next to the Metropolitan Hotel in Edward Street. She then transported the venue back to its Hamilton Road site on 23 April. Typical of open-air venues the Tivoli closed for the winter months but did not reopen again and was instead put up for sale in early 1908.

1. Although the Tivoli was officially located within Hamilton, its close proximity to the border with Breakfast Creek. saw it occasionally referred to as being in that suburb. The venue’s address also sometimes included “Southdean,” which was the name Sutherland gave to her home. When she later moved to Racecourse Road the new house was also known as “Southdean.”
2. The exact reasons for the venture’s failure are not yet known. There is some evidence to suggest that public transport was less than conducive for patrons living outside the area. Although the Tivoli was situated beside a tram stop, there may not have been enough services or room onboard for large audiences. A writer for the Truth newspaper (Brisbane edition) suggested, for example, that management needed to make better tram arrangements (“In Bohemia.” 7 Apr. 1907, 12).

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TIVOLI GARDENS [2] (Hamilton): See Hamilton Band Stand

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TIVOLI GARDENS [3] (Hamilton)

aka Tivoli Theatre / Tivoli Picture Theatre

(1911-ca. 1921) Racecourse Road (corner of Allen Street).

On Boxing Night 1911, some nine months after closing her second Tivoli Gardens (at the Hamilton Band Stand), Bella Sutherland opened a new 1,500 seat venue on her property in Racecourse Road (situated on the other side of the Eagle Farm Road and opposite the Hamilton Hotel). Although designed as an open-air theatre, the facade, stage area and dressing rooms were constructed of timber. Canvas roofing was used in times of rain. The third Tivoli was similarly not a full time operation as it closed over the winter and opened only for three nights a week during the warmer months. Following Sutherland’s death in 1918 the venue was run for several years by her husband Prof. George Gibson (aka G. Washington) and former variety artist Eva Lee (aka Eva Williams).

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies. For information concerning copyright issues see “Copyright” attachment in the AVTA “About” page.
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