Saturday Night at the Movies: The Eldorado Theatre

On December 16, 1922, 100 years ago to this day, the Proserpine public were treated to the opening of the Eldorado Theatre. Described by the “Proserpine Guardian” as a “picture palace”, it was to provide enjoyment for residents for over six decades before closing its doors on December 8, 1984.  The last movie shown was “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”.

Where it all began…

In 1902, Mrs Agnes O’Toole built Alexandra Hall in Main Street, Proserpine, next to the Palace Hotel, with seating for 300 to 400 people. She sold the building to her son-in-law, Mr H Deicke, in 1904. The Alexandra Hall was a venue for balls, concerts, live theatre, meetings, roller skating, church and school functions and in 1911, a picture theatre with the silent movies was introduced. Mr Albert John (Jack) Setter was managing the picture theatre at this time.

The lease for the picture theatre passed through a few hands such as the Flaherty brothers who named it the Eldorado Pictures. In May 1919, Mr Joseph (Joey) Johns bought the Eldorado picture plant from Mr Setter, his father-in-law, and he took over the lease of the Alexandra Hall. Joey planned to show pictures twice a week but the influenza epidemic meant he had to screen pictures in the open-air Tivoli skating rink in Chapman Street.  

In 1922, Joey Johns decided to build his own theatre on the corner of Main and Chapman Street, moving the plant from Alexandra Hall. Mr Johns again showed confidence in Proserpine’s future when, in July 1930, talkie pictures were introduced. Advertisements invited people to “not only see but hear musical comedy – “Fox Follies of 1929”. Admission was 3/3d for adults and 1/6d for children. It was a packed house!

In 1935, Joey Johns sold the theatre to his sister, Olive, and husband, Mr Bill Ironside. In 1957, further renovations were undertaken with an upstairs dress circle and a supper room seating 200. Between 1935 and 1957, the Ironsides also leased the Grand Theatre. Movies were shown at both theatres - when the main movie was being shown at one theatre, the supporting movie was at the other. At interval, an employee would swap the movies.

In 1957, the Deicke family once more took on the running of their own business, the Grand Theatre, however, in 1968, the doors were closed on the picture shows due to lack of attendance.

In 1958, the Ironsides rebuilt the Eldorado, building around the original structure. There was a larger screen, a cry room for babies, new cafeteria, two shops and an ultra-modern flat over the shops. The theatre, with a capacity of 800, was built at a cost of £300,000.

The Eldorado Theatre served many purposes. There were three different movie programmes – one shown Friday, Saturday and Monday; serials on Tuesday night (B Grade) and another programme on Wednesday and Thursday nights. It was also used as a venue for local and travelling shows; special occasions such St Patrick’s Day and Anzac Day and even the Annual Farmers’ meetings.

If you would like a little taste of what this iconic theatre offered patrons, take a peep into the Proserpine Historical Museum and check out this popular display with the old Eldorado movie projectors, some old canvas seats, the maroon velvet and gold satin curtains, lights, old movie posters and other artefacts from the theatre. You can make yourself comfortable in the chairs, watch one of the many films/videos available and soak up the atmosphere of a theatre of old.  

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

The original Eldorado Theatre

‍