Margate Theatre 1940-62

Margate Theatre was built by Alex Smith in 1940 at 47 Ernest St (corner of Ernest and Albert St) and its first screening was on March 23rd Easter Saturday 1940

It was a popular venue for movies, ball, and concerts for over 22 years.

The Theatre was popular with service personnel stationed at Redcliffe during World War 2 and the theatre was renamed The Renown Theatre as part of a plan to avoid locality names which might assist invading Japanese forces.

Approval for Sunday motion pictures at the Pier and Margate Renown Theatres in April 1943:

Messrs Kallos and Londy bought the Renown theatre from Alex Smith in 1950. At the same time they also bought the Pier Theatre from Ma Beedham. The joint venture was called "Peninsula Theatres"

It was sold on 12th April 1962 and the theatre closed. Ironically the final film was Gone With The Wind starring Clarke Gable and Vivian Leigh.

Local residents Brian and Valerie Stapleton bought the now disused Renown Theatre in 1969. They converted half of the building into a family entertainment centre. The other half separated by a hessian screen became a dance studio owned by champion dancers Alan and Pat Boulton. Over the next few years, It was also used housing a slot car track, until it was demolished in 1972.

A page from the Pictorial History Of Redcliffe and Moreton Bay region book 1950s-80s

---

Early Picture Shows Of Humpybong

72 page softcover book, detailing biographies of the earliest Picture Pavilions and theatres in Humpybong (Redcliffe) With original movie posters and movie details from advertisements and historical newspaper articles, including :

Lorneleigh Pictures Woody Point 1915 -1931

Redcliffe Picture Palace 1918 - 1928

Woody Point Memorial School of Arts Pictures 1928 -1937

Scarborough Picture Pavilion 1928 - 1935

Pier Picture Theatre Redcliffe 1928 - 1969

Margate Renown Theatre 1940 - 1962

The Bay Theatre Scarborough 1954 - 1976

Redcliffe Drive-In Theatre, Kippa Ring 1965 - 86

The book can be ordered at the following LINK

(With free store pickup and free delivery in the Moreton Bay region)

The book is also available as a downloadable pdf book at the following LINK