CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

1910/11: Melba built by J. D. Williams
1939: Melba redesigned by A. M. Balat, opened as the Liberty

The Melba Theatre replaced the Victoria Musix Hall, formerly the Royal Colosseum Theatre in 1911. It screened back-to-back shows from 11am to 11pm. The theatre was a success and so J. D. Williams built the Columbia / Britannia / Pavillion, Melbourne next door in 1912.

Originally named the Melba Theatre opening on June 6, 1911 and closing on January 5, 1939.
In 1932 the basement of the Melba was converted into a newsreel theatre, known as the Times Theatrette / Newsreel, Melbourne. It had a separate entrance next door.

After closing The Melba underwent 40,000 pounds of art-deco style renovations and re-opened as the Liberty Theatre in 1939.

The Liberty Theatre opened on April 6 1939.
On October 11 1950 the liberty was gutted by a fire. The theatre was closed for several months before re-opening as The Odeon on November 02, 1951. It closed again for a short period for renovations (August 24 - October 27) in 1967.

In 1971 Film Weekly: Motion Picture Directory recorded a reduced seating capacity of 881.

The Odeon and Times Theatrette / Newsreel, Melbourne both closed 02 February, 1978.

References

Argus 'Melba Theatre' June 9, 1911 ("The Melba Theatre Bourke street held a packed audience invited by the management- J.D. Williams Amusement Company Limited to be present at the opening of the house last evening. The theatre is situated on the site of the old Wright's Coliseum and more recent Victoria hall in which entertainments were given for many years and still later, boxing contests. The company has bought the land and has reconstructed the hall...")

1939 'NEW THEATRE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), 6 April, p. 4, viewed 28 October, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12115331

Argus 'New city theatre' November 2, 1951 (Odeon opens with the Browning Version)

Cinema & Theatre Historical Society 1997, CInema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins. CATHS, Victoria.

Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1951/2-1971

Film Weekly (27 September 1951, p. 1.) announced the opening of the new Odeon Theatre Nov. 2

Film Weekly, 'GU opens Melb.', ''The Film Weekly'. v.79, n.1306, November 8, 1951.

Manzie, K 1953, 'Near record in Easter changes: 10 new bills,' Film Weekly, April 9, p. 16.
Mc Kenzie, J 1978, 'Along film row', The Australasian Cinema, 10 February, p. 7. (references closure of the Times and Odeon theatres)

1951 'SATURDAY FEATURES-FILMS, RADIO, THEATRE, BOOKS.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), 22 September, p. 16, viewed 28 October, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23081553

Page, F 2001, 'No. 283 Bourke Street: the Melba, Times, Liberty and Odeon' CinemaRecord Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, no. 33, Winter, pp.10-13.

Thorne, R 1981, Cinemas of Australia via USA, pp.220-223.

The Australian Exhibitor, Thursday. Novemer 2, 1967.

The Sun 1950, 'City cinemas close for alterations', 25 Oct., p. 13.
-states that the Health Commission decided to close the Times theatre following the then recent fire. The Times was not affected by the fire, however plans provided for the extension of the theatrette to the full width of the Liberty

The Sun 1951, 'The Odeon ready', 27 Oct., p.19.
-refers to name change and opening

'Melbourne Odeon opens', Bertrand, I Cinema file: 283 Bourke St. (unpublished research)).
'Melba Theatre', Bertrand, I Cinema file: 283 Bourke St. (unpublished research)).