The Majestic Theatre is a historic former theatre and cinema in
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston () is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk River, North Esk and South Esk River, South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River, Tasmania, Tamar River (kanamaluka). As of 2021, the Launc ...
, Australia.
History
The Majestic Theatre was constructed for approximately
£A18,000 by Greek–Australian businessman
Marino Lucas, opening to a full-house on 2 June 1917. Hundreds of attendees remained outside the building, unable to secure a seat. The theatre could seat 1,510 patrons (450 in the dress circle, 700 in the stalls, and 360 in the back stalls) with a proscenium measuring
It was Marino Lucas' second theatre in Launceston, following the success of the
Princess Theatre.
Designed under the supervision of Lucas, the Majestic was architecturally influenced by Lucas' Ithacecian roots. "The architecture is Grecian," commented the ''
Launceston Daily Telegraph'', "and at the top one can see glimpses of the ancient Pantheon style."
[
Centrally located within the Launceston tramway network on a main street, during ]World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
the Majestic became the busiest and most profitable cinema in Tasmania.Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
. The iconic Capitol Theatre on Swanston Street
Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the Melbourne central business district, Victoria, Australia. It was laid out in 1837 as part of the original Hoddle Grid. The street vertically bisects Melbourne's city centre and is famous as the wor ...
was designed by Walter Burley
Walter Burley (or Burleigh; 1275 – 1344/45) was an English scholastic philosopher and logician with at least 50 works attributed to him. He studied under Thomas WiltonHarjeet Singh Gill, ''Signification in language and culture'', Indian I ...
and Marion Mahony Griffin under the direction of Lucas in 1924.
The Majestic hosted the world premiere of Ken Hall's '' Gone to the Dogs'' in 1939.
Actor Michael Pate
Michael Pate Order of Australia, OAM (born Edward John Pate; 26 February 1920 – 1 September 2008) was an Australian actor, writer, director, and producer, who also worked prolifically as a supporting actor in Hollywood films and Ameri ...
visited the Majestic in 1950 to promote the film ''Sons of Matthew
''Sons of Matthew'' is a 1949 Australian film directed and produced and co-written by Charles Chauvel (filmmaker), Charles Chauvel. The film was shot in 1947 on location in Queensland, Australia, and the studio sequences in Sydney. ''Sons of Matt ...
''.
Due to the rise in television ownership, the Majestic closed on 26 February 1970. The final film projected was ''Sweet Charity
''Sweet Charity'' is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and book by Neil Simon, based on the screenplay for the 1957 Italian film '' Nights of Cabiria''. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse sta ...
''. It was purchased by brothers Neil and Don Pitt, who converted the building into a menswear store, transforming the mezzanine into a café and utilising the dress circle foyer as a workroom and auditorium as a storeroom.
Contemporary use
The Majestic Theatre has operated as Neil Pitt's Menswear since 1970. The theatre's 1929 projection equipment is on display in the store.[
]
In popular culture
Zane Pinner's horror novel
Horror is a genre of speculative fiction that is intended to disturb, frighten, or scare an audience. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror. Literary historian J. A. Cuddon, in 1984, defi ...
''Encore'', surrounding fictitious hauntings at the Majestic in Launceston was published in 2022.
See also
* List of theatres in Hobart
References
{{Cinematic and theatrical buildings in Tasmania
1917 establishments in Australia
Cinemas in Launceston
City of Launceston
Former theatres in Tasmania
History of Tasmania
Theatres completed in 1917
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...