Clifton Haynes

Interviewed by Zoe Dobson on 24 February 2004
Subject: Cinemas & Theatres

Zoe Dobson. There was a movie theatre there too.

Clifton Haynes. Yes, called the Kinema – where I used to go with my parents every Saturday night and the charge for adults was 1/6d a seat, but you had to book your seat for the Saturday night performance. Before the show started they had an orchestra, and often they had a guest artist. There were always two movies, two gazettes and other news items of the day.

Zoe Dobson. Did they have the boy selling the ice creams?

Clifton Haynes. Yes and the sweets. When that theatre was burnt down they built another lovely theatre there called the Mosman Kinema which is now the local RSL. At Spit Junction there was another theatre called The Australia where the Greater Union Theatre is now. On any special function day as pupils from the Mosman School we would all go to The Australia Theatre where they would sing all sorts of songs and they would show educational films on that day.