The Strand Theatre, ABC Odeon Theatre | |
 Odeon Theatre at night, 1970s | |
 Interactive map of Odeon | |
| Address | 167Liverpool Street Hobart, Tasmania Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°52′59.4″S147°19′29.27″E / 42.883167°S 147.3247972°E /-42.883167; 147.3247972 |
| Owner | RiverleeDarkLab |
| Capacity | 1,690[2] |
| Current use | live entertainment |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 21 May 1916; 109 years ago (1916-05-21) |
| Rebuilt | 1956 |
| Years active | 1916-1970, 2011-present |
| Architect | George Stanley Crisp (1916)[1] Guy Crick & Associates (1956) |
| Website | |
| Official site | |
TheOdeon (formerly known asThe Strand Theatre orThe Odeon Theatre ) is a historic former cinema and current live entertainment venue in the city ofHobart,Tasmania,Australia.
Tasmanian entrepreneur E.J. Miller envisioned a world-class picture theatre in Hobart after witnessing the rising popularity ofsilent films invaudeville programming atZeehan'sGaiety Theatre and Theatre Royal.[3] Miller, whose wealth was derived from the lucrativeZeehan mineral field, travelled to theUnited States, visited major cities and studied the latest advancements in picture theatre designs. On his return to Tasmania he engaged with Hobart architect George Stanley Crisp, who had previously designed theArt Nouveau Palace Theatre opposite theHobart GPO onElizabeth Street. Located on the corner of Liverpool Street and Watchorn Street, Miller's original theatre design was intended to be a replica ofThe Strand inNew York.[4]
An exceptional example of theFederation Free Classical style, the building featured an iconic checkeredparapet,composite orderpilasters, decorativecornices,leadlight windows andwrought iron lanterns. Internally, it featured seating for 1,200 people (719 in the stalls and 481 in the dress circle),[3] aTasmanian Blackwood staircase and dress circle,Wunderlich ceilings, three cloak rooms, immersive wall murals, as well as fixtures and fittings manufactured inGlenorchy.[4]Built as a silent picture house, whenThe Strand Theatre opened on May 22, 1916, mayor L.H. Macleod declared "this is undoubtedly the finest building in Tasmania".[4]The venue was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including dimmable atmospheric lighting, early electric ticketing machines, projection equipment imported from Britain and a six-rankWurlitzer organ, the only of its kind in Tasmania.[5] Located at the west end of Hobart's CBD along the busyLiverpool Street tram line and directly opposite His Majesty's Theatre, locals referred to the "west end" when visiting the pictures or theatre.[note 1]
From 1918 to 1920,nimbyism lead to some residents demanding the government set up a Board of Censors to protect Tasmanian audiences from the "moral decay" associated with the show business world, escalating after a screening ofEnlighten Thy Daughter at The Strand in 1920. The board was dissolved when the exhibitor complained of reduced patronage.[2][4]
The cinema was taken over byUnion Theatres, remodelled and relaunched with theMarx Brothers filmThe Cocoanuts in 1929.[2] Sound equipment was installed and the venue was colloquially referred to as the "New Strand Theatre".[6]
In the mid-1950s, then-exhibitorGreater Union engaged withSydney-based architects Guy Crick & Associates tomodernise the theatre. The Strand underwent serious alterations, leaving the building both internally and externally unrecognisable. The façade was covered inrainscreencladding to present in a modernist style. To achieve this effect, its cornices and pilasters were chiseled back, its parapet was partially levelled, leadlight windows discarded and wrought iron features removed. Modernistneon signage was erected. It reopened as theOdeon Theatre in 1956, the year of theMelbourne Olympics which saw the introduction of television across Australia. Although branded as "The Theatre of Tomorrow", Greater Union did not foresee the lasting effect of television.[7]
The Odeon fell into financial hardship and was purchased by theABC in 1970, becoming a recording studio for ABC Radio. During the ABC's tenureship, it was known as theABC Odeon Theatre, and internally referred to as Studio 720. At some point, pieces of cladding were removed to reveal several windows, including the central arch, to allow more light into the upstairs foyer.[8]It became the home of theTasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) in 1973. The TSO broadcast many radio and television performances from the theatre and recorded several albums. In 1978, vocalistJudith Durham ofThe Seekers and pianist Ron Edgeworth recorded material for their live album,The Hot Jazz Duo at the theatre. Other musicians to record at the Odeon includeLarry Sitsky,Jan Sedivka,Ade Monsbourgh,Judi Connelli,Suzanne Johnston,Guy Noble,Deborah Conway,George Dreyfus,Scared Weird Little Guys,David Porcelijn,[9]James Ledger,[10] tenorDonald Smith, composer Michael Smetanin[11] and theAustralian Rosny Children's Choir.[12][13] AnABC Shop occupied the Watchorn Street corner shopfront in the 1990s.
Over time, the world-class orchestra outgrew the theatre's amenities, with the dressing rooms and backstage facilities noted as being especially inadequate. After 28 years, the TSO relocated toFederation Concert Hall in 2001. The Odeon was then purchased by theChristian City Church, who renovated the interior and restored many of the original Federation-era features.[4]
In 2009, the Christian City Church sold the Odeon to Melbourne-based developer Riverlee. The building remained dormant for several years until it reopened as a live entertainment venue, charged by events curated for theMONA FOMA andDark Mofo festivals.Hobart City Council gave permission for the building to be partially demolished in 2015. Initially, Riverlee planned to develop the building into a $69 million 11-story office tower accommodating some 1,850 workers, and included shops, restaurants and car parking.[14][15]The original building façade, disfigured beneath its 1950s cladding, was required to be retained and restored.[16][17]
Riverlee acquired more properties on the block bound byLiverpool Street,Murray Street, and Watchorn Street that contain the Odeon Theatre and Tattersalls Hotel. The site has an 80 metres (260 ft) frontage along Liverpool Street. A town planning permit has been obtained for a commercial building of over 20,000 square metres (220,000 sq ft) net lettable area.[18][19]
In 2019, the Odeon and surrounding "Hanging Garden" cultural precinct underwent a $5 million mixed-use redevelopment. The scheme was developed in partnership with DarkLab, a subsidiary of theMuseum of Old and New Art, which works on creative projects outside the usual scope of Mona.[20][21]
In September 2022, Riveree and DarkLab unveiled a new masterplan for the Hanging Garden Precinct. Designed by Melbourne-based architectsFender Katsalidis with support fromSix Degrees Architects, the new development outlines retaining and restoring the Odeon Theatre auditorium, whilst developing a fifteen story, "180+ key hotel" directly above the upper lobby area.[22]
During its tenure as The Strand, the theatre hosted Tasmanian premieres for many Australian-made films, includingJewelled Nights (1925), which was attended by authorMarie Bjelke Petersen, future-Prime MinisterJoseph Lyons (then-Premier of Tasmania),Dame Enid Lyons andLord MayorFrancis Valentine.[23] Other Tasmanian premieres includedThe Squatter's Daughter, with a special appearance from actressJocelyn Howarth,[24]A Son Is Born[25] and the Australian premiere ofWherever She Goes (1951), a film about the life Zeehan-born pianistEileen Joyce, which was introduced by Tasmanian PremierRobert Cosgrove.[26][27] Based on the novel byNan Chauncy, the Tasmanian feature filmThey Found a Cave premiered at the Odeon Theatre on 20 December 1962.[28][29]
Theorchestra pit at the Odeon originally served as the setting for live musical accompaniment tosilent film screenings. Adding a sense of grandeur and sophistication to the viewing experience, The Strand Orchestra played a significant role in enhancing the emotional and dramatic tone of films andvaudeville acts, adding depth and atmosphere to the presentations.
With the advent oftalkies in the late 1920s, demand for live musical accompaniment declined, leading to the disbanding of The Strand Orchestra by the mid-1930s. By 1940, the theatre’sWurlitzer organ, another key musical component, was no longer used as film soundtracks became standard.[30]The last recorded use of the orchestra pit for live musical entertainment occurred in 1957, when it was repurposed for a fundraising event supporting a contestant for theMiss Australia competition, specifically a Miss Tasmania contestant named "Miss Greater Union Theatres".[5]
In later years, the pit was occasionally utilised by theTasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), underscoring its adaptability for various types of live performances beyond its original cinematic function.
The Strand Theatre's six-rankWurlitzer organ was installed on 16 November 1918 by organ builder J.E. Dodd. Between 1920 and 1928, it was operated by Ben Corrick, who also conducted The Strand Orchestra, sometimes from behind the organ’s console.[2][4][5]In 1929,Fincham and Sons restored the organ as part of a theatre remodel. The console’s design was modified to a lower height and updated to emulate the popular "horseshoe style" oftheatre organs while retaining the straight stop rails, though the functionality of roll players was discontinued. Renowned theatre organistManny Aarons reopened the restored instrument in 1929.
The organ gradually fell into disuse in the late 1930s due to the dominance of sound films and was removed in 1948. It was subsequently reinstalled in theHurstville Presbyterian Church,New South Wales, Australia.[31]
Following a sold-out show byQueens of the Stone Age in 2014,[32] the Odeon Theatre has served as a regular venue for prominent festivals, includingMONA FOMA andDark Mofo. Performers at the Odeon have includedLaurie Anderson,Nick Cave,Sarah Blasko,Archie Roach,Paul Kelly,King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard,Cate Le Bon,Sharon Van Etten,Nick Murphy,Tim Minchin,Everclear,The Tea Party,The Dillinger Escape Plan,Einstürzende Neubauten, andXavier Rudd.[33][34]
The Odeon Theatre is also a venue for Hobart’sFestival of Voices, featuring live performances, vocal workshops, and choral presentations that attract both local and visiting participants.[35] The venue has hosted experimental music and multimedia installations as part of MONA FOMA and Dark Mofo, known for their diverse and contemporary programming.
The theatre has also been a platform for prominent comedians.Bill Bailey has performed at the Odeon, and in 2024,Tom Gleeson presented his show "Gear".[36] The 2024Hobart Festival of Comedy featured comedians such asUrzila Carlson andReuben Kaye.[37] The theatre continues to play a significant role in Hobart’s live performance scene, providing a space for a broad spectrum of music, theatre, and festival events.
All images have been sourced from theTasmanian Archive and Heritage Office.
