North Hobart Picture Palace, Liberty Theatre, State Theatre | |
 The State Cinema in 2022 | |
 Interactive map of State Cinema | |
| Address | 375Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, Tasmania Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°52′20.75″S147°18′53.03″E / 42.8724306°S 147.3147306°E /-42.8724306; 147.3147306 |
| Owner | Reading Cinemas |
| Capacity | 700, 11 screens |
| Current use | cinema |
| Opened | 2 October 1913; 112 years ago (1913-10-02) |
| Years active | 1913–1920, 1935–present |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheState Cinema (formally known as theState Theatre, colloquially known as"the State") is a historic cinema venue located inNorth Hobart, Tasmania. It's cinema operations were acquired by the US-ownedReading Cinemas chain in November 2019[1]
Originally designed with seating for 412 patrons, the venue officially opened as the North Hobart Picture Palace on 2 October 1913.[2] The theatre housed the North Hobart Concert Band until 1920, when the waning cost of theGreat War,Spanish flu and growing competition from theatres in the city centre caused the venue to close all together. Subsequently, the cinema became a billiard hall, gymnasium and boxing venue.[3]
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After extensive renovations, the venue re-opened as the Liberty Theatre on 29 June 1935 by the Lord Mayor of Hobart Mr. J. J. Wignall withThe Gay Divorcee andWe're Rich Again.[4] The cinema was remodelled in an Art Deco appearance, with an Australian-made Raycophone sound system and locally made finishes such as lampshades, woodwork and curtains showcasing Tasmanian craftsmanship. Alterations were also made to the facade, including affixing large neon lighting and stylised burning torches. Wall decorations were designed by Mr. G. Harrex, lamp shades were supplied by Trowbridge and Co., the woodwork undertaken by Crisp and Gunn Co-operative Ltd., and the stage curtain byModern Art Furnishers. The architect for the alterations was Mr. A. Lauriston Crisp.[5]
On 18 August 1948 it was re-named State Theatre.[6]
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Labor prime ministerGough Whitlam attended the grand re-opening of the State Cinema after it was purchased by the government-fundedAustralian Film Institute in 1976.[7][8]The State Cinema hosted the premiere ofManganinnie, the first feature length film produced by theTasmanian Film Corporation in August 1980. The premiere was attended by actorsMawuyul Yanthalawuy and Anna Ralph, as well as theGovernor of TasmaniaSir Stanley Burbury andTasmanian PremierDoug Lowe.[9]
In the 1980s, theHobart Film Society curated weekly exhibitions for the State Cinema as part of the AFI Cinémathèque circuit. The society projected mostly classic and foreign language films, includingJesus of Montreal,Wings of Desire, andThe Killing Fields, which included a question and answer (Q & A) session with actorHaing S. Ngor, a survivor of theKhmer Rouge regime inCambodia and the only actor of Asian descent to win anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor until 2022.[10]
In 1994, Dutch-Australian film directorPaul Cox premiered his filmExile at the State Cinema, which was followed by a Q & A.[11]
The State was purchased by North Hobart businessman John Kelly in 2002. Extra screens were added in 2006, and by 2014 it had eight screens, and offered over 700 seats, plus a rooftop cinema and bar.[12]
A star on the footpath of the State Cinema was added to commemorate the 100th birthday of Tasmanian actorErrol Flynn on 20 June 2009. It was unveiled by his daughter Rory Flynn and grandson Sean Flynn.[13]
American actorWillem Dafoe attended the Tasmanian premiere ofThe Hunter at a red carpet event held at the State Cinema in 2011.[14][15] Director Daniel Nettheim and Tasmanian premierLara Giddings were also in attendance.[16]
On 5 April 2012, Tasmanian authorRichard Flanagan officially opened the State Cinema Bookstore at the site.[17]
A special red carpet charity event for the premiere ofLion was attended by the film's subject,Saroo Brierley and his family at the State in December 2016.[18]
In 2019, the State Cinema had 11 screens in operation, including a rooftop cinema, cafe, bar and bookstore.
The State Cinema hosts several national film festival events, including theAlliance Française French Film Festival,Japanese Film Festival, Lavazza Italian Film Festival, andTaiwan Film Festival in Australia. TheHobart Film Society, Australia's oldest continually operatingfilm society, curated the annual Hobart International Film Festivals between 1974 and 1992 at the State, which were often attended by several hundred members and non-members.[19]
In October 2021, the State Cinema screenedNitram, a film about the life of the gunman of thePort Arthur Massacre in spite of protest from locals and survivors of the event.[20] The State Cinema displayed no posters or advertising of the Tasmanian premiere as a means to avoid offence.[21]
Howatson, Donald (2013).The Story of North Hobart Street by Street.New Town, Tasmania.ISBN 9780987128751.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
