[1] James English, widely acknowledged as the "founder of Malanda", migrated to North Queensland from the Lismore district of New South Wales in 1907 in search of cedar.

Although the abundance of timber on the Atherton Tablelands made the move profitable, it was the Queensland Government's 1907 Group Settlement Act that enabled English to take full advantage of the surrounding resources and establish himself and his family in the region.

James English established the Princes Sawmill near Malanda Falls to process timber cut in the area as farms were cleared.

Local dairy farmers successfully agitated for their own branch of the Atherton Tablelands Cooperative Butter and Bacon Company in 1919.

[1] Patrick "Paddy" English decided to look beyond the family's sawmilling, dairying, farming and hotel activities and pursue an emerging sensation in public entertainment: the "Cinematographe" (moving pictures).

It was designed as a "tropical" theatre by local North Queensland architect Bob Hassell and constructed by builder Albie Halfpapp.

Completed in December 1929, it was a timber-framed structure clad in weatherboards with a Gabled roof and timber-clad parapet, and was constructed entirely of rainforest hardwoods.

The theatre was dedicated and opened on 14 December 1929 by John Edward Foxwell, Eacham Shire Council Chairman, and Fred Browning, superintendent of Atherton Ambulance Centre.

[1][5] Large, purpose-built, single auditorium picture theatres, both open-air and hard-top, were constructed throughout Queensland during the interwar period.

Many of these structures, including the Majestic Picture Theatre at Malanda, employed recognised facade "styles" which the public came to associate with film exhibition venues.

[4] When "talking pictures" were introduced, English purchased a Raycophone voice machine, designed by New South Wales radio engineer Ray Allsop.

Thousands of war-time U.S. servicemen were based on the Atherton Tablelands and the theatre was an important social venue and meeting place for troops and locals during the war.

Newsreels were an important communication tool during this era, and screenings at the Majestic kept troops and locals up-to-date with the latest war news.

The newsreel connected country audiences with news of the day, including their first close-up view of a newly elected national leader or Australia's latest sporting hero.

However, the advent of television during the mid-1950s began to erode attendance at cinemas – although this change was not as immediate in country areas as in the larger towns and cities.

[1] For almost three generations, a pair of Simplex 35 mm projectors, manufactured in the early 1930s, coupled with Western Electric sound units, provided Majestic Picture Theatre patrons with high quality and reliable exhibition until 1984.

[1] In 2010, films were still being screened regularly at the Majestic Picture Theatre by an independent exhibitor (every Friday and Saturday and some Sundays).

Above the skillion roof and along the full length of the building, two light top-hung sash windows provide ventilation to the auditorium.

[1] The entrance foyer has clear finished hardwood floors, the joinery is painted and walls and ceiling are lined with flat sheeting and cover strips.

It contributes significantly to our understanding of how Queensland's leisure and entertainment history has evolved and is tangible evidence of this development in the tropical Far North.

Before the introduction of television, picture theatres in Queensland enjoyed widespread popularity, particularly in rural areas providing not only entertainment but also a venue for social interaction.