Wondergraph
The Continental Wondergraph Company was registered in Perth in early 1910, and later that year set up an open-air cinema in Semaphore.
The Wondergraph is declared to be a perfected cinematograph and phonograph combined, and differs from all other shows of the kind in that the dramatic dancing and singing pictures are presented not in a dark, but in a lighted room".
[3] In March 1910 the "Continental Wondergraph Company, Ltd., of £1,250, in 25 shares of £50 each" was registered at the Supreme Court of Western Australia, with an office at 11 William Street, Perth.
[2] In April 1910, at a scheduled showing of Wondergraph films in Broken Hill by Bruce, "much disappointment was expressed at the non-appearance of the 'Wondergraph Talking and Singing Machine'", owing to the failure of a piece of equipment.
[8] On Saturday 14 May 1910, Luttgens and Baar began a seven-night season of screenings at the Adelaide Town Hall, using "finest and best process extant", including a technique known as "Fata Morgana",[a] showing moving pictures in colour, accompanied by a full theatre orchestra.
[15] In October 1910, the abridged prospectus for a new company was published, being Wondergraph Limited, with capital of £8,000, to be divided into 150 shares of £20 each.
The purpose of this new company was "to acquire and take over from the present Company, Wondergraph Limited" and to have the option to purchase part of Town Acre 673 on Hindley Street, opposite the Theatre Royal, on which they would demolish the present buildings and build a new modern picture theatre.
[20] The company was floated, raising enough money to build the Wondergraph (later Civic) Theatre[21] in Hindley Street in 1912.
[20] On Saturday 2 December 1911, Wondergraph opened its new "Picture Pavilion" opposite the Exhibition Building on North Terrace, a seated outdoor picture theatre,[22] with its screen made of "reinforced concrete and covered with a patent cement" (the "silver wall" technology mentioned above), the largest of its type in the country.
A full orchestra would accompany the short film, A Doll's House, based on Ibsen's play[23] and starring Marie Eline, William Russell and Marguerite Snow.
[29] In September 1920 Dan Clifford bought Wondergraph's suburban circuit, which included cinemas at Unley, Goodwood,[30][21] and Semaphore.
The Continental Wondergraph Company bought land at Semaphore in September 1910, intending to establish a tea garden and open-air cinema.
[43] Situated on the esplanade, the seating faced the sea, and although the construction of the kiosk and tea garden had been delayed, the screening went ahead.
[44] Several silent films were projected onto a solid concrete "silver wall" by "a new invention which enables the subjects to be shown without flicker or glare".
[45] The Picturedrome, which seated 1,000 patrons, was adjacent to the Customs Boarding Station, which still stands today, on the corner of the Esplanade and Semaphore Road.
[49] In December 1917, an advertisement refers to the "Semaphore Wondergraph Residential Cafe", right opposite the beach, for short stays.
[53][54] In July 1912, a film of the British Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Scott was shown at this Semaphore Wondergraph.
The magnificently fitted out building was designed by prominent South Australian architect Eric McMichael[57][58] and built by Messrs. Emmett Brothers.
[86] The Civic was demolished to make way for the State Theatre[89][90] in 1957,[91] which included provision for CinemaScope films as well as air conditioning.
The York was taken over by Greater Union in January 1929,[94] at which time the inaugural manager, Mr C. E. Webb, was still in charge (and remained so until at least 1937).
[96] In September 1912, the company was making plans to expand into the suburbs of Norwood and Unley, with the intention of building adjacent indoor and outdoor cinemas in each.
