The Sun Picture Gardens (also known as Sun Pictures) is the world's oldest picture gardens still in operation. It is located in Broome, Western Australia.[1] Unlike most outdoor cinemas, it screens multiple films per night; the majority of outdoor cinemas screen one or two films a week.[2]
After Broome was established, a Chinatown area emerged after the town became home to a large Asian population. The Yamsaki family opened a store on Carnarvon Street in 1903, selling Asian clothing, food stuffs and other Asian goods. Their love of theatre eventually led them to devoting part of the building to a Noh theatre. In 1913, the building was purchased by master pearler Ted Hunter, who began converting the store into a cinema.
Silent movie eraedit
Sun Pictures opened on 9 December 1916, with a full house. The first film to be played was a racing drama called Kissing Cup. From this era, a local personality spawned. Known as "Fairy", she became famous for her piano playing. The most played song was "If You Were the Only Girl (In the World)". In 1924, Sun Pictures was purchased by W.H. Milner and Leonard R. Knight; their wives manning the box office and handling public relations.
Sound era and World War Twoedit
In 1933, the cinema was adapted for sound.[3] The first sound film was Monte Carlo. Milner died in 1940, and Knight returned to Perth. Milner's wife continued to run the cinema on her own until Broome was evacuated in 1942, just two days before a Japanese air raid. During or after the evacuation (no one is certain) projection equipment was vandalised. Army officers repaired it and used the cinema for themselves, but had difficulty changing reels, sometimes taking up to forty minutes to do so. During the change over, a record called You Look Like a Monkey When you Grow Old was played over and over until the projector was reloaded.
Tidal floodingedit
Almost every night, the cinema would be flooded. Some claimed you could catch a fish during the screening. Most nights, people would leave to find the street outside submerged. Men took this in their stride, carrying women to higher ground, no matter who they were.
Anderson era and racial discriminationedit
Up until 1967, Europeans who were considered most worthy were seated in the middle of the cinema, with their children up front. Other whites and Asians sat on the left side while "coloured people" were forced to sit on hard wooden benches on the right and enter through a separate door. A boycott began just before anti-discrimination laws were brought in during 1967.
End of tidal flooding and restorationedit
In 1974, a levy was built to stop tidal flooding, making the cinema more enjoyable. In 1989, the cinema was listed on the Register of the National Estate, meaning that it can only be restored, but not altered in appearance or demolished. In 1995, the cinema was added to the State Register of Heritage Places due to its cultural and historical significance.[4] Marrissa Ferraz bought the cinema in 1997 and began restoring it in 1999. In 2002, an indoor cinema called Sun Cinemas was opened, operating alongside Sun Pictures. In 2004, the cinema entered Guinness World Records for being the "Oldest Open Air Cinema in Operation".
Bran Nue Daeedit
In 2009, the cinema hosted the premiere of the Western Australian made musical film, Bran Nue Dae. The stars walked a red dirt carpet and Ernie Dingo performed the film's title song.
^Mann, Maria; Sun Pictures W.A (1991), Reflections of the sun : a short history of the Sun Picture Gardens : for the people of Broome past and present, Sun Pictures, ISBN978-0-646-07137-4
^Willis, Ian (2009), "Whither Heritage, the Experience of the Outdoor Movie Theatre", AQ - Australian Quarterly, 81 (6): 35–39, ISSN 1443-3605
^Considine and Griffiths Architects; Clement, Cathie; Ferraz, Marisa Anne; Sun Pictures W.A; Heritage Council of Western Australia (1999), Sun Pictures, Broome, conservation plan, The Council, retrieved 28 December 2011
External linksedit
Media related to Sun Picture Gardens at Wikimedia Commons
Official website
January 01, 1970
picture, gardens, also, known, pictures, world, oldest, picture, gardens, still, operation, located, broome, western, australia, unlike, most, outdoor, cinemas, screens, multiple, films, night, majority, outdoor, cinemas, screen, films, week, facade, building,. The Sun Picture Gardens also known as Sun Pictures is the world s oldest picture gardens still in operation It is located in Broome Western Australia 1 Unlike most outdoor cinemas it screens multiple films per night the majority of outdoor cinemas screen one or two films a week 2 Sun Picture GardensThe facade of the building in 2018Location8 Carnarvon StreetBroome WA 6725Coordinates17 57 12 S 122 14 35 E 17 95344 S 122 24307 E 17 95344 122 24307Built1916Western Australia Heritage RegisterTypeState Registered PlaceDesignated9 Feb 1996Reference no 293Location of Sun Picture Gardens in Western Australia Contents 1 History 1 1 Yamsaki store 1 2 Silent movie era 1 3 Sound era and World War Two 1 4 Tidal flooding 1 5 Anderson era and racial discrimination 1 6 End of tidal flooding and restoration 1 7 Bran Nue Dae 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Sun Picture Gardens frontage Yamsaki store edit After Broome was established a Chinatown area emerged after the town became home to a large Asian population The Yamsaki family opened a store on Carnarvon Street in 1903 selling Asian clothing food stuffs and other Asian goods Their love of theatre eventually led them to devoting part of the building to a Noh theatre In 1913 the building was purchased by master pearler Ted Hunter who began converting the store into a cinema Silent movie era edit Sun Pictures opened on 9 December 1916 with a full house The first film to be played was a racing drama called Kissing Cup From this era a local personality spawned Known as Fairy she became famous for her piano playing The most played song was If You Were the Only Girl In the World In 1924 Sun Pictures was purchased by W H Milner and Leonard R Knight their wives manning the box office and handling public relations Sound era and World War Two edit In 1933 the cinema was adapted for sound 3 The first sound film was Monte Carlo Milner died in 1940 and Knight returned to Perth Milner s wife continued to run the cinema on her own until Broome was evacuated in 1942 just two days before a Japanese air raid During or after the evacuation no one is certain projection equipment was vandalised Army officers repaired it and used the cinema for themselves but had difficulty changing reels sometimes taking up to forty minutes to do so During the change over a record called You Look Like a Monkey When you Grow Old was played over and over until the projector was reloaded Tidal flooding edit Almost every night the cinema would be flooded Some claimed you could catch a fish during the screening Most nights people would leave to find the street outside submerged Men took this in their stride carrying women to higher ground no matter who they were Anderson era and racial discrimination edit Up until 1967 Europeans who were considered most worthy were seated in the middle of the cinema with their children up front Other whites and Asians sat on the left side while coloured people were forced to sit on hard wooden benches on the right and enter through a separate door A boycott began just before anti discrimination laws were brought in during 1967 End of tidal flooding and restoration edit In 1974 a levy was built to stop tidal flooding making the cinema more enjoyable In 1989 the cinema was listed on the Register of the National Estate meaning that it can only be restored but not altered in appearance or demolished In 1995 the cinema was added to the State Register of Heritage Places due to its cultural and historical significance 4 Marrissa Ferraz bought the cinema in 1997 and began restoring it in 1999 In 2002 an indoor cinema called Sun Cinemas was opened operating alongside Sun Pictures In 2004 the cinema entered Guinness World Records for being the Oldest Open Air Cinema in Operation Bran Nue Dae edit In 2009 the cinema hosted the premiere of the Western Australian made musical film Bran Nue Dae The stars walked a red dirt carpet and Ernie Dingo performed the film s title song See also editOutdoor cinema List of drive in theatres in Australia List of drive in theatersReferences edit Mann Maria Sun Pictures W A 1991 Reflections of the sun a short history of the Sun Picture Gardens for the people of Broome past and present Sun Pictures ISBN 978 0 646 07137 4 Willis Ian 2009 Whither Heritage the Experience of the Outdoor Movie Theatre AQ Australian Quarterly 81 6 35 39 ISSN 1443 3605 NORTH WEST NEWS Western Mail Perth WA 1885 1954 Perth WA National Library of Australia 9 February 1933 p 38 Retrieved 28 December 2011 Considine and Griffiths Architects Clement Cathie Ferraz Marisa Anne Sun Pictures W A Heritage Council of Western Australia 1999 Sun Pictures Broome conservation plan The Council retrieved 28 December 2011External links edit nbsp Media related to Sun Picture Gardens at Wikimedia Commons Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sun Picture Gardens amp oldid 1150413196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
