The Grand, Sun Theatre, Yarraville

When I was exploring the Sun Theatre this morning I spent most time taking photos in The Grand.

As with most of the other cinemas in the Sun Theatre complex, The Grand is named after a former local cinema and it lives up to its name.

Occupying the original stalls area of The Sun, this cinema has the most original art deco features. The picture above shows the amazing decorations of the walls near what is now the front of the auditorium.

The orientation of the seating has been switched in the Sun’s new configuration as a multi-plex. The original proscenium arch is now at the back surrounding the projection box. Even in the rather dark picture above you can see the complexity of the art deco details.

This picture shows it off a bit better including the metal ring ‘fence’ which separates the seating from the walls. It is a grand space in many ways.

I saw 21 in this cinema last week and almost tripped over my own feet looking back at the decoration rather than concentrating on where I was going. I think that is an acceptable risk for such a beautiful building.

Upstairs, Sun Theatre, Yarraville

I’ve written previously about my favourite cinema, the Sun Theatre in Yarraville. I also wrote that I had the chance to explore the complex without the inconvenience of any audiences in the cinemas.

I headed upstairs first of all to the lounge area with its porthole window, period furniture and monogrammed Sun Theatre carpet.

The original balcony of the Sun has been converted into The Barkly, named after a former cinema in nearby Footscray. Some of the original decoration has survived on the walls in this area of the building and this was one of the first areas to be restored and re-opened for the screening of films when the owners Michael & Anne Smith formed The Sun Film Society in the mid 1990s.

The decoration consists of a cornice made up of a series of deco chevrons. The lower part of the wall features three broad bands which run from the cornice and curve towards the screen. This design is echoed in the curtain made specifically for this cinema.

Next door is a small cinema called The Trocadero named after another former Footscray cinema. The decoration in this cinema reflects the original features that survived elsewhere in the building. The curtains and central light are fantastic and although I do like to see the original deco features in the Barkly, I am not disappointed when the session is scheduled for this lovely space.

Foyer, Sun Theatre, Yarraville

I went to the Sun Theatre early this morning, very early for a Sunday anyway. The Art Deco Society had organised a showing of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starting at 10:15 and before that there was morning tea but more importantly, the cinemas were open for us to explore.

As I wrote in a previous post, The Sun Theatre is an original Art Deco cinema which opened in 1938 and after falling into disrepair has been refurbished over the past decade and now houses six boutique Art Deco cinemas.

As much as possible of the original decoration was saved and restored. The picture above shows an amazing column in the foyer. The decoration near the ceiling could be stylised clouds especially when viewed directly from below as seen in the picture on the left.

The film was great. Frances McDormand was great in the title role but not surprisingly, my favourite part was spotting the fabulous London Art Deco buildings used as locations.

Sun Theatre, Yarraville

The Sun Theatre is my favourite cinema. While not the closest to where I live, it is not so far out of the way that I feel put out to go there. Nestled at the top end of Ballarat Street in Yarraville, an inner western suburb of Melbourne, The Sun is literally a beacon for the area.

So why do I like the Sun? For a start it is Art Deco. It opened in 1938 and displays several telegrams in the foyer from various Hollywood stars celebrating the first night. But by the 1990s, the building had been derelict for about 20 years and was looking in very bad shape. That was the first time I saw it. Within a few years part of the building had been restored and a film society operated at weekends. Blankets were even provided through the cool Melbourne winter to help keep patrons warm in the unheated auditorium.

Since those early days, the whole building has been restored and turned into a multiplex. I can feel you gasping in horror but believe me, this is the best multiplex you are ever likely to see.

The foyer looks like a proper cinema foyer, perhaps not as it would have been in the 1930s but the terrazzo floor has been resurrected and the ticket box and candy bar have a very sympathetic deco feel.

In 2003 four cinemas were opened in the original Sun building. They were named after the other cinemas that used to be in neighbouring suburbs but have long since gone.

The Grand is the biggest cinema and has been turned around 180 degrees so that the original proscenium arch is now at the back of the auditorium. The walls feature banks of lighted alcoves with plaster work creating a striking chevron effect,

The Barkly occupies the original dress circle and features curving brown stripes which seem to continue onto the curtains. By the way, the curtains in all four cinemas are brilliant because the people that own it also make cinema curtains.

The Trocadero has been restored so that some of the original art deco plasterwork has been retained and new pieces had been created from moulds of the remaining plaster.

The fourth cinema in the building is The Lyric which is intimate with a private bar area making it perfect for that special party.

In 2006, two further cnemas were opened.

La Scala offers luxury film viewing from beautiful leather couches and seats and is named after an Italian cinema which operated from Barkly St, Footscray.

The final cinema is called The Davis which honours Brian Davis who was a major benefactor to the restored Sun. He was a projectionist there in the 1950s and many of the features in new cinemas such as the telegrams in the foyer, the original cinema seats and the fantastic Wurlitzer organ were donated by him.

As great as the interior has been restored, my favourite part of the building in the neon sun on the roof. Separate rays light up to complete the semi-circular sunburst. Anytime I cross the Yarra River on the Westgate Bridge after dark, I look for that glowing sun and I feel good. I feel everyone on the bridge should be looking to Yarraville to make sure The Sun is still shining.