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The saga of the Savoy

(The Savoy was a cinema that existed in the Maroochy Shire Hall auditorium from 1941 to 1948.)
 

Nambour Pictures Limited, a company owned by Michael Gray, Edgar Wells, their wives and three partners, operated a picture theatre successfully in the Maroochy Shire Hall from 1931 to 1941. Initially named the Town Hall Talkies, it was later renamed the Nambour Talkies. During this period Gray and Wells held two annual licences for showing pictures, one for the new Shire Hall and the other for the rebuilt Diggers' Hall. Although silent moving pictures had been shown in the Diggers' Hall by Michael Gray for five months after its opening on 24th October 1930, this activity was wound down when Gray formed Nambour Pictures Limited and transferred his main cinematic operations (featuring new sound projectors) to the new Maroochy Shire Hall, opened in April 1931.

The rebuilt Diggers' Hall became the venue of choice for dances, concerts, balls, plays and other forms of live entertainment, and continued to be well-patronised until requisitioned by the Army during World War II, and, again, after the war. When it was built, careful treatment had been given to the floor to make it one of the finest dancing floors in Queensland. It contained a clubroom for the Diggers' meetings, and at the Howard Street frontage, two retail shops. One of these, 'Colour and Charm', sold pottery, pewter, linen, art and craft materials, and assorted bric-a-brac. The other was G. F. Jarrett's Radio Store, which from 1933 was also a dealership for Austin cars. By early 1936 Mr Jarrett had moved his business into Currie Street, and Bayards had installed their Furniture Department in the Diggers' Hall shop that he had vacated. The motto of the Hall and its tenants was: "We are Diggers all at the Diggers' Hall".  {17-10-1930, p.8}  {30-10-1931, pp.6, 8 and 12}  {18-9-1931, p.7}  {11-8-1933, p.8}  {6-3-1936, p.5}

Here is a selection of some of the the functions that took place at the Diggers' Hall in 1931:
Illustrated lectures (one was '30 000 miles in a Submarine') {27-2-1931, p.2},  Maroochy Diggers' Annual Ball {13-3-1931, p.5},  Maroochy Horticultural Society Show {20-3-1931, p.9},  Presbyterian Church Ladies' Guild Musical Afternoons {10-4-1931, p.2},  Gympie Salvation Army Band Concert {8-5-1931, p.2},  Maroochy Philharmonic Society Orchestral Concert {15-5-1931, p.4},  Convent Ball {22-5-1931, p.8},  Druids' Annual Ball {29-5-1931, p.4},  Church of England Annual Ball {26-6-1931, p.3},  boxing matches {26-6-1931, p.6},  Ipswich Railway Band Concert {3-7-1931, p.6},  Methodist Sunday Schools District Rally {24-7-1931, p.12}, an annual operetta put on by the Maroochy Philharmonic Society (in 1931 they did Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance') {31-7-1931, p.10},  community singing {14-8-1931, p.8},  old-time dancing {11-9-1931, p.6},  Church of England Bazaar {11-9-1931, p.6},  Friendly Societies' Grand Annual Ball {11-9-1931, p.8},  Nambour Golf Ball {11-9-1931, p.10},  Euchre tournaments {2-10-1931, p.8},  regular dances {2-10-1931, p.8},  Ambulance Ball {2-10-1931, p.8},  R.A.C.Q. Ball  {23-10-1931, p.7},  plays {30-10-1931, p.6},  wrestling {30-10-1931, p.12},  a visit by The Great McEwen, the 'world's master of mystery' (a hypnotist) {20-11-1931, p.7},  and political rallies  {11-12-1931, p.6}.

One of the few activities that did not take place in the Diggers' Hall was skating, which the Nambour Town Band ran at the Nambour Show Pavilion.  {11-9-1931, p.6}

A number of churches used the Hall for functions and sometimes for services, among them the Presbyterians, Methodists, Church of England and Roman Catholics. The Salvation Army often conducted open-air meetings on the Currie Street - Howard Street corner and in other streets in the Sunday twilight, and then invited the gathered throng into the Hall to hear testimonies and their Captain's evangelical message. {15-5-1931, p.2}  Some lodges also used the venue, two being the U.A.O.D. (United Ancient Order of Druids) and the P.A.F.S.O.A. (Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australia).   {29-5-1931, p.4}  {30-1-1931, p.9}

By mid-1933 the Hall was booked for dances every Saturday night, and was occasionally hired by auctioneers to dispose of bankrupt stock, as the Great Depression was at its height.  {11-8-1933, p.6}  This, together with the heavy bookings as described above, meant that the regular programming of motion pictures would present problems. Nambour Pictures Limited, in cooperation with the R.S.S.I.L.A. which owned the Hall, decided to use the Town Hall cinema solely for the showing of films, and the Diggers' Hall for everything else. They sometimes placed large, single advertisements in the Nambour Chronicle, describing both the programs being screened at the Nambour Talkies, and also any special entertainments at the Diggers' Hall.   {19-5-1939, p.6}

Many of the functions at the Diggers' Hall in the 1930s were quite grand affairs, the Governor of Queensland Sir Leslie Orme Wilson attending a Diggers' Ball there on 1st June 1934.   {8-6-1934, p.9}

Currie Street was still unpaved in 1933.
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries  

By 1939, some local people began to complain that there was only one picture theatre operating in Nambour, whereas previously there had been two, and for a short time, three. They grumbled that even the smaller seaside resort of Maroochydore had two cinemas, the Star and the Beach, and close by was Mooloolaba's Pacific Theatre. Nambour was no better off than local hamlets where people could visit the Eumundi Talkies at the School of Arts Theatre, or see films shown by Universal Talkies at Yandina and Palmwoods. (Soon Palmwoods would have its own Embassy Theatre and Kenilworth its Roxy.)

Even small settlements had their picture shows, Smith's Pictures presenting weekly programs at Eudlo, Ilkley and Mooloolah, as well as at Buderim, Landsborough, Caloundra, Beerwah and Glasshouse Mountains. Small-town gossip accused Nambour Pictures Limited of just sitting on the second licence, to prevent any competition and maintaining a monopoly. Although these views were not widely held, they were seized upon by some persons and Councillors who had their own agendas.  {17-7-1931, p.6}  {7-6-1940, p.6}

At a ratepayers' meeting at Bli Bli on 21st February 1939, various Shire Council matters were discussed. One of the issues brought up at the meeting was the system used by the Council in approving picture shows. The resolution was passed: "that it is the opinion of this meeting that in future the present system of granting a monopoly of the lease of the Nambour Picture Show be discontinued."  {24-2-1939, p.4}

In 1939 the ten year lease held by Nambour Pictures Limited for the cinema in the Maroochy Shire Hall was approaching its expiry date, November 1941. Gray and Wells at the Nambour Talkies were not concerned, as they fully expected that renewal and re-negotiation of the lease would be only a formality. They thought that they would continue to operate through the 1940s as they had done in the previous decade. Little did they know that other people were working to wrest their cinema away from them. One would have thought that, with World War II looming close at hand, people would have had bigger fish to fry, rather than wasting energy in arguing about the local picture show.

At this point, we need to know some background of the people involved.

●    Michael Harcourt Gray and Edgar Wells have already appeared in our pages here. They were the first lessees of the Maroochy Shire Hall auditorium from the time it was opened in April 1931, and had a ten-year lease to show films there. The Shire Council had insisted that, from the first program presented in the new Shire Hall, all films had to be 'talkies' or moving pictures with soundtracks, requiring new and expensive Western Electric sound projectors. To help with the costs, Gray and Wells had decided to take in some partners. They formed a company, Nambour Pictures Limited, with their wives and three other Nambour businessmen -- Stephen J. Hobson (Tramway Manager), Eric B. Fox (solicitor), and Hope C. B. Murray (public accountant). The registered office was at Wells' Returned Soldiers' Garage in Currie Street, and the partners operated their cinema firstly as the 'Town Hall Talkies', and later as the 'Nambour Talkies'.

All halls had to be licensed by the Shire Council in order to ensure that they complied with health and safety standards. If a hall's owner wished to screen moving pictures, a separate licence was required, approved in the first instance by the Maroochy Shire Council and then by the Picture Theatres and Films Commission. All licences had to be renewed every year. Messrs Gray and Wells held two licences, one for showing pictures in the Shire Hall, and the other for showing pictures in the Diggers' Hall in Howard Street. The Diggers' Hall was only used between 1931 and 1940 for live entertainment and public functions such as Balls and Dances, so its picture-showing licence was not being used. In those years, Nambour had only the one cinema, in the Maroochy Shire Hall at the bend in Currie Street.

●    Mr Alf Williams built the two-storeyed Williams Emporium in Currie Street two doors uphill from the Commercial Hotel, after that hotel was rebuilt following the fire of 24th May 1914. The little Commercial Bank of Australia adjoined the Emporium on its southern side. Mr Williams divided the ground floor into two shops. The one on the hotel side sold clothing and hats for men, women and children, boots and shoes, fancy goods and toys. The other shop was outfitted as a café. The upper floor was used as living quarters for café staff, and Mrs Wells had rooms for her dress-making business there. It also housed a large meeting hall. Both the café and the hall were used by numerous clubs and organisations for gatherings. Alf Williams was for many years the secretary of a Nambour lodge, the United Ancient Order of Druids.  {12-12-1924, p.8}

Star of Maroochy Lodge No. 24, U.A.O.D. (United Ancient Order of Druids), circa 1930
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries  

After his previous café was destroyed in the great fire of 5th January 1924, Mr Edgar Wells took over the Williams café almost immediately, and it became known as Wells' Café. He operated it for nearly a year, and then sold it in the first week of 1925 to partners Mr J. Nichols and Mr S. Baildon. Mr Nichols was already the new owner of the Railway Café adjoining the Nambour Railway Station at the time. {19-12-1924, p.5} During 1925 Edgar Wells entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law Mr E. Aspland, running the Returned Soldiers' Garage in Currie Street, which provided automotive services such as petrol, oil, spares, maintenance, repairs and car sales. He also took over the Town Hall Pictures in the middle of that year.

Within days of taking over Wells' Café, Messrs Nichols and Baildon organised a competition to find a new name for their premises, and 162 entry coupons were received in response. The suggested names were voted on by the audience at the nearby Town Hall Pictures during the interval on 24th January 1925, and the White Rose Café was the winning entry. Majestic Café came second.  {30-1-1925, p.6}

A few months later, Nichols and Baildon opened the Wembley Café about 250 yards further south along Currie Street, in a newly-built building, Chadwick Chambers. This was a two-storeyed masonry building Mr T. T. Chadwick had built to replace his wooden single-storeyed building, destroyed in the great fire of 5th January 1924. It still exists, with the name 'Chadwick Chambers' still showing high on the façade. {26-6-1925, p.2} {25-7-1941, p.13} The name 'Wembley' was derived from the popular and famous British Empire Exhibition that was being held in buildings including football's old Wembley Stadium in England at the time. {19-8-1924, p.8}   The Hinterland Heart Café presently adjoins the site.

In 1925 and 1926 the partners paid for joint advertisements on Page 1 of the Nambour Chronicle, extolling the virtues of both cafés. They also listed their names as 'Nichols & Baildon, Caterers' in another advertisement.  {27-11-1925, p.1}  {18-12-1925, p.7}

The interior of the Wembley Café, circa 1945
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries  

Both the White Rose and Wembley Cafés became popular gathering places, and numerous advertisements in the late 1920s and 1930s for meetings of various groups, organisations and clubs name one or the other as the venue. For example, in 1926 the Nambour Chamber of Commerce was having its monthly meetings at the Wembley Café, and on 20th February 1931, a well-attended meeting of ladies and gentleman met there for the purpose of forming a Nambour Amateur Operatic Society.  {16-4-1926, p.2} {27-2-1931, p.7} 

 The partnership of Nichols and Baildon must have broken up, for by the end of 1926 Mr Nichols was the sole proprietor of the Wembley Café, and Mr Baildon the proprietor of the White Rose Café. A small fire broke out in the Williams Emporium on the 6th November of that year, which caused some damage to the interior but was put out before the building was seriously threatened. During the emergency, the stock and fittings of the Emporium and the White Rose Café were hurriedly moved out to the street by fire-fighters (mostly patrons from the nearby Town Hall pictures - it was a Saturday night and their cinema program had been stopped as soon as the shouts of "Fire!" were heard). Unfortunately, most of the rescued goods were damaged by water or rough handling, and much of the confectionery that had been put in stock for the Christmas trade mysteriously vanished.  {12-11-1926, p.9} 

From October 1930 until after 1941, a Mrs C. Kent operated the White Rose Café and her husband Frank Kent was manager. In those years, the top floor was made into a banqueting hall with a dance floor, often used for public and private gatherings such as wedding breakfasts, socials, parties, dinners and other functions.  {24-10-1930, p.2} {25-7-1941, p.13}

In mid-1931, Mr Nichols sold the Wembley to the Londy Brothers, who operated similar cafés in Ipswich, Gympie, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Charter's Towers. The new owners renovated the premises, and the Wembley was re-opened on 5th September, 1931.  {4-9-1931, p.7}

●    Mr Denes (Dennis) Freeleagus migrated to Australia from Greece as a child with his family in 1920. He returned to his homeland in 1930 and stayed there for most of the year. He married there, and brought his 18-year-old wife to Brisbane where they lived for two years before coming to Nambour. He purchased the Wembley Café from the Londy Brothers early in 1933, and his first advertisement in the Nambour Chronicle named the new owner as 'D. Freeleagus, Brisbane'. As he became settled into Nambour, the word 'Brisbane' was dropped from his weekly advertisements.

Image courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

In September 1934 he made some improvements to the café, a major one being the installation of electrical refrigeration. This made possible the manufacture of flavoured ice blocks and "various kinds of ice delicacies."  {21-9-1934, p.5} His advertisements in the Nambour Chronicle continued regularly until the end of 1934, but he managed the café until after 1950, when he had it remodelled and modernised. {18-3-1938, p.6}  {8-7-1938, p.5}  {28-12-1934, p.1} {8-12-1950, p.7}

The Freeleagus family became well-known in the area. Two of Denes's brothers were at Gympie, where there was another Freeleagus Café. These brothers, Charlie and Leo, were wrestlers, and participated in local bouts and matches. The Freeleagus family also had a café at Cooroy. By 1941, Mr Christy Freeleagus had been appointed Greek Consul for Queensland, and had taken up business interests in Nambour in collaboration with Denes, which will be described below.  {4-6-1937, p.5}  {20-1-1939, p.14}  {8-7-1938, p.9}  {12-7-1935, p.6}

Denes Freeleagus supported a number of organisations in Nambour, often by donating prizes and trophies. He was a keen sponsor of the Nambour Scouts and the Protestant Labour Party (PLP), became a Vice President of the Maroochy District Band in 1938, and entered dogs in the Maroochy (Nambour) Show. {3-2-1933, p.6} {3-2-1933, p.6}

Mr Freeleagus joined the Nambour Rifle Club where he became one of seven Vice Presidents in 1935. This brought him into close contact with Mr Michael Harcourt Gray, one of the other Vice Presidents. No doubt he learned much from Mr Gray pertaining to the picture show business in general, and the Nambour Talkies in particular.  {12-7-1935, p.6}

When World War II started, Mr Freeleagus ran functions at the Wembley Café to support the Greek Patriotic Fund.  {7-2-1941, p.5} After conducting business in Chadwick Chambers for nearly 26 years, he moved his café to a new site in Currie Street in December, 1958. This 'New Wembley Café and Sandwich Bar' featured seating for up to 50 diners, a gleaming modern milk bar, and an espresso coffee machine. Mr and Mrs Denes Freeleagus left Nambour in 1962.  {19-12-1958, p.6} {26-12-1958, p.8} {8-2-1963, p.8}

●    Mr Eric Raymond Hockings of Eagle Junction, Brisbane, was a 24-year-old bank clerk when he joined the 5th Light Horse Regiment as an acting Sergeant on 21st December 1914, soon after the outbreak of World War I. After seven weeks training, he was sent on HMAT Itria to the battlegrounds of Europe. On his return, he found office work no longer to his liking, and in about 1922 he moved to Hunchy with the intention of taking up banana farming. After several years, he came to the realisation that his state of health was not compatible with the outdoor life, so studied accountancy and soon received his letters, A.F.I.A. (Associate of the Federal Institute of Accountants). Early in 1931 he advertised that he had commenced business as a public accountant with offices in Montville and Palmwoods, and offered to undertake any accountancy, secretarial or taxation services.  {27-2-1931, p.2}

In 1932 he moved his family to Nambour, and became involved in numerous community organisations, including the Nambour Bowling Club, the Nambour Freemasons, and the Maroochy Show Society. He also knew Mr Gray and Edgar Wells as they were all ex-Diggers in the R.S.S.I.L.A.. In 1934 Mr Hockings became Honorary Secretary of the Nambour Sub-Branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A., a position he held up to October 1940. On 17th May 1941 he played bowls with the Greek Consul Mr Christy Freeleagus. Both were involved with the Savoy Cinema. Mr Hockings was the founder of the Nambour branch of the Volunteer Defence Corps in May, 1941, and acted as its Commander in its first months. He was Secretary of the Maroochy Show Society from 1933 until he left the district in 1942. His wife was a leading light of the Nambour Red Cross.  {16-2-1934, p.6} {11-10-1940, p.5} {23-5-1941, p.8} {11-7-1941, p.1} {19-6-1942, p.5} {22-3-1957, p.7}

●    Mr Stuart Phelan Mathieson came to Nambour in the 1930s to be the manager of Penneys Department Store. The firm was owned by Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. and had opened for business on 2nd October 1931 under the first manager, Mr Josephs. The store was located next to William Whalley's Motor & Engineering Works and across the street from the Maroochy Shire Hall, and in 1941 was replaced by a more modern masonry and steel building of two floors. In November 1959 this building became a Coles store, then Coles-Fosseys, and then a Target variety store which closed in April 2009. The building was vacant for nearly two years, but in March 2011 its exterior including the street frontage was painted black, and an Autobarn car accessories store was opened there. Like the other men described above, Mr Mathieson was involved in local organisations including the Nambour and District Patriotic Committee, and was the local inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.  {25-9-1931, p.6} {25-7-1941, p.13} {20-11-1942, p.3}

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The opening of the new Maroochy Shire Hall on 7th April, 1931. The picture theatre was located behind the masonry building shown, but attached to it.

The Maroochy Shire Hall in 1932. The arched roof of the cinema attached to the rear of the building can be seen to the right of the main façade.

The four-year-old Maroochy Shire Hall in 1935, when Nambour Pictures Limited had the cinema lease.
Photographs courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

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A NEW CINEMA FOR NAMBOUR ???

Now, back to the saga. World War II had started, and the country was mobilised. Nambour Pictures Limited had enjoyed its monopoly in screening sound films in Nambour for nine years, and was expecting the ten-year lease to be renewed as a matter of course, when suddenly, in the Nambour Chronicle of 19th April 1940, there appeared the following announcement:

“₤20,000 Picture Theatre Proposal for Nambour

MODERN BUILDING CONTEMPLATED

“It was ascertained from authoritative channels yesterday that Nambour is likely to have another picture theatre, the cost being in the vicinity of ₤20,000. At next Tuesday's meeting, the Maroochy Shire Council will consider an application for a picture licence from Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate, and also peruse plans and specifications of the proposed new building.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PROPERTY IN CURRIE STREET

“It is understood negotiations have been made for the purchase of a property situated in Currie Street, whilst another property is also under consideration. The building will be constructed on modern lines, having a brick frontage, dress circle, sloping floor, and will be air-conditioned throughout. The seating accommodation provides for 620 in the stalls, and 330 in the dress circle.

COUNCIL'S POWER TO LICENSE

“It is further ascertained that the Maroochy Council has the power to grant a further picture licence. Information has also been obtained that the Council will be protected by a certain offer in writing at the expiration of the present lease -- November 1941 -- for the Town Hall theatre lease.”

This was the first that the general public had heard of the 'Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate'. Four weeks later the Nambour Chronicle printed the following drawing and description of the proposed new cinema: {17-5-1940, p.3}
 

Image courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries  

“Fashioned in brick with an approximate frontage of 50 feet and a depth of 150 feet, the design provides for an attractive front about 50 feet high, which will be floodlit. Entrance is by a carpeted foyer from which leads a stairway to the dress circle and three steps to the stalls. In the stalls, the floor is curved to provide clear vision from every seat. The screen is recessed, giving a pleasant impression of depth and clarity of reproduction. The dress circle does not overhang the stalls seats. A smoking lounge is provided on a mezzanine floor part way to the circle.

“Seating throughout will be the new super-comfortable upholstered theatre chairs secured to the floor to ensure individual comfort , while the sound equipment is to be the very latest, combing several new features just recently introduced by the manufacturers. Caneite sound cushions will be fitted to the theatre walls to give the best acoustical effect.

“Of all the features, perhaps the most outstanding is the air conditioning. On the hottest day or night, the theatre will be delightfully cool. Seating accommodation is estimated at 950, comprising 650 stalls seats and 300 dress circle seats. Preliminary plans have already been made to secure only the very best pictures through the leading companies. It is understood the following prices are to be fixed for admission: Wednesday - stalls seats 1/-, dress circle 1/6; Friday and Saturday nights - stalls 1/- and 1/6, dress circle 2/5½; matinees - children 6d.

“An application for a licence for this theatre is at present before the Council and will be considered at the meeting on Tuesday, 28th May.”

Regarding 'licences', local government bodies of the time (City Councils and Shire Councils) required that numerous profit-making activities could not be carried out without the approval of the local Council, legitimised by the granting of licences for a given period, usually a year. Licences were required for such diverse activities as cutting timber into slabs for sale as building materials, cutting firewood, procuring leaves for manufacturing purposes, collecting guano, slaughtering animals, operating street barrow stands, building boat sheds, selling tobacco products, carrying goods, putting up buildings and selling liquor. In the field of entertainment, licences were required for operating dance halls and skating rinks, organising boxing and wrestling matches and, most germane to our story, screening motion pictures.

As mentioned, the Maroochy Shire Council met on 28th May 1940 to consider the matter of an extra picture licence. Any interested parties were invited to attend. Nambour Pictures Limited was represented by Michael Gray and Edgar Wells, the R.S.S.I.L.A. by Eric Hockings, and a face was put to the Savoy Syndicate by having a director, Stuart Mathieson, present to make its case.

The Council decided to defer the Savoy Syndicate's application for a licence to screen pictures until they had more information. Mr Mathieson responded by submitting an offer of ₤30 per month for the Town Hall lease, on the condition that the Council approve the licence for the proposed new theatre. This would place both the Town Hall cinema and the new cinema in the Syndicate's hands, thus giving them a monopoly, and forcing Nambour Pictures Limited to either stop screening films altogether or to move their equipment into the Diggers' Hall, and to screen motion pictures there. The vote to defer had been close, seven votes to five, with some Councillors being very obvious in their support of the Syndicate and their opposition to Gray and Wells. The newspaper reports on these deliberations are quite explicit on this. {26-4-1940, p.4}

The Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate was not prepared to take 'no' for an answer. The Councillors who supported their application worked on their fellows, and the matter was brought up again at the next monthly meeting, on 28th May 1940. This time the interested parties were not invited to be present. When the vote of the twelve Councillors was taken, it was split evenly, six for the application being granted, and six against. The Chairman, Cr. R. H. Whalley, was forced to break the deadlock by using a casting vote, and did so in the negative. The picture licence for the Savoy Syndicate was thereby rejected. {31-5-1940, p.9}

At this point it became known that the R.S.S.I.L.A. had put the Diggers' Hall up for sale, and that "negotiations are proceeding in connection with the purchase of the land and buildings by a picture company." It appears that the local Sub-Branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. wished to build more modern club rooms at another site, and to invest at least ₤1000 of the money realised from the sale in the next war loan. The newspaper reported, "Mr Mathieson, on behalf of the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., stated yesterday that the mention of the likely sale to a Southern Queensland picture syndicate did not involve the syndicate he represented, and the Savoy Syndicate was not the company with whom negotiations were said to be proceeding."  {21-6-1940, p.4}

The rejection of the Savoy's picture licence application by a casting vote could not stand, and so the matter was raised again at the 25th June monthly meeting. Mr Mathieson for the Savoy, Mr Hockings for the R.S.S.I.L.A. and Mr Wells for Nambour Pictures Limited were all present. This time the Savoy Syndicate lowered the value of its proposed theatre to ₤15,000, as the Government was restricting new construction, preferring instead that people put their money into war loans and so help the war effort. The Savoy also raised their offer for the soon-to-expire Town Hall lease to ₤31 per month.

Contradicting his denial quoted above, Mr Mathieson admitted that the Savoy Syndicate had indeed made an offer to purchase the Diggers' Hall. Mr Hockings stated that "instead of allowing the Diggers' Hall to be squeezed out by the granting of a licence to another theatre, the Diggers' Sub-Branch had negotiated for the sale."  {28-6-1940, p.8}  This was quite a peculiar comment, considering that no motion pictures had been screened in the Diggers' Hall for over nine years, largely because it was so heavily booked for dancing, balls and live entertainment. Hockings, as Secretary and Auditor of the R.S.S.I.L.A. which owned and hired out the Hall, would have known this better than most.

When the motion was again put to the Council that the Savoy Syndicate be granted a picture licence, it was passed. Councillors congratulated themselves for having broken Gray's and Wells' so-called monopoly. This did not involve the Town Hall lease, which was a separate matter entirely, but Mr Wells, seeing the writing on the wall, stated to the Council that Nambour Pictures Limited was prepared to pay ₤40 per month to keep the lease on the Nambour Talkies at the Town Hall. {28-6-1940, p.8}

Not wasting any time, the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate paid their licence fee and building fee before the next Council meeting of 23rd July, in case some of the Councillors had a change of heart and might try to rescind the motion giving approval. {26-7-1940, p.1}

It soon became public knowledge that the Savoy Syndicate, despite Mr Mathieson's published statements to the contrary, had indeed successfully negotiated with the R.S.S.I.L.A. and purchased the Diggers' Hall in mid-1940. Eric Hockings resigned from the positions of R.S.S.I.L.A. Secretary and Auditor at the beginning of October of that year, and within a month resurfaced as the Secretary of a new company, Nambour Savoy Pictures Limited, being once more in charge of the Diggers' Hall, this time for its new owners.  {11-10-1940, p.5}  {1-11-1940, p.4}  {24-1-1941, p.1}  {24-4-1941, p.4}

On 8th November 1940 a page 1 advertisement in the Nambour Chronicle named the Nambour Savoy Pictures Limited's officers, including: Managing Director - S. P. Mathieson; Secretary - E. R. Hockings; Solicitor - E. B. Fox. The latter gentleman had been one of the seven partners of Nambour Pictures Limited, so one wonders if he had severed his connection with that company for some reason, and why he switched his allegiance to the opposition. The published record does not tell us. {1-11-1940, p.4} {8-11-1940, p.1}

The advertisement repeated the aim of the company to build a modern picture theatre, and solicited local people to take up parcels of shares in the company. The shares were ₤1 each, with a minimum holding of five shares. The Freeleagus family would become important shareholders, and five years later Mr Christy Freeleagus would be Chairman of the Board of the Savoy. The “modern picture theatre” that had been touted (and even illustrated in the paper - see sketch above) would never be built and was probably never intended to be. It was merely a tempting carrot to be dangled before the Maroochy Shire Council's nose in order to win the lease of the Shire Hall's auditorium and thereby take control of the Nambour Talkies.  {8-11-1940, p.1}   {15-3-1946, p.5}

NAMBOUR TALKIES IN TROUBLE

In January 1941, Nambour Pictures Limited decided to take the initiative. Through their solicitor Mr. R. D. Charlton, they approached the Maroochy Shire Council at its monthly meeting and asked that a Council sub-committee be set up to meet with the proprietors of Nambour Pictures Limited, to consider an extended lease for the Nambour Talkies. If this were successful, then Nambour Pictures Limited would be prepared to spend ₤3,000 on necessary improvements to the Maroochy Shire Hall auditorium.

The Nambour Chronicle reported in detail on the meeting: "Mr Charlton pointed out that the present lease would expire in October next. His clients [M. H. Gray and E. Wells et al] who were returned soldiers, had occupied Council premises for close on 20 years, including the old Town Hall, and on no occasion had they been in arrears with rent. His clients proposed, conditionally an extended lease was granted - no specific term was mentioned or price disclosed - to construct a dress circle seating 250 persons, alterations to proscenium, lighting, general seating accommodation, and installation of an air-cooling system, at an approximate cost of ₤3,000. Regarding the so-called monopoly, Mr Charlton submitted that this had been abolished by three picture licences being granted in Nambour." He said that the Council was not "legally bound to call tenders" for the lease.

Some Councillors, the same persons who had previously supported the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate, were adamant that tenders should be called. Mr Charlton responded, "But surely the applicants who have been on good terms with the Council should receive some consideration?"

This appeal to the Councillors' better nature fell on deaf ears, however, and on a vote of seven to four they refused to set up a Sub-Committee to negotiate with Nambour Pictures Limited. The lease for the Nambour Talkies would have to go to tender.  {31-1-1941, p.8}

Tenders for the lease of the Maroochy Shire Hall were required to be in the hands of the Shire Council by the next monthly meeting, which was held on Tuesday, 25th February, 1941. The applicants were required to have their representatives in attendance at the meeting. Nambour Pictures Limited (the current lessees) and the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate were the only two groups to tender. The former was represented by Mr Edgar Wells and Mr Michael H. Gray, and the latter by Mr Stuart P. Mathieson.

Nambour Pictures Limited's tender was as follows:
        ₤31 per month for a 10 years' lease, with an agreement to spend ₤2,000 on improvements to the Hall;
        ₤31/10/- per month for a 20 years' lease, with an agreement to spend ₤2,000 on improvements to the Hall;
        ₤32 per month for a 10 years' lease, with an option of a further 10 years, and ₤2,000 spent on improvements to the Hall;
        ₤35 per month for a 10 years' lease, with no improvements to the Hall.

Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate tendered as follows:
        ₤45 per month for a 10 years' lease, and to effect improvements to the Hall to the value of ₤2,000;
        ₤45 per month for a 20 years' lease, and to effect improvements to the Hall to the value of ₤4,000.

After a motion to accept the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate's tender for a 10 years' lease had been submitted, an amendment was moved that the voting be deferred until legal advice was obtained. The amendment was defeated by six votes to five (one Councillor was absent due to 'leg trouble'), and the motion was put. It was passed by six votes to five.

This meant that the Savoy Syndicate held both a licence to show pictures (approved by Council on 25th June 1940) and a 10 years' lease over the Shire Hall (approved on 25th February 1941). Nambour Pictures Limited still held two licences to show pictures, but had lost the lease of the Shire Hall. {28-2-1941, p.1}

This was the end of the road for Nambour Pictures Limited. Messrs Gray and Wells knew they had to move all their equipment and fittings out of the Shire Hall auditorium within eight months, so that the Savoy could move in. They could not use the Diggers' Hall, for the Savoy had bought it six months before and would not let them have it. There was nowhere else to go.

Disappointed, they continued to show films at the Nambour Talkies for another two months, but then decided to quit. Although their lease still had six months to run, they presented their final program on Wednesday, 14th May 1941. Mr Wells still had other business interests in the town, including the Returned Soldiers' Garage in Currie Street, so he remained in Nambour.

Michael Harcourt Gray, though, had had enough. He had been a prominent citizen in Nambour for 20 years, and had served it well in many capacities. He had been closely involved with the Maroochy Show Society, the Nambour Rifle Club, the Nambour Football Club, the Snooker Club, the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, the St Patrick's Day Sports and the Nambour Patriotic Committee. He donated prizes and trophies to numerous groups, shared his singing talents at numerous local functions, and had taken a leading rôle in establishing the Nambour Convent. At the time of these events, he was also acting as the Army's Recruiting Man-Power Officer for the district, an unpaid position. His record of service is shown in more than 100 mentions in the Nambour Chronicle between 1920 and 1941. Now an ungrateful Shire Council had taken away his livelihood. An advertisement in the local newspaper on 31st October 1941 tells the sorry tale:

"A GOLDEN Opportunity - Right in the very heart of Nambour, comfortable and commodious home reduced for quick sale; no reasonable offer refused; inspection any time. M. H. Gray, Maud Street."  {31-10-1941, p.9}

There are no more references to Mr Michael Harcourt Gray in the Nambour Chronicle after that date.
 

*****************************************************
 

SAVOY SYNDICATE  versus  SAVOY COMPANY

The Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate requested that the Shire Council give the lease they had won to the Nambour Savoy Pictures Limited, the company they had set up to operate the cinema. This was done, and the Savoy had its Grand Opening Night on Friday, 16th May 1941, with a Shirley Temple film, The Blue Bird. The supporting attraction was Argentine Nights, with the Ritz Brothers and the Andrews Sisters. The Opening was announced in a full-page advertisement in the newspaper, which stated that the cinema would now be using the latest 'Mirrophonic Sound Equipment' from the Western Electric company.  {16-5-1941, p.3} {14-5-1943, p.5}

Under its Managing Director Mr S. P. Mathieson, the company improved the acoustic qualities of the Shire Hall by installing a wall behind the screen to cure a troublesome echo. The seating also was improved, but they took some months to settle on a name for their cinema. The first night's advertisements said variously 'Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd.' and 'Nambour Savoy Pictures'. Two weeks after that it became 'Nambour Savoy Talkies', and from 12th September 1941, 'Savoy Theatre, Nambour'. Six weeks later this was shortened to 'Savoy, Nambour' from 31st October, 1941.  {16-5-1941, p.3}  {6-6-1941, p.6}  {12-9-1941, p.8}  {31-10-1941, p.8}

Things seemed to have begun quite well for the Savoy, but internal troubles were brewing. In October 1941, the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate gave notice to the Council that it did not now consent to the Shire Hall lease being taken over by Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., and that it intended to use the licence granted to it in connection with the original theatre building for an open-air cinematograph theatre. The Council received a further letter, this time from Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., concerning the licence granted to the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate, and expressing the opinion that the licence could be used for the original project only, i.e. the proposed “modern picture theatre” costing ₤20,000. This confirms that the Diggers' Hall picture-screening licence had expired, and the Savoy Syndicate and Company had only one licence between them.

The Councillors were nonplussed and confused. Councillor Murphy spoke for them all when he inquired, “What is the difference between the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate and Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd.?”

Mr S. P. Mathieson, who was present in support of his correspondence, said that the Savoy Syndicate was only supposed to function until the limited liability company took over. He stated that the licence for the open-air theatre was until such times as the Commonwealth Government allowed the Syndicate to build its “modern picture theatre” (war-time regulations restricted private companies from outlaying large sums of money on building projects.)  {31-10-1941, p.1}

It seems that the Savoy Syndicate and the Savoy Company were both still-functioning bodies, possibly in name only, and could have been collaborating to influence the Council for their mutual benefit. Why else would Mathieson, who represented the Savoy Company, elaborate in favour of the Syndicate's proposal to build an open-air theatre? On the other hand, there appeared to be some difficulties emerging between Managing Director Mathieson and Secretary Hockings, for in September 1941 this notice had appeared in the newspaper:

“Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd.

All business in connection with this Company, including letting of the Diggers' Hall, is to be done through the Company's office, Whalley Chambers, Nambour.
E. R. Hockings, Secretary.”  {5-9-1941, p.2}

The Council, though, was not happy. Some Councillors regretted the treatment that had been meted out to Gray and Wells eight months before. They would have known that Gray had put his house on the market and was preparing to leave the district. Cr. Davison in particular stated that some problems might have been avoided if the “two returned soldiers” Gray and Wells had retained the lease to continue operating the Nambour Talkies. Describing them as “good tenants”, he said that if they had won the lease, then Gray and Wells would have already paid for ₤2,000 worth of improvements to the Hall.  On being put to the vote, the Council refused to give the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate a licence to show open-air pictures, only three Councillors being in favour. {31-10-1941, p.1}

One of the bones of contention that the Council had with Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. was over the use of the Maroochy Shire Hall's auditorium for other social occasions, particularly those organised by the Council itself. On 31st October 1941 they decided that the auditorium would be required by the Shire Council every Thursday evening. Four weeks later, they included Monday evenings in this requirement. {31-10-1941, p.10} {28-11-1941, p.1}

However, the situation worsened within the ranks of Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., for on 29th November 1941, the Managing Director Mr Stuart Mathieson sacked the Company's Secretary, Mr. Eric Hockings, effective immediately. Not content with this, Mathieson proceeded against Hockings in the Courts, accusing him of a breach of The Companies Act of 1931. The outcome of this case is recounted below. {20-2-1942, p.8}

In early 1942, differences between the Syndicate and the Company were coming to a head, as both applied separately to renew their picture licences. At the monthly Shire Council meeting on 27th January 1942, the Syndicate applied for a renewal of the licence previously granted on 25th June 1940. Saying that “this application for a licence was only a disturbance to upset the Company”, the Council refused to renew their licence. At the same meeting, the Company applied for renewal of its two licenses, one for the Savoy Theatre and the other for the Diggers' Hall. Both of these licences were renewed. This meant that the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. held the only two licences for screening motion pictures in Nambour. The Savoy Syndicate had none. The Shire Council had, through its actions, re-established a picture-showing monopoly in Nambour, although the personnel and companies were different. {30-1-1942, p.1}

CHANGES AT THE DIGGERS' HALL

During 1940, the Diggers' Hall remained as popular as ever, but concern about the escalating World War II tended to focus people's minds on less frivolous activities. But the show must go on, and the Hall was still the best venue for dancing, balls, and live entertainment, and even in war-time 1940 the social events held there included:

Caledonian Pipe Band Dance and Concert {31-4-1940, p.3},  Tennis Dance {3-5-1940, p.5},  Highland dancing by the Protestant Labour Party {10-5-1940, p.4},  Diggers' Ball {17-5-1940, p.6},  Revues {24-5-1940, p.4, 7},  St Joseph's Convent Ball (debutantes presented to Archbishop Duhig) {7-6-1940, p.7},  King's Birthday Dance {14-6-1940, p.4}, Combined Militia, Patriotic Committee and Comforts Fund Ball {28-6-1940, p.4},  St John's Church of England Debutante's Ball {28-6-1940, p.5},  Red Cross Card Evenings (bridge) {28-6-1940, p.5},  Red Cross Ball {30-8-1940, p.9},  Nambour Church of England Annual Fete and Flower Show {13-9-1940, p.4},  Nambour Methodist Circuit Cherry Blossom Fete {11-10-1940, p.5},  Ambulance Ball {11-10-1940, p.9},  Nambour High and Rural School Annual Children's Fancy Dress Ball {25-10-1940, p.6},  Nambour and District Patriotic Committee - Patriotic Ball {22-11-1940, p.4},  a Cabaret {22-11-1940, p.5}, a Coronation Ball {29-11-1940, p.4}, and what was advertised as 'a new, crazy entertainment - Hollywood Hobby Horses' {13-12-1940, p.6}.  

In addition, there were regular send-off functions for soldiers enlisting in the armed forces. The Hall became a dance palace (Palais Dansant) every Saturday night from 30th March to 8th June {5-4-1940, p.5}, and Reg. Nicholls' School of Dancing operated from 25th May until 23rd July 1940.  {19-7-1940, p.4}.

As described earlier, the Diggers' Hall was sold to the Nambour Savoy Theatre Syndicate in mid-1940, probably at the instigation of R.S.S.I.L.A. Secretary Mr Eric Hockings. The reason he gave to the Shire Council on 25th June 1940, that the Diggers felt that their Hall would be 'squeezed out' (quoted above) did not make sense, particularly as the Diggers at Maroochydore had just completed a new Hall there, and it had been officially opened by their local Member of the Legislative Assembly Mr G. F. R. Nicklin the previous week. They had expended much time and money in their project, and fully expected their Hall to be a paying proposition, despite the proximity of two cinemas, the 'Star' and the 'Beach'.

The Savoy Syndicate's management of the Diggers' Hall did not run smoothly, and the patronage of the Hall began to wane during 1941. The Diggers' still met in their Club Room there, and the Nambour Red Cross had their regular meetings there, too. By April 1941 Mr Hockings, in his new capacity of Secretary of Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., was forced to advertise the Hall's availability:

“TO  LET,  DIGGERS'  HALL  AND  CLUB  ROOM

at Reasonable Rates.   Afternoon or Night.   Regular bookings quoted for at Special Rates.
Apply Secretary, E. R. Hockings, Whalley Chambers, Nambour.”  {24-4-1941, p.4}

The advertisement had little effect, and hiring of the Diggers' Hall diminished until it was no longer profitable. Also, complaints were made that the Hall did not have enough seats, and people had to make arrangements for extra seats to be taken there from the Woombye School of Arts and other halls, and then returned later. {14-11-1941, p.4}  These were some of the functions held there in 1941:
St Joseph's Convent Ball {2-5-1941, p.4},  Patriotic Committee Dance {2-5-1941, p.4},  Protestant Labour Party Dance {6-6-1941, p.7},  St John's Church of England Debutante's Ball {4-7-1941, p.1},  Patriotic Comedy Play "Mum's the Word" {25-7-1941, p.2},  Nambour branch of the Australian Democratic Party Dance {26-9-1941, p.2},  Ambulance Ball {26-9-1941, p.2},  Nambour and Rosslyn Masonic Lodge's Ball {24-10-1941, p.8},  Carnival Dance {7-11-1941, p.2}, Red Shield Dance {5-12-1941, p.9}, and the Nambour High School's Speech Night {12-12-1941, p.9}.

On 10th January 1942, the Diggers' Hall was hired for a wedding breakfast, and this was probably the last public usage of it for some years. A few weeks later the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. closed the Hall for entertainment purposes, and leased it to a furniture discount company, Ash Furnishings, for three years. Beforehand, the Savoy Company checked with the Shire Council to see if this action would jeopardise their picture-showing licence for the Diggers' Hall. The Council's response was that it would not, and present arrangements could remain, so the Savoy Company continued to renew the licence, along with that for their Shire Hall cinema, each year.  {16-1-1942, p.3} {30-1-1942, p.1} {27-2-1942, p.3, 8} {24-12-1942, p.1} {25-2-1944, p.6} {22-12-1944, p.1}

The Nambour and District Patriotic Committee had some concerns, however, about the Savoy's Town Hall lease. They realised that Nambour was now without a hall in which to hold a major function. There were some small halls available, such as the Friendly Societies' Hall and the one above the White Rose Café, but none was large enough to accommodate a large gathering. The Diggers' Hall was unavailable, and at the Shire Hall pictures were being shown every week night. (Public entertainments on Sundays, whether picture shows, concerts, dances, balls or vaudeville acts, were still forbidden.) The Committee therefore resolved to communicate with the Savoy Theatre, asking that in future 'the Town Hall be made available to the Committee on a Wednesday or Thursday, once a month, for the purpose of holding an entertainment for patriotic benefits.'  {28-11-1941, p.1} {20-3-1942, p.1}

The Maroochy Shire Council was also concerned about the unavailability of a sizable venue for indoor public functions in the town. One Councillor suggested that the Council should lease the Diggers' Hall and sub-let it to other organisations. Another Councillor retorted, "What rot! We have a Hall of our own!" The Council Chairman stated that there was a clause in the Savoy's lease of the Shire Hall that gave the Council the use of the auditorium for one night a week, but they would have to give the Savoy Theatre 14 days notice if they wanted the Hall on a particular night. The Savoy had offered to let the Patriotic Committee have the Hall on Monday nights, but that did not suit the Committee. Negotiations were continuing.  {27-3-1942, p.6} 

The worsening war situation and arrival of large numbers of troops in the district for training resulted in the Federal Government requisitioning the Diggers' Hall for Army purposes in May 1942, and Ash Furnishings had to move out of the building after having been there for less than three months. They found a nearby vacant shop next to Bayards Corner in Currie Street, and transferred all their goods there, but on 31st October 1942 they closed their Nambour branch altogether. They cited the shortage of skilled tradesmen in the furniture factories, the uncertainties of future replacements of furniture stocks and timbers, the ever-increasing rises in costs, and the increasing difficulties of transportation as their reasons for having to pull out of Nambour.  {15-5-1942, p.3}  {30-10-1942, p.6}

At the Diggers' Hall, Army Captain J. L. Fletcher set up a headquarters for control of a prisoners of war group. 100 Italian P.O.W.s were allocated to the area under Captain Fletcher's jurisdiction, which stretched from the coast to the Blackall Range settlements, and from Glasshouse Mountains to Cooroy. Local farmers would pay the Government ₤1 per prisoner per week, and would provide the man with food, sleeping quarters and bedding in return for labouring work.  {25-2-1944, p.1}

The Diggers' Hall remained closed to the public for some time, and the Savoy Company allowed its picture-showing licence from the Picture Theatres and Films Commission to lapse, although the Shire Council had been willing to approve it every year. The R.S.S.I.L.A. was still permitted to meet in their Diggers' Club Room there. (From November 1940, airmen had been included in the organisation's name, and it was now the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. - Returned Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Imperial League of Australia). As the war progressed, the Club Room was also used as an activities and social gathering venue for returned servicemen on leave or recuperation. By early 1943 it was operating as the 'Soldiers' Rest and Recreation Room', and was open to Diggers every afternoon and night. As an exception to the general rule, the Diggers' Club Room was also used by the Country Women's Association (C.W.A.) Younger Set, to add a feminine touch to the atmosphere.  {30-10-1942, p.6}  {5-3-1943, p.2}  {10-9-1943, p.2}  {10-12-1943, p.2}

When the Diggers wished to hold a large function, they were forced to seek an alternative venue, as neither the Diggers' Hall nor the Maroochy Shire Hall was available to them. On the occasion of an important meeting, they met at the Commercial Hotel. By early 1943 the Diggers realised that they could not rely forever on the goodwill of the Savoy Picture Co. in letting them use the club room attached to the Diggers' Hall, which was now becoming a busy army facility. They anticipated that their numbers would grow substantially after the war and they would need their own premises, so they purchased an allotment of land on the corner of Coronation Avenue and Mathew Street and erected a new Diggers' Hall there. However, it was not very large, and when a Patriotic Dance was organised for 6th May 1944 in aid of the Distressed Diggers' Fund, the more spacious Friendly Societies' Hall was used.  {19-2-1943, p.2}  {28-4-1944, p.2}

In 1954, having raised the funds to build larger premises, the Diggers built a War Memorial Services Club Room on the same parcel of land, to commemorate the war-time service of local men and women. It was opened on 6th November 1954 by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir John Lavarack. Those present included returned servicemen, Scouts, Cubs and Guides, representatives from local service clubs and some two thousand citizens. Today the site is part of the R.S.L. car park, and the greatly expanded facility now occupies the entire town block.

 Sir John Lavarack opens the War Memorial Services Club building on 6th November 1954. Note the Vice-Regal limousine in the left foreground, a Humber Super Snipe, carrying flags on each front mudguard. The Moreton Sugar Mill chimney stack is on the horizon.
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

The lack of a suitable venue for large public functions in Nambour was regularly complained about, sometimes in the press. In May 1944, the following letter to the editor appeared in the Nambour Chronicle:

“Sir,  The Nambour Branch C.W.A. Younger Set wish to protest against the unfair treatment we consider we have received in our efforts to secure the Town Hall for a concert, which we hope to hold on 26th June. On 6th April we wrote to the Savoy Picture Company, asking if it were possible to hold the concert in the Town Hall, as we had been given to understand that the hall was available one night in every month for patriotic functions. We consider we had every right to do this, as last year we donated ₤68 to patriotic bodies, as well as helping them in every other possible manner. We were told that the Town Hall was not available to us for our concert.

“Now, the Town Hall is a public building, built from public money. Why then should one group of people control what rightly belongs to the whole population of Nambour?

“We appealed to the Chairman of the Shire Council, but evidently the Council has no control of the Hall, inasmuch as it cannot compel the Savoy Picture Company to give it up for one night a month for any purpose - even patriotic. Naturally, the Younger Set is not asking the Savoy Picture Company to give us the hall rent free. We are willing to pay the rent of the hall for the night upon which we hold our concert.

“When the small towns round Nambour can offer us their halls for our concert without our asking them, it appears that Nambour is very backward in appreciating and furthering local talent when its Town Hall is not available for such functions. The only other suitable hall is the Diggers' Hall and that is being used for other purposes.  Yours etc.,   C.W.A. YOUNGER SET.”  {5-5-1944, p.2}

TROUBLE AT THE SAVOY  -  THE SECRETARY SACKED and TAKEN TO COURT  -  THEN EXONERATED - AND A FIRE

As mentioned above, on 29th November 1941, the Managing Director Mr Stuart Mathieson sacked the Company's Secretary, Mr. Eric Hockings, effective immediately. Mathieson then took Hockings to Court, accusing him of a breach of "The Companies Act of 1931." The Nambour Chronicle reported on the case and its outcome in its issue of 20th February 1942. Their report contains interesting background information as well as a lot of trivia, and is reprinted almost in full below:

COMPANIES  ACT  CASE  DISMISSED

Costs Awarded to Defendant

The case in the Nambour Court of Petty Sessions before Mr A. Anderson, Acting Stipeniary Magistrate last Thursday, in which Stuart Phelan Mathieson, of Oxleigh Heights, Nambour, proceeded against Eric Raymond Hockings, Nambour, for a breach of “The Companies Act of 1931” (refused to produce books of the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. during business hours, upon the request of and for the inspection by the complainant), was dismissed. The Acting Stipendiary Magistrate ordered complainant to pay professional costs of 2 guineas (₤2/2/-) and witness' expenses of 1 guinea (₤1/1/-).

Mr R. D. Charlton appeared for the complainant and Mr E. B. Fox for the defendant.

Complainant, Stuart Phelan Mathieson, in evidence, said he was a shareholder in Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., a company registered under the Companies Act of Queensland. On the 29th November Mr E. R. Hockings was secretary and public officer of the company. Notice of termination of Mr Hockings' services as secretary and public officer was given at about 12:30 p.m. on 29th November, 1941.

Complainant said he had an interview with Mr Hockings on Friday, 28th November last. He said to defendant, “I would like to inspect the book containing the minutes of the general meeting of the company.” Defendant replied, “The minutes of the meeting of the 22nd November are not typed up yet.” Complainant said, “Let me see the rough minute book containing the minutes of that meeting.” Defendant said, “I cannot, that book is in Brisbane.” Asked when it would be back, defendant said, “Tomorrow, I think.” Complainant again saw defendant on the 29th November. Mr E. Brook, who was a shareholder of the company at that time was with complainant.

Continuing, complainant said, “We want to inspect the minute book of the general meeting of the company,” meaning the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. “and also the share register.” Mr Hockings said, “I cannot let you see the share register.” At this stage Mr Fox objected to the mention of the share register.

Mathieson said defendant handed him a book. He said to defendant, “This book does not contain the minutes of all the general meetings.” It was not the book he had seen previously. Complainant said to defendant, “Where are the minutes of the general meeting of 22nd November?” Mr Hockings had replied, “You cannot see those 'til after the next meeting.” “I said, 'Why not?' Defendant said, “Because they are not minutes until after the next meeting.” Witness said, “Do you refuse to produce those minutes to us now?” Defendant said, “I refuse to produce them until after the next meeting.” Complainant said, “You refuse to produce them now?” Defendant said, “Yes.” Complainant said, “Very well.”

Complainant told the court he had a particular reason for wanting to see those minutes on that day. A notice had been received by him, convening another general meeting of the shareholders for December 6, and certain items were included in that notice which were purported to be resolutions that had been passed at the meeting on November 22. In his opinion the notice was incorrect, because from his recollection, a resolution which was purported to have been passed at the meeting on 22nd November and included in that notice, had not been passed at that meeting, nor had it been put to that meeting.

At the board meeting on 28th June, a resolution was passed which was afterwards numbered 51. The resolution as now appearing in the book containing the minutes of the board is not a true record of the resolution as passed at the meeting. On the Monday following the board meeting, complainant called at the registered office of the company and requested the secretary to give him a copy of the minute which dealt with the limitation of his duties as managing director. Mr Hockings said, “They are not typed yet. I will send you a copy over when they are typed.”

Later in the day he received what purported to be a copy of the minute. This minute was not a correct record of the resolution as it was passed. Approximately three days later, he received from Mr Hockings another minute which purported to be the one in question, and it was different again from the one he had received a few days before. This is the one which now appears in the minute book. Not either of these is a true record of the proceedings.

Cross-examined by Mr Fox, complainant said he objected that both the meetings of 22nd November and 6th December were invalid. He meant that neither of these was a legal meeting. He did not object to the resolution of 6th December, neither did he remember objecting to the minutes of the meeting on 22nd November. He would not say he was a thorn in the side of the Secretary and Mr Freeleagus at the time. Under the Companies Act, a person is required to be nominated by the company as public officer of the company. Actually, Mr Hockings is an accountant, and is the company auditor.

Under cross-examination, complainant said that himself, Hill and Darwen were what they considered the board of directors. At the meeting of the board on 27th November, he claimed that the board comprised himself, Hill and Darwen, and that their acts would be valid.

RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE SECRETARY'S SERVICES

On the 27th November a motion was carried - “resolved that Mr E. R. Hockings services as secretary (and otherwise) of the company be dispensed with and his agreement be terminated forthwith, and he be notified by the chairman accordingly.” On the 29th November, two days after, Mr Hockings' services as secretary had not been dispensed with. His services were terminated on Saturday, 29th November, at 12:30 p.m. by notice in writing. At the meeting on the 27th November, a resolution was passed appointing Mr Bentley as acting secretary, but no notice was given him. Later, Mr Hill was appointed as acting secretary. Mr Hill has been keeping minutes of general meetings since then.

At the meeting of the 27th November, it was also resolved that complainant be given authority and power to manage the company's affairs generally. He could not say if the minutes kept by the acting secretary have been lodged at the company's office, and he did not know if there is a book in existence. He had signed minutes kept by Mr Hill in a rough minute book. He did not know whether there was a bound minute book. In his opinion, the rough minute book was not open to inspection by any shareholder or director. It is the secretary's own record. When Mr Darwen asked him for inspection of the minute book kept while he was a director, he refused him.

COMPLAINANT'S AGREEMENT CANCELLED

Complainant said he was the first managing director of the company. Considerable disputes arose and are still in existence between himself and the other directors. A meeting of the other directors carried a resolution cancelling his agreement. He questioned their right to terminate his engagement, but had not taken any court action yet. He considered that Mr Freeleagus had been invalidly appointed as chairman of directors, and complainant later established a rival board. Mr Darwen established this board at complainant's suggestion, and a subsequent meeting of this board appointed him (complainant, Mathieson) managing director at a salary of ₤208 per annum for life.

He stood to lose if the company failed, and could not get any return for the money he expended in the formation of the company. He was paid ₤50 for promotion of the company. He, Darwen and Hill have each only one share in the company. The principal shareholders are the Freeleagus Bros., and they claimed all the additional shares to those already subscribed for.

CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL DISMISSAL

Complainant did not give very unusual appointments to Mr Brook and Mr Hill for the period while he was managing director. Brook and Hill both made claims against the company for wrongful dismissal. Hill has issued a writ in the Supreme Court. The appointments were not referred by complainant to the board of directors before he made them, nor was the board informed of either until after complainant's appointment was terminated. He had information that the Freeleagus Bros. say that they do not recognise his board, while claiming to be the directors themselves. Hill and himself, as directors, voted to pay Brook ₤200 in settlement of his claim. The secretary of the company wrote, disputing liability under that agreement. He intended to pay all claims if they established their positions as directors. The company's money would be used to pay the claims. The Freeleagus Bros. are only shareholders in the company.

The majority of the shareholders at the last two general meetings voted in his favour. They were Hedges (10 shares), Hill and Mrs Hill (1 share each), Brook and Mrs Brook (1 share each), himself (Mathieson) and his wife (1 share each). That was a majority at the meeting.   

“NO VALID DIRECTORS”

The position at the moment (said complainant) is that there are no valid directors of the company. His view was that as a matter of law there were no directors. Re-examined by Mr Charlton, complainant said that Hill and Brook and himself were put to a tremendous amount of work and expense in obtaining a licence to screen pictures, and also a permit to erect a theatre in Nambour. The Freeleagus Bros. mentioned did none of the spade work in connection with the building. They offered to subscribe their capital for one reason, that the lease for the Town Hall cinema was obtained. He had no reason to be vindictive towards Mr Hockings. His fight was against the company. In reply to a question from Mr Fox, complainant said that the lease had been renewed for the Town Hall cinema and they had to put down ₤540 for it. [This would have been a year's rent up front, at ₤45 per month.] Freeleagus's obtained the money. Evidence supporting the complainant was given by Edward Brook, shop assistant.

DEFENDANT'S EVIDENCE

The defendant, Eric Raymond Hockings, said he was the first secretary of Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., and claimed to be secretary still (defendant exhibited a book containing minutes of meetings of members). He thought all the minutes of the general meetings were recorded in that book. It was the official minute book of the company. No general meeting minutes were recorded in any other book but the book exhibited. He had not kept one particular book in which all his notes of proceedings of meetings had been kept. Some were written on loose paper and some were written in a note book. Not all the notes of meetings have been preserved.

The meeting of the 22nd November was a very contentious one and a very important meeting. Immediately after the meeting, Mr McInnes, the company's auditor, in the presence of the chairman, instructed defendant to forward a draft of the minutes for the chairman's approval as soon as they were typed, as it was necessary to have the minutes exact. This meeting was on a Saturday night. The first thing on the Monday morning, he dictated from his rough minutes, as he was leaving Nambour immediately on other business. He instructed the typiste to send the minutes to Mr Christy Freeleagus, the chairman.

Mr Mathieson called in one day during the week and asked defendant to let him see the minutes of the general meetings, particularly the minutes of the meeting of the 22nd November. Defendant said he told him that they had been sent to the chairman. Mr Mathieson asked, “When do you expect them back?” I answered, “They ought to be back any day, but certainly will be back before the next meeting.” Mr Mathieson and Mr Brook came back on Saturday, and when Mr Mathieson asked me if the minutes had come back, I gave him the minute book. The minutes of the 22nd November had not been entered then. Mathieson asked me for my rough notebook (said defendant), and I refused to give it to him. Defendant said he did not remember saying, “You cannot have them until the next meeting.”

At that time, said defendant, he did not have in his possession any book containing the minutes of the meeting of the 22nd November. A few typed sheets of what were to be submitted as minutes of the meeting did come back. As soon as he was summonsed, defendant endeavoured to get the minutes back, and he did nothing to delay them in any way. When the minutes came back (defendant said) he notified complainant's solicitor, and Mr Mathieson inspected them in his (defendant's) office.

They were brought forward for confirmation at the subsequent meeting, at which complainant was present. Complainant did not ask that they be altered in any way, or dispute their correctness at that meeting. Complainant said that, as the meeting had not been properly called, it was unlawful and that any transactions thereat would be invalid. He (complainant) raised no objection to the correctness of those minutes. Defendant said his office is still the registered office of the company. No minute of a general meeting conducted by a Mr Hill as acting secretary had ever been left at his (defendant's) office.

To Mr Charlton, defendant said he knew Section 131 of the Companies Act, and that books containing records of meetings of the company are to be available to shareholders during office hours. He thought he was bound to take instructions from Mr Christy Freeleagus as chairman of directors, and was not bound to take instructions from the whole board. Defendant further stated that when he sent the minutes of the meeting of the 22nd November to Brisbane, he did not keep a copy. The only record he had of the deliberations of the 22nd November and the 6th December were the rough notes taken at the meeting of the 22nd November. His rough notebook is in the Supreme Court.

Defendant said he did not think the minutes were altered very materially - a slight alteration in form perhaps. He could not swear that the part marked with a double cross was not in his rough minute book, or that it is in the rough minute book. He always wrote the resolutions in the rough minute book to the best of his ability. When Mathieson came in on the first day, he did not seem to be in a hurry to get them, and I did not think (said defendant) he would take any action. After the matter had been before the court on the 4th December, the minutes arrived next day.

Defendant said complainant was not telling the truth when he said defendant had refused him the minutes. He (defendant) did not remember telling Mathieson that the minutes were not minutes until they had been confirmed. He (defendant) was not satisfied on that point. The minutes of one meeting are brought before the next meeting, and if any member or anybody present thinks they are not a correct record of the minutes of the previous meeting, he asks that the minute be altered in that respect. The minute is then altered to agree with the majority of members and initialled by the chairman. He had not heard of the procedure whereby it was stated that certain particulars in the minutes of the preceding meeting were incorrect, and a resolution carried, altering such minutes. A minute book, to be of any use, must be complete. A shareholder in the company has his rights under the Companies Act, and the remedy is under Section 131, i.e. if they are wilfully withheld.

Defendant further stated that on the 28th November, he refused to give the book with rough notes to Mathieson, stating that it was his (defendant's) property. When the summons was received, he took the book to Mr Fox. Re-examined by Mr Fox, defendant said that Mathieson sat with the Freeleagus Brothers as directors for several months.

What can be learned (or assumed) from the above exchanges? There are a few points:

1.    There appear to be not many shareholders in the Company Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd.

2.    Most of the shareholders except the Freeleagus Brothers had very tiny holdings - including Mr Mathieson (1 share, and another held by his wife).

3.    The Freeleagus Brothers (probably Denes and Christy, though others could have been involved as well), had by far the largest holdings, possibly in excess of 2000 shares or more. Denes Freeleagus was a Nambour resident, and ran the Wembley Café in Chadwick Chambers for many years.

4,    As a major shareholder, Mr Christy Freeleagus was appointed Chairman of the Board. He lived in Brisbane, and was the Greek Consul.

5.    The Company was run by Mr Mathieson as Managing Director, and after a few months he found he did not get on either with Secretary Eric Hockings or the Freeleagus Brothers. He became 'a thorn in their side.'

6.    As Chairman, Mr Christy Freeleagus had his own Board, including Secretary Hockings. This gave him control of the Company, understandable as his family had put up most of the money once the Savoy Syndicate had been organised..

7.     Managing Director Mathieson wanted to retain control of the Company that he had built up, so he also had his own Board, with Messrs. Hill, Darwen and Brook, who had helped in setting up the Syndicate and in gaining the picture licence. He felt justified in doing this, as he had done all the 'spade work' in getting the Syndicate and then the Company established.

8.    The Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd., therefore had two rival Boards of Directors. One would have to go. This was probably the topic that was so contentious at the board meeting of 22nd November 1941. It was probably also the basis of the conflict between the Syndicate and the Company. The Savoy Theatre had only been operating for six months.

9.    Though a “modern picture theatre” had been talked about when the Syndicate was tendering for the Town Hall cinema licence, the Freeleagus Brothers had no intention at that stage of putting their money into such a thing - all they wanted was to obtain the Town Hall licence and run the cinema in the Maroochy Shire Hall auditorium. This objective had been achieved.

The atmosphere at the Nambour Savoy Pictures Ltd. remained tense, but there could be only one outcome. Mr Stuart P. Mathieson had remained the Manager of Nambour's Penney's Department Store during the whole saga of the Savoy so far, but in May 1942 he was transferred to become the Inspector of Chain Stores in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales. He therefore was obliged to leave the district within a few months of losing the above court case.  {22-5-1942, p.1} {17-7-1942, p.1}

This left the Savoy Picture Theatre in the hands of Mr Christy Freeleagus and his board. With Mr Mathieson gone, a member of his erstwhile 'board', Mr Darwen, was invited to join Mr Freeleagus' board. Almost at the same time, Eric Hockings announced that he also was leaving Nambour and moving to Dalby. Many people were sorry to see Mr and Mrs Hockings depart, and farewell parties were held for him and his family at the residences of solicitor Mr E. B. Fox and Mr and Mrs H. Handley. The Red Cross Bridge Club organised a farewell function in honour of Mrs Hockings at the Friendly Societies' Hall on 12th June. Denes Freeleagus put on a farewell dinner at the Wembley Café on 16th June which was attended by 25 people. Mr Hockings opened business in Dalby as a public accountant, and remained a resident there until his death in March 1957. Both Mr Mathieson and Mr Hockings and their families had moved away from Nambour by July 1942. {19-6-1942, p.5} {22-3-1957, p.7}

The trouble was not over yet. In November 1942 a writ was served on the Maroochy Shire Council out of the Supreme Court, Brisbane, damages being 'sought by [the] Nambour Savoy Syndicate' (Mr Mathieson's 'board'). The plaintiffs were Stuart Phelan Mathieson, business manager; James William Mathieson, motor engineer; Leonard William Hill, on active military service; Edward Brook, shop assistant; Carl Tome, garage proprietor; and Aimee Harvey, widow. The defendant was the Maroochy Shire Council, through its solicitor Mr R. D. Charlton. The plaintiffs' claim was for:

1. A declaration that the plaintiffs were entitled to the grant of a lease of certain premises known as the Maroochy Shire Hall picture theatre for a term of ten years;

2. specific performance of a contract in writing made by and between the plaintiffs and the defendant, whereby the defendant accepted the tender of the plaintiffs for a lease of such theatre;

3. damages for the failure of the defendant to carry out the contract aforesaid;

4. an injunction restraining the defendant or its servants or agents from granting or executing any lease of the aforesaid premises, other than to the plaintiffs.

As an alternative, the plaintiffs' claim was for monetary damages in lieu of specific performance for the breach by the defendant of such contract. Mr Charlton notified the Council at their November meeting that he was entering an Appearance in this matter. No action was taken by the Council, and the outcome of the matter was not reported. War records reveal that 34-year-old Stuart Mathieson had returned to his hometown of Sydney and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) on 30th September 1942, two months before the writ found its way to the Shire Council. Flight Lieutenant Mathieson came home safely after the war in 1947, having completed five years' service, but as far as the writer knows, he never returned to Nambour.  {6-11-1942, p.5} {27-11-1942, p.1}
 

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Though the Savoy Company had been riven with conflict, the Savoy Theatre itself flourished, showing popular movies to packed houses. With the Diggers' Hall having become a furniture store and then requisitioned by the Army, and no other cinema in the town, the people relied on the Savoy to provide entertainment that would allow them to forget the horrors of the war that was now coming ominously close to home, with bombs being dropped on Darwin and Townsville.  {20-2-1942, p.9} {27-2-1942, p.2}

By October 1942, the Savoy Company decided that their Town Hall cinema needed 800 new seats, so a deputation of directors, Messrs C. Freeleagus, D. Freeleagus and W. Darwen went to the Shire Council. They tried a little horse-trading, saying that they would provide the new seats, if the Council would increase their lease from ten to twenty years. The Council was agreeable to increased seating accommodation being provided at the cost of the Company, but refused to extend the lease, saying that the correct procedures had to be followed, and the lease would need to go to tender after the ten years were up.  {30-10-1942, p.1}

Mr Christy Freeleagus remained chairman of the board of the Savoy Theatre until after 1946.  {15-3-1946, p.5}

A disaster to the Savoy was narrowly averted on the evening of 5th July 1943. A local man, Mr W. Hitchins was heading home after working late, and was in the vicinity of the Maroochy Shire Hall at about 6.30 pm. Looking up as he passed by, he noticed wisps of smoke coming from the ventilators on the Hall's roof. After trying the doors and finding them locked, he ran to Mr Freeleagus, whom he knew was a director of the cinema. Mr Freeleagus obtained the Hall keys from the wife of the Savoy's manager, Mr Coroneo, and they opened the doors, to be confronted by a thick pall of smoke. A small number of upholstered chairs in the auditorium were burning.

Some passing soldiers rushed to offer assistance, and also some boys from the Nambour Rural School who were waiting at the adjacent station for their train home. A bucket brigade was organised, and the fire promptly put out. The smouldering frames of the chairs were taken outside to a laneway, and further drenched with water. Some of the flooring was charred, but not burnt through. The cinema had a 'no smoking' policy, and the management discounted the suggestion that the fire could have been caused by an unextinguished cigarette butt. They said that patrons generally respected the rules. Also, the Hall cleaners had been working there that afternoon, and had not noticed any smoke nor smell of burning. Another theory brought forward was that rats could have caused the fire by bringing in a box of matches, and then managing to ignite it. This was known to have occurred previously, and the increasing 'rat menace at the Town Hall' was common knowledge. After a hectic rush to clean up the mess, the cinema opened for business the same night as the fire, at the normal time of 7.45 pm. In a letter to the newspaper, Mr Hitchins offered the opinion that 'if the fire had been left ten minutes longer, it might have been beyond control.'  {9-7-1943, p.1}  {16-7-1943, p.5}

By the beginning of 1945 World War II was nearing its end and the Army began to withdraw its personnel from Nambour. A few officers remained, overseeing the Italian P.O.W.s who had been hired by the Shire Council and the Moreton Central Sugar Mill to dismantle the Mapleton Tramway that had been closed that January. At the war's end, the Diggers' Hall, still owned by the Nambour Savoy Pictures Limited, came back into public use as a venue for live entertainment, as there was no other hall of comparable size in the town that was free for such use. Here are some of the functions that were held there in the last few months of 1945:

a Grand Concert for the Showground Improvement Appeal (the grounds had suffered through being occupied by the Army during the war) {24-8-1945, p.4}, boxing bouts {24-8-1945, p.4}, a recital by the Queensland State String Quartet {14-9-1945, p.4}, the Fourth Victory Loan Concert {12-10-1945, p.4}, an oration by Miss Bella Weiner of the Australian Communist Party {19-10-1945, p.4}, a Social & Dance to welcome home returned prisoners of war {26-10-1945, p.4}, the Nambour Men's Concert of 1945 {2-11-1945, p.5}, and the Nambour High School Speech Night {14-12-1945, p.1}.

26 debutantes were presented to Lt. Colonel G. F. R. Nicklin (in uniform, centre background, later to become Premier of Queensland) and Mrs A. Whitecross at a Victory Ball at the Diggers' Hall, 11th April 1946.
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

The Nambour Amateur Theatrical Society (NATS) on stage at the Diggers' Hall, 1946.
Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

OPPOSITION TO THE SAVOY - ANOTHER PICTURE EXHIBITOR MAKES HIS APPROACH

By September of 1945, the Savoy had been operating successfully for a little over four years. Peace had finally returned to the world, and on the 25th of that month, the Maroochy Shire Council received a letter from S. A. McCorkell of Esk, applying for a licence to screen pictures at Nambour. The applicant said that if the licence were granted, it was the intention to erect a modern theatre and plant. The Council held over any decision on this for a month, to allow the Savoy Company time to provide a response. This action by Mr McCorkell was to have major implications for the picture-going public in Nambour, and especially for the Savoy. The next chapter in this saga is recounted here. {28-9-1945, p.1}  

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