Plaza, Northcote

405 High Street, Northcote, VIC 3070 A research project involving the Plaza Theatre, Northcote, Victoria (1934-1960). An attempt to answer a very important question regarding the venue, as well as rediscovering people, films and factors involved with the Plaza. "Why did the Plaza change its entertainment mediums multiple times, and did this contribute to the venue’s eventual decline and closing?" I hope you find this page enlightening and informative. It was quite something to do this kind of research, and I hope it shows. - Michelle Theodoulou, Deakin University.

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The Plaza as it was. Unknown date.

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Ludbrook Owen Menck

Owner of the Plaza from its opening (1934) until closing (1960).

Menck was already an established individual in the horse racing world when he opened the Plaza in 1934. His horse Colonus would eventually win the 1942 Melbourne Cup.

Colonus No 19 leading the 1942 Melbourne Cup Field as it passes the stand for the first time.

Source: Kingston Historical Website

Speculation by CinemaRecord suggests that Menck may have acquired the Plaza to discourage the Hoyts monogamy forming in Northcote, particularly from the three theatres in Northcote already held by Hoyts.

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Alex Roy Harwood

A significant manager of the Plaza, spanning from 1941-1952. Harwood is notably a person who changed the entertainment mediums from its initial picture screenings to its well respected variety shows.

Harwood was also an independent producer and film maker, spanning a few low budget films such as The Man Who Forgot (1927) and Night Club (1952). His attempt at making Australia's first talking feature resulted in Out of the Shadows (1931).

Night Club had a private preview in Coburg (December 1952) and 'minor releases' before it disappeared at the end of that year. Did the 'minor releases' include the Plaza? This is a question I have not been able to answer with absolute certainty.

The above from The Argus, 25 October 1952, p14.

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Love Letters (1945), shown at the Plaza in 1946.

Poster for the film. Source: home.hiwway.net

Love Letters, as advertised to screen at the Plaza in The Argus, 22nd June 1946. The film starred Jennifer Jones, and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Jones.

A fan made tribute for Love Letters, which includes scenes from the film and the theme music. The film was also shown at The Mayfair Cinema in Gardenvale.

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The Argus, 27th February, 1950.

Makes reference to Joff Ellen and his comedic antics being 'familiar' and 'overworked'. One is able to conclude from preceding newspapers that Ellen was a regular performer at the Plaza.

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Joff Ellen and Rosie Burgess' stage relationship

Their relationship began in at the Plaza, Northcote during the 1950s, Burgess (1920-2005) meeting regular Ellen (1915-1999). (Source: Rosie Burgess' obituary)

Joff Ellen & Rosie Burgess - "In Melbourne Tonight" 1996. The two reflect on their relationship in this short clip. Though there is no mention of the Plaza, knowing these two met at the Plaza and maintained their relationship for a long span of time is enough.

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Toni Lamond (1932-)

Worked at the Plaza as a soubrette (which she defined as being 'everything'; singing, dancing, helping with the sketches and the acts. Lamond's parents were well acclaimed vaudeville performers.

Source: Talking Heads interview with Peter Thompson

Lamond also played a role in Spotswood, otherwise known as The Efficiency Expert (1992).

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Attempted robbery, actors targeted.

On January 1st 1950, while some actors were on stage performing ('Hello, 1950'), two thieves broke into the dressing rooms. The thieves were caught as the actors came off the stage, and the actors gave chase. 

Margaret Buckley, Plaza regular, allegedy grappled with one of the thieves but was overpowered.

Max Blake, former commando of the New Zealand Army, managed to catch one of the thieves and hold him until the police arrived on the scene.

Reported in The Argus and The West Australian on January 2nd, 1950.

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Tram works on High Street in 1956

Original article in The Argus (23 August 1956, page 8). Also makes reference to Alfons Klimek, former lessee of the Plaza; as well as 800 pounds' worth of restoration to the venue in 1954.

Implies that the redirected traffic due to High Street tram works led to poor business at the Plaza, and Klimek's bankruptcy as a result.

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The Plaza closing

The Plaza was not definitively closed until the 1960s. It was opened and closed multiple times, showing Italian films. After a visit from the Health Department in June 1960, owner Menck informed the Department a year later that the venue had been sold.

According to the CAARP database, one of the last films to be shown was Cavaliere Del Sogno (Gaetano Donizetti), which is included below.

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Conclusions about the Plaza...

Considering all information I have come across, the Plaza was against the odds, as the CinemaRecord issue emphasises.

The venue itself failed to establish an overall identity through its run, though it did gain a reputation for suburban vaudeville and variety comedy shows.

The tram track works in High Street in the 1950s, the general decline of cinema as television was introduced Australia in the late 1950s and the perhaps repetitive nature of certain genre shows may have led The Plaza to eventually close and be sold.

The venue was also in disrepair, according to CinemaRecord. Ludbrook Owen Menck died a few years after the Plaza was closed and sold.

Harwood's decision to change the Plaza from cinema to variety was a very daring move, but perhaps a smart one. Northcote had a few cinemas within five kilometre radius; The Westgarth, Circle Preston, the Northcote Theatre less than 400 metres south of the Plaza. The decision to change was most likely an attempt to distinguish the Plaza from other entertainment venues.

Who knows? If the Plaza had stayed with cinema, it may have followed a route like the Croydon Cinema, which stayed with traditional film projectors and cinema entertainment - and is currently still running.

The Mayfair Cinema also closed around 1960. The researcher reasons that the arrival of television may have been a factor for the Mayfair's restriction on cinema entertainment. I agree; television's arrival at the time would have resulted in more inclination to stay indoors.

Television's arrival, combined with the tram works in 1956 (which temporarily and presumably slowed business for the Plaza) and perhaps rehashed variety shows led to the Plaza's downfall.

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The Plaza Northcote (as of 6th May, 2012). Separated into shops (now disused), and recently sold to be converted into an apartment block.

The outer shell and structure of the theatre still remains.