Apollo Theatre

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Apollo Theatre

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Venue	Apollo Theatre
Other Names	Douglas Theatre Brennan's Amphitheatre Palace Theatre
Address	20 - 30 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Notes	On the Site of Douglas Theatre built in 1860, destroyed by fire in 1911. Current building opened in 1912 as Brennan's (National) Amphitheatre. Renamed Palace Theatre from 1916. Alterations in 1934 after which it was called the Apollo Theatre. Later renamed Palace Theatre.
Related Venues	Also known as Metro Theatre Also known as Palace Theatre Also known as The Metro
Map
Latitude \| Longitude	-37.811383 \| 144.972241
Events	Date Contributor Organisation
	Chinese Play, 4 May 1940 War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 The Admirable Crichton, 1939 Outward Bound, 1939 Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Around the World, 12 January 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934
	Ernest C Rolls Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Around the World, 12 January 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 The National Theatre Drama School War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 Outward Bound, 1939 The Admirable Crichton, 1939 The National Theatre Movement of Australia War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 The Admirable Crichton, 1939 Outward Bound, 1939 Desiree and Montigue Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Ben and John Fuller Limited Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 National Theatre Opera School War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 Roche and Roche The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 The Munro Brothers The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 The National Theatre Ballet School War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 Young Australia League Around the World, 12 January 1935 Young Australia League Band Around the World, 12 January 1935
	Ernest C Rolls - Book and Lyrics Librettist, Composer, Devisor, Producer, Writer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Around the World, 12 January 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Buddy Roberts - Actor, Choreographer, Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Robert Capron - Actor, Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Keith Connolly - Actor, Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Maurice Guttridge - Conductor, Musical Arranger, Musical Director Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 George Moon - Actor, Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Jack O'Hagan - Book and Lyrics Librettist, Composer, Lyricist Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Around the World, 12 January 1935 William Perryman - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 William P Carr - Director, Production Coordinator War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 The Admirable Crichton, 1939 Outward Bound, 1939 Marie Doran - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Leal Douglas - Actor, Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Erica Huppert - Costume Designer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Gertrude Johnson - Administrator War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 The Admirable Crichton, 1939 Outward Bound, 1939 Alec Kellaway - Actor, Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Jan Kowsky - Choreographer, Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Cis Roberts - Actor, Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Joan Scardon - Costume Designer, Set Designer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Reg Tapley - Actor, Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Eve Alwyn - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Florenz Ames - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Chic Arnold - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Richard Barrett-Lennard - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 John Brown - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Nancye Cocking - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 George Cohan - Book and Lyrics Librettist The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Joan de Beere - Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Jane Douglas - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Gus Franks - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Rene Maxwell - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Sydney Montigue - Choreographer, Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Serge Moros - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Muriel Petty - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Edna Riley - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Norman Tremayne - Actor, Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Kiera Tuson - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Harvey Adams - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Lester Allen - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 J C Bancks - Playwright Around the World, 12 January 1935 J M Barrie - Writer The Admirable Crichton, 1939 Jennie Benson - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Gus Bluett - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Marjorie Bray - Choreographer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Nellie Breen - Choreographer, Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Marie Bremner - Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Jennie Brenan - Ballet Master/Mistress War Fundraiser 1, 5 March 1940 Ian Burgis - Dancer Around the World, 12 January 1935 B W Caten - Musical Director Around the World, 12 January 1935 Colin Croft - Actor Around the World, 12 January 1935 Shirley Dale - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Fred Findlay - Set Designer Around the World, 12 January 1935 Mabel Gibson - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Rosie Goldberg - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 John Leigh Gray - Writer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Bob Greaves - Comedian Around the World, 12 January 1935 Don Harding - Costume Designer Around the World, 12 January 1935 Dorothy Hutchison - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Les Kearey - Comedian Around the World, 12 January 1935 J Alan Kenyon - Set Designer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Billy Kerr - Actor Around the World, 12 January 1935 Charles King - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Chas King - Performer, Stage Manager The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Les King - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Douglas Mann - Singer Around the World, 12 January 1935 Bert Matthews - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Doreen May - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Marjorie McLeod - Director Outward Bound, 1939 Harry Meade - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 John Moore - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Pat Nelson - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 George Nichols - Comedian Around the World, 12 January 1935 William O'Neal - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Thea Philips - Performer Vogues of 1935, 1 June 1935 Rosa Pinkerton - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Roy Rene - Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Renie Riano - Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Julie Russell - Performer The Merry Malones, 26 December 1934 Charles Stanton - Conductor Around the World, 12 January 1935 Ethelind Terry - Performer Flame of Desire, 19 October 1935 Sutton Vane - Writer Outward Bound, 1939 Joyce Walker - Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935 Polly Walker - Actor The Merry Malones, 23 June 1934 Strella Wilson - Performer Rhapsodies of 1935, 2 February 1935
Resources	Ross Thorne, Palace Theatre Melbourne, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 422-423 Theatre in Bourke Street, opened 6 April 1912 as Brennan's Amphitheatre, seating c.2000. Renamed National Amphitheatre 1912. Redesigned by Henry E. White and reopened 4 November 1916 as Palace Theatre, seating 1700. Interior redecorated by White 1923. Became cinema as Apollo Theatre c.1929. Redecorated and renamed St James Theatre, November 1940. Renamed Metro Theatre. Returned to live musical theatre in early 1970s. Renamed Palace Theatre 1973. Became church. Metro Nightclub in late 1980s When Brennan's Amphitheatre opened on Easter Saturday 1912 the auditorium was a plain white room with a single rake of seating with a 'balcony' at the rear. The theatre 'could seat 2000 people any night they care to pay the price of admission', said the Bulletin on 2 May. “The cost of the land and the building is set down at £32 000 and none of the money was wasted on interior decoration.’ Fullers’ obtained a controlling interest in the Brennan Vaudeville Circuit shortly after the theatre opened and renamed it the National Amphitheatre. In 1916 Fullers' employed their architect, Henry E. White, to redesign the interior as a three-level auditorium, similar to theatres he had designed or redesigned for them in Sydney (the Adelphi), Brisbane (the Tivoli) and Wellington, New Zealand. Renamed the Palace Theatre, it opened for vaudeville, revue and musicals but became the home of Fullers' melodrama companies. In 1923 Fullers' commissioned White to redesign the plaster decoration of the auditorium in the more elegant Adam style he had just used in the nearby Princess Theatre. With the onset of the Great Depression Fullers' turned their theatres over to talking pictures. The Palace became the Apollo Theatre. Snider and Dean showed films there from March 1936 until 1940, when Fullers' Theatres renamed it the St James Theatre. Then Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought the theatre and renamed it the Metro. Under this name it briefly returned to live performance with the rock musical Hair. A new owner renamed it the Palace Theatre in 1973. In 1978 it was bought by a revivalist Christian organisation, which moved out in 1986. Then it was turned into a technologically elaborate disco nightclub, still with White's 1923 interior decor. Article: Ross Thorne, Palace Theatre Melbourne, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 422-423
Data Set	AusStage
Venue Identifier	10703

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