Residents and holidaymakers are concerned the credits might be rolling on one of the Sunshine Coast’s longest-running “old-school” cinema complexes.
Speculation is growing on social media about the fate of Big Screen Cinemas Caloundra, the major tenant of The Strand building on the corner of Bulcock Street and Knox Avenue.
Fans fear a temporary closure, announced last week, may be extended, ending a proud movie history in Caloundra that dates back to the 1930s. Films have been shown in The Strand since its opening in 1980.
The cinema Facebook page notified patrons that due to “unforeseen circumstances”, the complex would be closed for one week from July 22.
But new and upcoming movies no longer appear on the website (www.bigscreencinemas.com.au/caloundra) and no announcement has been made regarding a reopening.
The last screenings of Black Widow, Cruella, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Cranston Academy Monster Zone, Dream Horse, Fast & Furious 9, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and Spirit were held on July 21.
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The Caloundra The Good Old Days – The ’80s Facebook page has drawn plenty of comments since the temporary closure announcement, after Paulie Payne posted that the future of the “Caloundra movies” could be under a cloud.
“A bit sad as a lot of people would remember it being The Strand when it was one cinema. It brings back a lot of memories,” she said.
Also on Facebook, Michelle Foster lamented: “People need to support more of the little guys or more will be gone forever” and Lynne Gehrke declared: “Oh no. I hope this isn’t true. My family absolutely loved going here in our recent holidays”.
Mark Camman has his fingers crossed for the best: “I hope that this is only a temporary COVID-induced closure and that they will bounce back. I would much rather go to a local independent movie cinema than one of the big chains.”
The cinemas have set the scene for countless first dates, birthday celebrations, outings for friends and school fundraising events over the decades. And fond memories of going to the movies in the humble Caloundra picture theatre came flooding back for many commenting on the post.
Lu Weeze wrote: “My Mum worked at the cinema for many years. We were only talking about that the other day. How sad.”
Christine Fenwick added: “Ah. The end of an era. My sister Patricia Fenwick worked at the original one in the Candy Bar under the supervision of Mrs Rosebottom.”
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Nicki Robertson said: “I remember seeing Jaws and King Kong in the sling chairs.”
This from Gary Parsons: “Loved the smell of canvas whilst watching original and still best of Star Wars and also Towering Inferno.”
And from Simon Mason: “We used to put Jaffas on the canvas, then slap where you’d rest your back and see who could hit the screen. As well, roll them down the floor. Later on, when it was a newer cinema, I went with my eldest brother to watch Apocalypse Now when it first came out and the ticket lady said I was too young to watch it and so I had to sit and wait for my brother. After the movie started, she looked at me sitting there and said, ‘Go on, go in and find your brother’. So, I got to see it for free. They were great times back then.”
The site has proudly served the cinema-going public since the 1930s.
The cinemas’ website says the history dates back to a contractor named H.M. Dean who built the Amusu Theatre (pronounced as “amuse you”) for the Page family – known for its Page Furnishing business in Pomona.
Historical records show the movie house name was changed to The Strand in 1937.
“Even then, The Strand was a prominent structure in Bulcock Street and is reputed to have provided only the best movie entertainment in the frontier,” the website says.
“The Strand theatre was demolished in February 1979 to be replaced by a new shopping complex constructed on the same site. The new Strand, with a single screen cinema as its focal point was opened in 1980.
“Big Screen Cinemas was born in the mid-1990s with a major redevelopment of the building creating a modern multiplex theatre.”
Just like novelist Mark Twain’s experience, reports of the Big Screen Cinemas’ demise in the past have been premature.
As he faced a new battle with a new multiplex cinema complex opening at Kawana Shoppingworld, Big Screen Cinemas Caloundra owner Nick Struik dismissed the effect of competition in a 2018 media report, saying “people had been telling him they were going to put him out of business” for years.
At that stage, he said his four cinemas were bringing up to 9000 people a week into the Caloundra CBD and he employed 15-20 staff at any one time, mostly local school-age children or young mums seeking work flexibility.
The cinemas have continued to screen new Hollywood releases and blockbusters weekly and have gained a small but dedicated following for the one-price “$10 tickets all day, every day” commitment.
In recent years, the best of international film festival offerings had garnered a large regular following, often resulting in packed houses.
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However, just like other entertainment avenues, snap lockdowns and the ever-present pandemic threat had negatively impacted ticket sales over the past 18 months.
As well as the newer Event multiplex cinemas at Kawana and Sunshine Plaza to the north, former Caloundra Shopping Centre owner Stockland had plans to redevelop the nearby Bowman Road site to include a six-theatre cinema, tavern and a range of new specialty stores as part of major expansion plans.
But the site was sold to Haben Property Fund – a privately owned Australian property investment and funds management company, based in Edgecliff, NSW – late last year.
Executive director Melissa Kingham said the company was revisiting plans at the moment, with a view to expanding retail only at this stage.
Sunshine Coast News has attempted to contact Big Screen Cinemas for comment.
