Enfield Savoy Theatre
{{Short description|Former theatre and cinema in Sydney}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox venue
|name = Enfield Savoy Theatre
|image =
|caption =
|address = 306–308 Liverpool Road, {{NSWcity|Enfield}}
|city = Sydney, New South Wales
|pushpin_map = Australia Sydney
|country = Australia
|designation =
|coordinates = {{coord|-33.88686|151.09290|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
|architect = Clifford M. Chard, Lewis Kaberry, George Newton Kenworthy
|owner =
|capacity = {{formatnum:1878}}
|type =
|opened = {{Start date|1927|11|16|df=y}}
|yearsactive =
|rebuilt =
|closed = {{End date|1960|01|09|df=y}}
|othernames = {{unbulleted list|Enfield Cinema|Hoyts Savoy Theatre|Enfield Savoy}}
|production =
|currentuse = Hardware store
|website = {{URL|https://strathfieldheritage.org/recreation-and-shops/enfield-savoy-cinema/}}
}}
The Enfield Savoy Theatre (previously the Enfield Cinema; subsequently the Hoyts Savoy Theatre; also known as the Enfield Savoy) was a theatre and cinema located at 306-308 Liverpool Road, {{NSWcity|Enfield}}, a suburb in the inner west region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The building now functions as a hardware store.
History
Designed by the architectural firm Kaberry and Chard,{{cite web|title=Enfield Savoy Cinema|url=https://strathfieldheritage.org/recreation-and-shops/enfield-savoy-cinema/|website=Strathfield Heritage|accessdate=12 February 2018|date=15 August 2010}} the theatre was opened on 16 November 1927, with a seating capacity of 1,878.{{cite web|last1=Roe|first1=Ken|title=Hoyts Savoy Theatre in Sydney, AU – Cinema Treasures|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35280#|website=cinematreasures.org|accessdate=12 February 2018}} In 1928 Enfield Council valued the building at A£17,000.
In 1930 there was an armed hold up at the theatre.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126204629 |title=SHOTS FIRED. |newspaper=The Maitland Daily Mercury |issue=18,534 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 September 1930 |accessdate=13 February 2018 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} In 1932, Western Suburbs Cinemas Ltd, a company which also operated the Strathfield Melba and Homebush Theatre in Sydney's western suburbs took over management of the Enfield Savoy.
The theatre was redesigned in the Art Deco style in 1938.{{cite web|title=Savoy Cinema/Quality House/Whitewood Warehouse/Poliak Building Supply Co. – Enfield, NSW|url=https://pastlivesofthenearfuture.com/2012/03/21/savoy-cinemawhitewood-warehousepoliak-building-supply-co-enfield-nsw/|website=Past/Lives of the Near Future|accessdate=12 February 2018|date=20 March 2012}} The façade and interior were rebuilt under guidance of architect G N Kentworthy who also designed Cremorne Orpheum Theatre and a Christie organ was added and was opened by organist Dennis Palmistra. The instrument was originally installed in the Hoyts De Luxe Theatre, Melbourne, then the Hoyts Plaza Theatre, Sydney. The cinema was renamed the Savoy and reopened by the Mayor of Enfield in July 1938.
In 1944 Western Suburbs Cinemas Ltd was taken over by Hoyts resulting in a name change to the Hoyts Savoy Theatre.
The last film shown at the cinema was Some Like It Hot in 1960.
It was converted into a carpet & furniture shop in 1981, and continues today as a plumbing & bathroom company.{{Cite web|title=Hoyts Savoy Theatre|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35280|access-date=23 July 2020|website=cinema treasures}}
Later years
After the cinema closed, the building had various retail uses including Shoppers World (1960), carpet and furniture store (1981), Quality House, Whitewood Warehouse, and the Poliak Building Supply Company.
A campaign in 2017 to list the building on the local heritage register was unsuccessful.{{cite web|last1=McKee|first1=Jillian|title=Two iconic theatres miss out on heritage listing|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/two-iconic-theatres-miss-out-on-heritage-listing/news-story/c756b3c076fac7843ff24195d29eec68|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 July 2017|accessdate=12 February 2018}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Citation | author1=Cork, Kevin J. | title=A history of the cinemas of Burwood Municipality | publication-date=1989 | publisher=K. J. Cork | edition=Rev. ed., and repr | isbn=978-0-9592753-2-2 }}
- {{cite book |work=Department of NSW Valuer-General |title=Valuation List: Assessment 991 |date=1 October 1928 |publisher=Government of New South Wales }}