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Event Cinemas

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Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd
BCC Cinemas
Cinebuzz Rewards
Event Cinemas
Greater Union
GU Film House
Moonlight Cinema
Rialto Cinemas
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFilm exhibition
Founded1913; 111 years ago (1913) (As Greater Union)
2010; 14 years ago (2010) (As Event Cinemas)
Number of locations
140+
Areas served
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
Revenue
  • Decrease A$410.6 million (2020)
  • A$541 million (2019)
  • Decrease A$-8.672 million (2020)
  • A$70.2 million (2019)
Number of employees
5,000+
ParentEVT Limited
Websitewww.eventcinemas.com.au
Footnotes / references
Annual Reports, 2019, 2020.

Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd,[1] trading as Event Cinemas, Greater Union, GU Film House, Moonlight Cinema and Birch Carroll & Coyle (BCC Cinemas), is the largest movie exhibitor in Australia and New Zealand, with over 140 cinema complexes currently operating worldwide.

The Greater Union Organisation is a subsidiary of EVT Limited (formerly known as Event Hospitality and Entertainment) which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, a corporation that owns and operates brands in the entertainment, hospitality and leisure sectors, mainly within Australasia.[1]

History

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See also: Cinema of Australia

The Event Cinemas cinema chain has had a significant impact on the Australian culture and film industry, and has a history of mergers and acquisitions and liquidations that span over a century.

Early 20th century

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From 1906 to 1911, during the silent era, Australia was the most prolific producer of feature films in the world,[2] a period which included the creation of the first feature-length film The Kelly Gang. This creative and fertile period in Australian film history was largely created by competition between West's Pictures, Spencer's Pictures and Amalgamated Pictures.[3] On 4 May 1912 the three joined to form The General Film Company of Australasia.[4] On 4 January 1913 it then merged with The Greater J.D. Williams Amusement Co and restructured to become The Combine, a famous partnership between the exhibition wing Union Theatres and the production and distribution wing Australasian Films.[citation needed]

The Combine monopoly was highly influential on the early twentieth-century Australian film industry.[2] However, it came under heavy criticism for its low interest in producing Australian films, its preference for imported cinema, and its reluctance to exhibit Australian films by other producers.[5] Film icon and director Raymond Longford, whose independent production company had come under attack by the group,[6] said in 1927 that "had it not been for the activities of that firm in its endeavour to crush it in its infancy, the local picture would now be 10 years at least advanced to the height now attained by the Americans."[5] Historians have traced the sharp decline of the Australian film industry in 1913 to the repercussions of these series of takeovers and mergers.[3][7] James Sabine has said that "the stranglehold of The Combine forced a decline in local production and contributed to many Australian production companies closing their doors."[7]

1930 Cinesound studios and Crew

The Combine continued to grow into the 1920s during the genesis of the Hollywood era with its focus on exhibiting American films. The Great Depression saw Union Theatres being liquidated in 1931 and its assets purchased by newly formed Greater Union Theatres. This new company split from Australasian Films, established the Hollywood-model subsidiary Cinesound Productions, expanded into radio and newspaper, and kept its major focus on building and managing cinemas.[8] Due to The Depression, Greater Union Theatres merged into the General Film Corporation with Hoyts, a competitor who had secured Fox Film as a shareholder. In 1937 Norman Rydge became managing director and removed the company from the previous merger.[citation needed]

1945–present: post-war expansion

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In 1945, the last year of World War II, there was a box office boom and the British Rank Organisation purchased a half share in Greater Union Theatres. During this time Greater Union acquired the rights of ownership of many theatres across the country including what became the Phoenician Club in Broadway, Sydney in 1943, originally owned by McIntyre's Broadway Theatres and established as a cinema in 1911.[citation needed] It acquired the Clifford Theatre Circuit in Adelaide in March 1947. The purchase price of £300,000 for the 22 suburban and regional cinemas was "believed to be the largest motion picture transaction ever made in Australia". The Clifford name was retained as a tribute to the entrepreneur Dan Clifford, and South Australian staff were retained.[9]

In 1958 the four holding companies in the Greater Union Theatres group were merged into the Rydge family Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL), and in 1965 Greater Union Theatres was renamed the Greater Union Organisation (GUO). In 1980 billionaire Alan Rydge was appointed Chairman of AHL to become the youngest chairman of an Australian public company.[10]

In 1971, it merged its assets with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Australian cinema unit, which the company's B.E.F. subsidiary distributing MGM titles until 1973, when distribution that studio's films in Australia was shifted to Cinema International Corporation.[11] In 1976, the company's British Empire Films unit was initially renamed GUO Film Distributors, then six years later, it was renamed to Greater Union Film Distributors.[11]

In 1975, Greater Union bought the old Metro Theatre in Hindley Street, Adelaide, and redeveloped it as a modern four-screen cinema complex, called Hindley Cinemas 1–4.[12] In October 1980, the company bought the building that had once housed the first cinema in Adelaide, West's Olympia, also in Hindley Street. After a time in which rebuilds were made to the cinema, it reopened in December 1982 as Hindley Cinemas 5–6.[13]

In 1984 AHL regained control over the now-defunct Rank Organisation's half share, meaning that it once again became fully Australian-owned. In 1987 GUO merged with Village Roadshow's film distribution unit to form the distribution company Roadshow Film Distributors, and by that time, GUO and Village Roadshow partnered on a $100 million cinema chain that will see 200 circuits expanded by use by 1990.[14][11]

In 1991 GUO acquired Birch, Carroll & Coyle.[citation needed] In the same year, Hindley Cinemas 1–4 and 5–6 closed.[12][13]

21st century

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In 2003 AHL and Village Roadshow combined to form Australian Theatres.[citation needed]

Since 2009 a number of cinemas have been renamed from Greater Union Cinemas to Event Cinemas. On 22 December 2015 AHL was renamed Event Hospitality and Entertainment.[citation needed]

In June 2016 Event Cinemas acquired New Zealand cinema chain Downtown Cinemas.[15]

In 2019, Birch Carroll & Coyle was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of being Australia's leading provincial film distributor and its industry leadership throughout Queensland for 80 years.[16]

Event Cinemas George St (Sydney CBD) is regarded as the company's flagship location.

Locations

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Australia

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Event Cinemas operates venues around Australia, many of which are located in large shopping centres. The cinema complexes comprise multiple screens. The below locations do not include sites that operate under the joint venture between Village Roadshow and Event Hospitality & Entertainment known as Australian Theatres.

Cinema locations in Australia

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

With cinema admissions in decline, Event Cinemas has continued to experience growth by raising the price of admissions and offering "premium experiences" such as "Gold Class" which offers more luxury seating and food, "Vmax" which offers a larger screen, and alternate content including Bollywood films, football, gaming, film festivals, opera and stand-up comedy events.[17][18][19]

The interior of Event Cinemas Whitford, which opened on 21 September 2017

Fiji

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Within Fiji, Damodar Event Cinemas is a joint venture between Village Cinemas, and the Fijian-based Damodar Brothers, who operate the existing two-cinema chain under licence since 2010.[20][21][22] The brand has since changed its name to "Damodar Cinemas".

Cinema locations in Fiji

New Zealand

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Event Cinemas operates cinemas in New Zealand's major urban centres, including the Embassy Theatre in Wellington and Rialto Cinema in Dunedin. Hollywood blockbusters are regularly shown alongside arthouse features and film festivals such as the New Zealand International Film Festival.

Cinema locations in New Zealand

Experiences

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Gold Class

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Gold Class cinemas, a luxury cinema format, is provided at a number of Event Cinemas locations in Australia, New Zealand & Fiji. Gold Class Cinemas include butlered refreshments, à la carte menu offerings and reclining seats in a cinema with a small number of seats. Village Cinemas first originated the concept of Gold Class, and has since popularised with the integration into the Event Group.[23]

All Gold Class Cinemas are operated in separate areas within regular cinema complexes. Event Gold Class branded cinemas are located at:

In Australia:

Gold Class locations in AUS

In Fiji:

Gold Class locations in Fiji

In New Zealand:

Gold Class locations in NZ

V-Max

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V-Max cinemas feature enhanced film display, picture quality, and immersive surround sound. The screens at V-Max used to be a minimum width of 25 meters or greater, however, that was lowered to 20 metres in 2010. V-Max cinemas are placed in large auditoriums which feature larger seats, stadium seating and wider arm-rests. Some locations also feature Dolby Atmos. The V-Max format is also provided at many Event Cinemas sites in Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed]

V-Max Cinemas are usually separate from the normal cinema complexes, like the Gold Class. There are certain locations that has Dolby Atmos surround sound included in their V-Max cinemas (brackets indicating). V-Max Cinema locations include:

In Australia:

V-Max locations in AUS

In New Zealand:

V-Max locations in NZ

IMAX with Laser

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IMAX with Laser uses precision lasers a sharper brighter images.[citation needed] This technology is currently available at Event Cinemas Auckland (Queen St), Event Cinemas Queensgate (Wellington) and IMAX Sydney[24][25]

Digital 3D

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GUO converted most of their Australian auditoriums and flagship cinemas to digital projectors. The installation of these projectors means that most auditoriums are now RealD Cinema 3D capable.[citation needed] Albany, Queen St Auckland, St Lukes, Henderson West City, Mt Wellington Sylvia Park, Broadway Newmarket, Glenfield Mall on level 5 Entertainment, Manukau Amersham Way, Highland Park, John Goulter Mangere, New Lynn and Crosstown Lakewood Court.

4DX

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In late 2018, the first 4DX screen owned by the Event Group was opened in George Street (Sydney CBD). 4DX stimulates all five senses, featuring moving seats and special effects including wind, fog, water and scents that synchronise with the action on screen.[citation needed]

Boutique

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EVENT Boutique cinemas feature recliners with footrest, and in-cinema food-and-drink service. Guests have access to the Boutique Cinema 30 minutes prior to their session. Boutique is currently available at Event Cinemas George St (Sydney CBD).[citation needed]

ScreenX

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On August 15, 2023, Event Cinemas announced that ScreenX would come to Australia for the first time. It opened at Event Cinemas Robina on the 17th of August. It later opened at Event Cinemas Campbelltown later that year on 14 December (in time for the Australian release of Wonka).[citation needed]

Moonlight Cinema

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Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor seasonal exhibitor that operates in most Australian metropolitan areas. Moonlight was acquired by EVENT in 2010 from Prime Media Group for $1.75million.[26] The division continues to grow and has signed 3 new venue contracts since its acquisition, and currently operates in:

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Victoria

Western Australia

In addition, each venue offers 'Gold Grass' a luxurious outdoor-cinema experience, similar to the offerings of Event Cinemas' 'Gold Class'.

Cinebuzz Rewards

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All cinema brands trading under EVENT, including Greater Union and BCC cinemas, share the benefits of a Loyalty program the Cinebuzz Rewards Program. Free for members, the program grants access to advance screenings, ticket discounts, access to the Cinebuzz video-on-demand platform,[27] and one free movie ticket for every six movies viewed at EVENT. The program is aimed at encouraging brand loyalty and recognising VIP Customers and currently has over 3 million members in Australia.[citation needed]

Controversy

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The exhibition and production company that became Event Cinemas has been widely criticised as the cause of the downfall of early Australian film, which was argued to be the best in the world at the time.[3][7]

In 2005, Event Cinemas banned people from bringing their own food and drink into the cinema. After negative public reaction and a threat of investigation by NSW Fair Trading, the company was forced to revoke the rule. People complained that Event Cinema's food was more than double the price of that in supermarkets and had less variety.[28][29][30][31]

In 2012, Australian journalist Tim Burrowes attended a screening of Skyfall at an Event Cinema. There were various technical difficulties which resulted in the audience being asked to leave and a manager threatening Burrowes for filming the crowd's reactions.[32]

In the lead up to the 2016 Australian Federal Election, Chairman Alan Rydge was reported to have donated to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's controversial political fund the Wentworth Forum.[33][34][35]

There have been numerous incidents of faulty popcorn machines causing fires to break out in Event Cinemas complexes, including Top Ryde in 2011, Adelaide and Rockhampton in September 2015, Perth in December 2015, and Sydney in August 2016.[36][37][38][39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Terms – Event Cinemas".
  2. ^ a b "AMALGAMATED PICTURES, LIMITED. – Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1930) – 12 Apr 1914". Trove. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "The first wave of Australian feature film production: From early promise to fading hopes" (PDF). Australian Film Commission Archive. Screen Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. ^ "AMALGAMATED PICTURES, LIMITED. – Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1930) – 12 Apr 1914". Trove. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b "FILM". Trove. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. ^ Mayer, Geoff; Beattie, Keith (1 January 2007). The Cinema of Australia and New Zealand. Wallflower Press. ISBN 9781904764960.
  7. ^ a b c "Chronology 1910s on ASO – Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  8. ^ "CAARP: Cinema and Audience Research Project". caarp.edu.au. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Cinema circuit brings £300,000". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 11 March 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Alan Ridge: Australian billionaire and business prodigy". Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Groves, Don (2010). AHL: 100 Years of Entertainment. Amalgamated Holdings Ltd. ISBN 9780958946612.
  12. ^ a b "Hindley Cinemas 1–4 in Adelaide, AU". Cinema Treasures. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b "ASO Grainger Studio". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  14. ^ "$A100-Mil Pricetag On Roadshow/GU Venture". Variety. 19 August 1987. p. 41.
  15. ^ Mitchell, Paul (1 December 2016). "Behind the scenes changes at Downtown Cinema". Stuff. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  16. ^ "2019 Hall of Fame". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. State Library of Queensland. 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  17. ^ Quinn, Karl (10 July 2014). "A cinema ticket in Australia can cost up to $40. Here's why". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Event Hospitality & Entertainment Limited: Financial Results for the half year ended 31 December 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Alternate Content".
  20. ^ "AHL buys into Damodar". Fiji Times. 9 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Damodar Brothers". MyFijiGuide.com. 25 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  22. ^ "New Shopping Centre to open in Suva". Indian Newslink. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  23. ^ "Lexus Elevates the Gold Class Experience Across Australia With Presenting Partnership". Lexus. 21 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Event Cinemas locations". Event Cinemas. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Event Cinemas AU IMAX".
  26. ^ "Amalgamated acquires Moonlight Cinema". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Event Cinemas - Adding Value to Membership Programs with VOD". www.shift72.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Cinema chain pulls food ban". ABC News. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  29. ^ "Cinema Chain Scraps Snack Ban". findlaw.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Greater Union food ban is incredible, say moviegoers – National – www.smh.com.au". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  31. ^ Kidman, Angus (29 August 2012). "Ask LH: Can Cinemas Stop Me Bringing My Own Food To The Movies?". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  32. ^ "Skyfail: How Event Cinemas kicked 700 people out of the Bond movie and threatened to have me arrested – Mumbrella". 26 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  33. ^ McColl, Gina (19 June 2016). "New expose of Libs exploiting donations loopholes ensares Turnbull". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  34. ^ Thomson, James (14 July 2009). "Rich entrepreneurs flock to support Malcolm Turnbull – SmartCompany". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Money and Influence". ABC's Four Corners. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  36. ^ "Popcorn machine causes SA cinema fire". NewsComAu. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  37. ^ "Cinemas evacuated after popcorn machine catches on fire". Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  38. ^ "Cinema evacuated after popcorn fire". NewsComAu. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  39. ^ "Popcorn machine fire forces evacuation of Parramatta cinema". ABC News. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
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