coloured brochures 750 outstanding musicians 130 extraordinary concerts 35 magical venues including: Melbourne town hall assembly hall athenauem theatre 1 athenauem theatre 2 Basement discs baptist church Cathedral room-ANZ Gothic Bank the melbourne club rauquet courts melbourne town hall council chambers miettas lounge gold vaults old treasury building 101 collins Street Scots Church 333 collins street capitol cinema city square kay croddocks antiquarian book shop gallery 101 melbourne town hall reception area mitre tavern novetel on collins micheals brasssere JJclark room 120 collins street reserve bank foyer the bzw colins street grand music promenade, athenaeum theatre one, the australian art orchestra, athenaeum theater two, the aspern papers, that, geoffrey tozer piano, roger woodward piano, nathan waks cello, stephen mcinytre piano, rita reichman piano

Transcript: Athenaeum building celebrates 170 years Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 11/11/2009 Reporter: Lisa Whitehead Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth. Transcript KERRY O’BRIEN, PRESENTER: Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne's Athenaeum building has, in one form or another, provided education and entertainment. For the Victorian colonies it became a city and along the way documented its growth. The building's original library and theatre still draw devotees and as Lisa Whitehead reports, a loyal band of volunteers. KEVIN QUIGLEY, ATHENAEUM PRESIDENT: There's nothing like us that has been here from day one, four years after the boat pushed ashore, here we are. It's a thread that runs through the life of Melbourne. LISA WHITEHEAD, REPORTER: In the heart of Melbourne's CBD, the Athenaeum is a celebrity in disguise, the oldest cultural icon in the city, but barely noticed. MARJORIE DALVEAN, VOLUNTEER HISTORIAN: People of Melbourne walk past this area and they have no idea what it is. RAY LAWLER, PLAYWRIGHT: It seemed to me to be a place that absolutely, or breathes Melbourne, I suppose, culture. LISA WHITEHEAD: Just four years after Melbourne was founded, the colony built a Mechanic's Institution, one of the first in the world, a place where the working class could meet and learn. KEVIN QUIGLEY: People think of it as Wild West sort of place where these hearty types drank and rushed about, but Melbourne was freely settled. It was a city of people who wanted to better themselves - entrepreneurs. And the Mechanic's Institution was that innovative idea that had grown up in Edinburgh and London about providing an opportunity for education for the working people. LISA WHITEHEAD: Mark Twain lectured there. Later, other buildings were added and a theatre to host classic plays. And it adopted its more bourgeois friendly title of the Athenaeum. Crucially from the start there was the library, the first to offer affordable lending to the working man. And it still attracts devotees. Former University lecturer Margaret Bowman, 89, comes in every Wednesday, along with her dog to join an enthusiastic band of volunteers sorting through the archives. MARGARET BOWMAN, FORMER UNIVERSITY LECTURER: Doing research is something that I find actually I enjoy more than anything. Every old lady needs to have a project and now I've got a project. MARJORIE DALVEAN: Margaret, Christine has just found out that Alfred Deakin was a member here from 1874 to 1877. This place is not flashy, we've never been flashy. But book lovers walk in here and they know this is the place for them. ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Old times and old names. The Athenaeum theatre in Melbourne for more than 40 years has been one of the city's best known cinemas. LISA WHITEHEAD: In the 20th century, the theatre surrendered to the new craze of talking pictures, and one particular fan was famous Australian playwright Ray Lawler. At 13, he dropped out of school to work in a Footscray factory and two years later his first trip to the glamorous Athenaeum cinema hinted at the education he was missing. RAY LAWLER: It just had a style about it which I responded to, I think. I was looking for something and this seemed to be part of it. Ray Lawler went on to write "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" and found literary fame overseas. About a century after it had started as an educational place for the working man, Ray Lawler had, in effect, become an Athenaeum graduate. RAL LAWLER: If they had been looking for the sort of person that they were hoping to encourage along the way, I suppose I would have been somebody that might have fitted the mould, you know. LISA WHITEHEAD: In time, the cinema was returned to its theatrical roots. FRANK THRING, 1977: It has a great resemblance to the Theatre Royal in Hobart which Larry Olivier has called the best theatre he's ever worked in. And it's almost identical. It is the true Victorian playhouse. The horseshoe shaped thing: stalls, dress circle and gallery. And you're close to the audience and they're close to you. Marvellous feeling. LISA WHITEHEAD: Today, it's still a theatre. But time has brought compromises. The once vaunted art gallery has now covered its windows and become a comedy club and performance space. TV and suburban life have eaten away at the library membership. It offers an online service now, and a recent federal government grant will pay for the upkeep of its gracious interior, including the 1930s elevator Ray Lawler used to ride. For him, it's money well spent on history quietly made and discreetly observed. RAY LAWLER: It's the lack of awareness, I think, that people don't know what they've got here. They've really got the whole history of Melbourne almost. KEVIN QUIGLEY: It was a similar organisation in Sydney but we are the only one that's got a continual lineage on the same spot. We started here and we're still here and we'll be here for another 100 years. KERRY O'BRIEN: Lisa Whitehead on a great Melbourne landmark. © 2010 ABC | Privacy Policy Beginning as the Melbourne Mechanics' Institution in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum has a long history that reflects the cultural and social development of Melbourne. It continues to be managed as a not-for-profit organisation by a volunteer board, with a subscription library (maintained since 1839) and a leased theatre.Video broadcast ABC 7:30 Report for 11/11/2009. "Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth."athenaeum, australian broadcasting corporation, kerry o’brien, kevin quigley, lisa whitehead, marjorie dalvean, ray lawler, margaret bowman, frank thring.

Copy of broadside held by the National Library of AustraliaMany music concerts were performed at the Melbourne Athenaeum. This one featured the pupils of Mr W.R Furlong, assisted by other artists.Copy of paper program for a concert performed at the Athenaeum Hall Thursday October 19 1876.athenaeum theatre, program, programme, furlong, f.l. king, madame v pett, miss nellie pett, miss bessie gledhill, chilperic, 1876

''The comedy is said to give an interesting picture of the Jazz age and the cafe life indulged in by the sons and daughters of the New York fast set.'' (extract from program notes) The Program includes an advertisement for a fashion Salon in the Athenaeum building at 186 Collins Street. The Program is for one of the few plays performed at the Athenaeum before it was converted for films Paper program for a comedy performed at the Athenaeum Theatre Saturday May 8 1926; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the play, the actors and advertisementsathenaeum theatre, program, the best people, frank talbot pty ltd, e j carroll, david gray, avery hopwood

The program states: "The University of Melbourne presents the Melbourne Theatre Company in The Merchant of Venice". The play completes the Melbourne Theatre Company's Season 24, Part one, of performances at the Athenaeum Theatre, The Melbourne Theatre company was also performing at the Russell Street Theatre (at the Melbourne University. ). While MTC was waiting for its purpose-built playhouse at Southbank to be completed, performances were held at the Athenaeum and popular with subscribers. Program notes state that the company thanks everyone for their support "during Part 1 of the Season, during which attendances were higher than at any other time in our Company's history". The Artistic Director for this season was Ray Lawler, author of the Doll Trilogy which was later performed at the Athenaeum Theatre. The play was directed by John Sumner who would have appreciated the acoustics of the 'intimate theatre".Paper program; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the play and the actors.melbourne theatre company, the merchant of venice, william shakespeare, john sumner, jonathan hardy

One of the well-known Aldwych farces original performed by Tom Walls' company at the Aldwych Theatre in London in the 1930sPaper programa cuckoo in the nest, athenaeum theatre, melbourbe theatre company, ben travers

Guest director Michael Blakemore from LondonPaper programmourning becomes electra: part one, athenaeum theatre, melbourne theatre company, eugene o'neill, michael blakemore

Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company, production by the Marian St Theatre. The play was written by the playwright Tom Kempinski for his wife the actress Frances De La Tour and has been produced in London, New York and Europe. It details how a violinist crippled by multiple sclerosis adjusts. Paper program :good conditionduet for one, athenaeum theatre, program, melbourne theatre company, tom kempinski

No program available therefore the article gives details of the show held at Athenaeum Theatre Large Newspaper article fifteen rounds with gorgeous george, melbourne theatre company, tim robertson

newsletter produced by Greg Hocking and Tim Woods currently showing were dags the hot bagels pathfinder one for the money a night of infectiousblack and white advertisementpiaf, universal theatre, program, programme, jeannie lewis

The one-man show was presented by Glenn Elston, Greg Hocking and Tim Woods starring Tom Barlow's one-man show.The performance was part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival for 1990.black ,pink and white coloured program in good conditionmy army, program, theatre de complicite, melbourne fringe festival, tim barlow, athenaeum theatre two

The flyer has the play Ricordi printed on one side and an advertisement for My Army on the other. It was also performed as part of the Melbourne Fringe arts festival.1 small posterricordi, athenaeum theatre, program, melbourne fringe arts festival, doppio teatro company, teresa crea

One of the first sound films starring Maurice Chevalier ''besides the nine principle character characters, forty one actors and actresses speak and Folies Bergeres sequences show a chorus and belle of sixty''. (extract from Sun News pictorial 1929,Although no program is held, the advertisement indicates the film was shown at the Athenaeum Newspaper advertisement innocents of paris, athenaeum theatre, paramount, maurice chevalier

Presented by Rick McKenna and Mary Tobin 'Due to unprecedented demand one final show'black and white photocopied flyerrick mckenna, mary tobin, athenaeum theatre, wendy harmer, richard stubbs, maryanne fahey, raymond j. bartholomeuz

Performed for the Ewa Czajor trust fund benefit for women theatre directors. The program is undated but the year of the performance was probably 1988. Small black and white flyerone night forever, kate ceberano, tracey harvey, amanda testro, con marasco, raymond j bartholomeusz, hot bagels, jean kittson, lynda gibson, mark little, mandy salomon, george kapiniaris, handspan theatre, ewa czajor trust fund, athenaeum theatre

Concerts were held at ten venues in Collins street grand music promenade venues:Baptist Church, St Michaels, ANZ Cathedral Room, 101 Collins Street, Kay Craddock bookshop, Georges Dining Room, Scot's Church, 161 Collins Street, the gold vaults of the Old Treasury Building. Note: It was recorded in the secretary's diary that concerts associated with the Collins Street Grand Music Promenade were held at the Melbourne Athenaeum Theatre all day on Sunday the 6th of November. This festival was organised by Greg Hocking and Peter Marks.Black and white postcard flyer Folder also contains a newspaper article, a venue program, folded poster and various letters of correspondence. One day on a magnificent street with: Roger Woodward, Geoffrey Tozer, Joan Carden, Melbourne String Quartet, Rita Reichman, Australian String Quartet, Elizabeth Campbell, Micheal Kieran Harvey,Rebecca Chambers, Merlyn Quaife, Helen Noonan, Jeannie Marsh, Margaret Haggart, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Douglas Lawrence, Spiros Rantos, Academy of Melbourne, Geofrey Paine, Brett Kelly, Haydn Chamber Orchestra, The Victorian Chorale, Faye Dumont Singers, David Berlin, Elizabeth Anderson and more ...the collins street grand music promenade, melbourne athenaem theatre

Coloured poster athenaeum theatre, vic trevino jnr, steve micheals, gino monopoli, elvis:american triology

Silk programs, at that time, were only produced for a very prestigious night at the theatre. Historical note: The town of Gisborne was named after one of the members of the first committee of the Mechanics’ Institution (renamed in 1872 to Melbourne Athenaeum), formed in November 1839. His full name was Henry Fyshe Gisborne 1813-1841. The program, crafted of printed silk with a silk fringe all around the four edges is unique in the program collection. The program reveals an interesting fund-raising entertainment held at the Melbourne Athenaeum theatre in 1884. As the theatre was available for hire by everyone in the Melbourne community, over the course of its history it was hired by a large variety of theatrical performers, political groups, sporting and arts groups, in addition to fundraising groups, as found here. Proceeds of this concert were donated to the Melbourne-based Sick Children’s Hospital and the Upper Macedon Episcopalian Church – an unusual combination of charities. The Mount Macedon area became a popular place for holiday- makers from Melbourne in the 1870s and many professional people built holiday retreats with beautiful gardens in the area. The development of the area created a further need for places of worship. The names of the people taking part numbered over 70, several having the same family names as those listed as members of the Melbourne Athenaeum at that time but there is no proof that the people involved with the performance were subscribers to the Melbourne Athenaeum. At the time the Athenaeum hall consisted of a large flat space requiring chairs to be placed in lines, with hand-written alphabetical signs to indicate the rows and individually numbered chairs. The hall seated 900 patrons. When the hall was used for balls, banquets and exhibitions all the chairs were removed and stored under the stage and in a room at the side of the hall. The layout of the hall can be seen in this photograph from the archives, taken in the early 1900s. This fringed, silk program was produced for a concert held on 9-10 October 1884 under the patronage of the Governor Sir H Brougham Loch at the Athenaeum Hall in aid of the Convalescent Fund of the [Melbourne] Sick Children’s Hospital and the Episcopalian Church of Upper Macedon. The evening of light entertainment comprised eleven solo musical performances and thirteen tableaux, some humorous, referencing biblical and classical themes from plays, paintings and operasm enhanced with painted scenery and a multitude of costumes.melbourne athenauem hall, the sick children's hostipal, episcopalian church

A rare program from the time when films were shown at the Athenaeum Theatre while Frank Talbot leased the theatre. The program has a managerial announcement from Talbot announcing the new policy: "under which the theatre will be devoted exclusively to English and Australian pictures". The company supplying the British films was called British Dominion Films Ltd. Talbot also stated: "It will be part of the managerial policy to screen such Australian films as may be available". The films were preceded by "The Herald" news reel and "The Daily Dozen at the Zoo". The theatre orchestra, playing before and during interval was conducted by Mr J Kost. The music included "Tales of Vienna Woods by Johann Strauss and selections from Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance". The program represents a time when films were shown at the Athenaeum Theatre. Records indicate that graphic entertainments started with magic lantern slides in the 1890s and continued with silent movies. The first full-feature film shown in Australia was "The Story of the Kelly Gang" in 1906 at the Athenaeum Theatre and the first talkie to be shown in Victoria, "The Jazz Singer" shown in 1928. Later when Hoyts took over the lease, Cinemascope films were exhibited completing a history of film shown at this one theatre. paper program; 10 pages; coloured front page.