The two films screened were produced by the British company Gaumont-British Dominions. Frank Talbot, who leased the Athenaeum Theatre, made an agreement in 1932 with the British company to show British movies exclusively at the Athenaeum Theatre, the first agreement of this kind to be made in the world. Paper program for two films shown at the Athenaeum Theatre commencing Friday 3rd December 1937athenaeum theatre, program, programme, the interrupted honeymoon, doctor syn, frank talbot pty ltd, british dominions films ltd, cecil parkes' strad trio, australian movietone news reel, gaumont british news reel, athenaeum theatre, program, programme, the interrupted honeymoon, doctor syn, frank talbot pty ltd, british dominions films ltd, cecil parkes' strad trio, australian movietone news reel, gaumont british news reel

Paper program for a film screened at the Athenaeum Theatre commencing 3rd October 1941; Pp. 16, (including wrappers and advertisements), printed in brown; printed yellow paper wrappers, stapled, faintly creased, dated by hand in ink at head of upper wrapper; pages browned; Programme for screening at the Athenaeum Theatre of the film Major Barbara, starring Wendy Hiller & Rex Harrison, commencing October 3, 1941. athenaeum theatre, program, programme, major barbara, frank talbot pty ltd, british dominions films ltd, cecil parkes' strad trio

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.

The two films screened were produced by the British company Gaumont-British Dominions. Frank Talbot, who leased the Athenaeum Theatre, made an agreement in 1932 with the British company to show British movies exclusively at the Athenaeum Theatre, the first agreement of this kind to be made in the world. The film "The Mikado" is presented with the D'Oyley Carte Opera Company chorus.The souvenir program has a generic cover, featuring an advertisement for "Cholerton's School of Motoring" instead of the name of the film, as found on previous programs. This may have been the result of wartime economies. The evening of entertainment, typical for the time, commenced with an overture from Cecil Parkes Strad Trio followed by Fox Movietone News and the first film, "Sword of Honour". After interval the Cecil Parkes Trio again played, a Gaumont-British newsreel was screened and then the main feature "The Mikado" was screened. In 1939, when the Athenaeum Library was open until 10 pm, Library members could change their library books during the interval, between films, Monday to Saturday.Paper program for a film screened at the Athenaeum Theatre September 1939; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the film, the actors and advertisementsathenaeum theatre, program, programme, gaumont-british dominion films, cecil parkes strad trio, the mikado, sword of honour, frank talbot, d'oyley carte

The play was produced by EJ Carroll at the Athenaeum Theatre, the Australian premiere. The play enjoyed a long and successful run with Frank Bradley setting a record by performing as leading man for forty weeks. Frank Talbot had leased the Athenaeum Hall for several years before negotiating with the Melbourne Athenaeum board members to renovate the hall into a modern theatre. The work was completed in 1923. The theatre became a well-known venue for plays but later, as movies became popular a biograph box was constructed to house movie projectors. The theatre manager, Frank Talbot, who leased the theatre from the Melbourne Athenaeum, signed an agreement with British Dominion Films in 1932, to show only British movies. Hoyts Theatres took over the lease in 1955 and later the Melbourne Theatre Company performed in the theatre, bringing live performances back to the theatre for several years. Programs of the early performances of plays are a reminder of the original purpose of the theatre. The theatre management continues to feature live performances.Photocopy of a program held at the Museum of Performing Arts athenaeum theatre, program, the sport of kings, racing comedy, frank talbot pty ltd, e j carroll, ian hay, frank bradley