References

• SIGNIFICANT MELBOURNE CITY CINEMAS & THEATRES The Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins St. Melbourne Originally the Mechanics Institute & Hall of Arts (1843). The Athenaeum is one of the oldest public institutions in Victoria, Australia. In October, 1896, the first motion picture to be screened in Australia was shown in the Athanaeum Hall. The Hall became a regular venue for screening films and the premiere of “The Story of the Kelly Gang” (claimed by historians to be the first feature length film), made by the Tait Brothers was at the Athenaeum in 1906. The theatre in its present form was created in 1921. The theatre was the first Australian theatre to screen ‘talkies’, when on 2nd February 1929 “The Jazz Singer” was presented. The Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) leased the theatre from 1976 to 1985 when the lease was taken over by various entrepreneurs who formed AT Management in 1997. In 1924 extensive alterations were undertaken to produce a "Bijou-style" drama theatre with fly-tower stage, stalls, circle & gallery. (Architect Henry E. White). The Athenaeum became Worlds 1st “All British Cinema” (1932-'48). After 40 years as a cinema, live theatre returned in 1970 briefly, reverting again to film till 1977, when it became the Melbourne Theatre Company’s (MTC) home till 1984. Since 2003 it has been the principal home of the Melbourne Opera. The building was added to the Register of Historic Buildings in 1981 and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.