When cinemas were in their heyday, thousands would attend the Saturday night screenings, so some of the original cinema buildings were like palaces in the centre of town. Many of them were pulled down or converted to other uses with the advent of television in the 1950s and 60s. But Victoria still has a good few vintage cinemas showing films even today. Vintage Victoria will include also buildings converted to multiplexes or old buildings now used as cinemas even if that wasn’t the original purpose of the venue. Some have been gutted and only retain the vintage façade; others retain wonderful original features inside. If you have a cinema nearby that you think fits the bill and I haven’t been there yet, get in touch. And if you have memories of seeing films there as a youth, tell your story, remind us of the film, and let us share the romance.
Cameo Cinema, Belgrave
The Cameo Cinema Belgrave may have had a complete facelift in the 1980s but the current owners really play to the connections back to when the cinema first opened in 1935.
Centre Cinema, Horsham – previously Horsham Theatre
Past performers at the Horsham Theatre include Nellie Melba and George Bernard Shaw. This 1926 cinema is now merged with the even older Mechanics Institute next door.
Capitol Cinema, Warrnambool
An enormous fire destroyed the cinema which stood on this spot in 1929. The building they replaced it with still stands today as the Capitol Cinema, though it opened as the Warrnambool Theatre.
Peninsula Cinema – Sorrento – aka Athenaeum Theatre
The 1894 frontage of Sorrento's Athenaeum Hall still stands today. Much of the interior is modern but the main cinema retains several original features
Lido Cinema – Hawthorn
Another vintage cinema in Melbourne's suburbs, with a modern look in 2020, but still some original features from the 1912 building, like the tiled staircase with ironwork banisters
Classic Cinema, Elsternwick
Films were first shown in Elsternwick Theatre in 1911. The Classic Elsternwick mixes old and new to keep up the tradition. Also hosts the Jewish International Film Festival
Astor Theatre, St Kilda
This art deco brick palace opened its doors in 1936. It is one of the last remaining vintage cinemas still showing film on a single screen. Shows old classics and new releases.
Geelong Theatre – aka Village Cinemas Geelong
Thank goodness they uncovered the beautiful 1913 facade of the old Geelong Theatre - now Village Cinemas. Lovely retro tiling on the foyer floor, too.
Plaza Theatre – Kyabram
The Plaza Theatre in Kyabram first opened its doors in 1929 at a time when the annual Bachelors' Ball was as important to the cinema as the weekly movie on screen
Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Another palatial 1920s cinema in the heart of Melbourne, the Forum Theatre only occasionally shows films these days, but when it opened as the State Theatre had 3000+ seats for cinema-goers
Capitol Theatre – Melbourne
Lighting was key to making the Capitol Theatre unique when it opened in 1924 so it's fitting that The Capitol still has fantastic lighting after its recent refurb. Great venue for MIFF.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
The Theatre Royal in Castlemaine first opened its doors at the height of the 1850s goldrush, with the art deco facade of today's cinema a 1930s innovation
Balwyn Theatre
Another palatial art deco cinema in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn. Opened in 1930, and still showing a great mix of films today.
Rex Theatre, Charlton
This classic 1938 vintage cinema in Charlton still shows films three times a week, as it did when it first opened. And it survived the 2011 floods in the town.
Sun Theatre – Yarraville
This 1938 vintage cinema in Yarraville still towers over what was once a heavily industrialised - now gentrified - part of Melbourne. Beautiful art deco.
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
The Regent Theatre in Collins St has been reborn a few times, after fire in 1945 and then a remodel in 1993, with lots of design features based on the original 1929 building.
Rivoli Cinemas, Camberwell
The Rivoli Theatre in Camberwell is a superb 1940 palace with lots of original features and still showing a great range of movies to this day.
Westgarth Theatre, Northcote
Westgarth Theatre in Northcote has been showing films since 1921. Now a multiplex, but a fantastic facade & lots of original features inside too. Great arthouse programme, too.
Star Cinema, Eaglehawk
Boutique cinema full of sofas in the same venue as they first showed films over 100 years ago. Lovely place to see films in Eaglehawk near Bendigo.
Paramount Theatre – Maryborough
The new owners of the Paramount Theatre in Maryborough have kept the fantastic 1920s frontage with the old Coffee Palace next door. Great to have a cinema in Maryborough again.
Astor Cinema, Ararat
The Astor Cinema in Ararat opened 80 years ago in 1938 and is still going today. They bring a cup of tea to your seat if you are running late for the film. Shame they don't make more of their history.
Regent Theatre, Ballarat
The Regent Theatre is the loveliest cinema in Ballarat, right in the city centre. The multiplex today has kept many features from the original 1920s movie theatre, with arthouse & mainstream programme
Cameo Cinema, Belgrave
The Cameo Cinema Belgrave may have had a complete facelift in the 1980s but the current owners really play to the connections back to when the cinema first opened in 1935.
Centre Cinema, Horsham – previously Horsham Theatre
Past performers at the Horsham Theatre include Nellie Melba and George Bernard Shaw. This 1926 cinema is now merged with the even older Mechanics Institute next door.
Capitol Cinema, Warrnambool
An enormous fire destroyed the cinema which stood on this spot in 1929. The building they replaced it with still stands today as the Capitol Cinema, though it opened as the Warrnambool Theatre.
Peninsula Cinema – Sorrento – aka Athenaeum Theatre
The 1894 frontage of Sorrento's Athenaeum Hall still stands today. Much of the interior is modern but the main cinema retains several original features
Lido Cinema – Hawthorn
Another vintage cinema in Melbourne's suburbs, with a modern look in 2020, but still some original features from the 1912 building, like the tiled staircase with ironwork banisters
Classic Cinema, Elsternwick
Films were first shown in Elsternwick Theatre in 1911. The Classic Elsternwick mixes old and new to keep up the tradition. Also hosts the Jewish International Film Festival
Astor Theatre, St Kilda
This art deco brick palace opened its doors in 1936. It is one of the last remaining vintage cinemas still showing film on a single screen. Shows old classics and new releases.
Geelong Theatre – aka Village Cinemas Geelong
Thank goodness they uncovered the beautiful 1913 facade of the old Geelong Theatre - now Village Cinemas. Lovely retro tiling on the foyer floor, too.
Plaza Theatre – Kyabram
The Plaza Theatre in Kyabram first opened its doors in 1929 at a time when the annual Bachelors' Ball was as important to the cinema as the weekly movie on screen
Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Another palatial 1920s cinema in the heart of Melbourne, the Forum Theatre only occasionally shows films these days, but when it opened as the State Theatre had 3000+ seats for cinema-goers
Capitol Theatre – Melbourne
Lighting was key to making the Capitol Theatre unique when it opened in 1924 so it's fitting that The Capitol still has fantastic lighting after its recent refurb. Great venue for MIFF.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
The Theatre Royal in Castlemaine first opened its doors at the height of the 1850s goldrush, with the art deco facade of today's cinema a 1930s innovation
Balwyn Theatre
Another palatial art deco cinema in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn. Opened in 1930, and still showing a great mix of films today.
Rex Theatre, Charlton
This classic 1938 vintage cinema in Charlton still shows films three times a week, as it did when it first opened. And it survived the 2011 floods in the town.
Sun Theatre – Yarraville
This 1938 vintage cinema in Yarraville still towers over what was once a heavily industrialised - now gentrified - part of Melbourne. Beautiful art deco.
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
The Regent Theatre in Collins St has been reborn a few times, after fire in 1945 and then a remodel in 1993, with lots of design features based on the original 1929 building.
Rivoli Cinemas, Camberwell
The Rivoli Theatre in Camberwell is a superb 1940 palace with lots of original features and still showing a great range of movies to this day.
Westgarth Theatre, Northcote
Westgarth Theatre in Northcote has been showing films since 1921. Now a multiplex, but a fantastic facade & lots of original features inside too. Great arthouse programme, too.
Star Cinema, Eaglehawk
Boutique cinema full of sofas in the same venue as they first showed films over 100 years ago. Lovely place to see films in Eaglehawk near Bendigo.
Paramount Theatre – Maryborough
The new owners of the Paramount Theatre in Maryborough have kept the fantastic 1920s frontage with the old Coffee Palace next door. Great to have a cinema in Maryborough again.
Astor Cinema, Ararat
The Astor Cinema in Ararat opened 80 years ago in 1938 and is still going today. They bring a cup of tea to your seat if you are running late for the film. Shame they don't make more of their history.
Regent Theatre, Ballarat
The Regent Theatre is the loveliest cinema in Ballarat, right in the city centre. The multiplex today has kept many features from the original 1920s movie theatre, with arthouse & mainstream programme