Copyright 2014/2022 -
The Victory / National Theatre, St Kilda
The Victory Theatre 20 Carlisle St. St Kilda.
Opened as a cinema on 18/04/1921 and described as the 2nd largest cinema (~3000 seats) in Melbourne.
By the late 1920s, it was owned by a consortium which included Frank Thring Snr. (Efftee Films).
In 1928, the Victory closed for extensive alterations, which included the raising of the roof and the addition of a dress circle. Surprisingly, this work was carried out in only a few weeks. (Architect: Cedric Ballantyne)
In 1971, the then owners, Hoyts Ltd sold it to the National Theatre Movement. It was then converted into a school & theatre but retained the auditorium's ornate features. The stalls were eliminated, new studios and stage, orchestra pit & fly tower were constructed.
Two Hoyts signs were adapted to read "National Theatre" (one subsequently destroyed in storm in the 1990s).
It was reopened as "The National" 7/9/1974 by National Theatre Company. The huge "Victory" sign which had surmounted the ridge of the roof was removed in the 1974 conversion.
Images copyright CATHS Archive and CTA