The team behind Sydney’s beloved Golden Age Cinema & Bar and Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinema, brothers Barrie, Bob and Chris Barton, have taken over the beautiful art deco Lorne Theatre on Victoria’s Surf Coast. Since 1937 the cinema has operated within spitting distance of the beach, screening almost 90 years’ worth of films to locals and holidaygoers, including the Bartons, who spent their childhoods holidaying in the seaside town.
The 550-seat cinema is reopening on December 1 for a pop-up summer season, which will run until Easter, when it closes once again – this time for an extensive renovation under the watch of Heritage Victoria. The renovation will be in a similar vein to what the team achieved at the 1940-built Golden Age Cinema: highlighting its existing historic features, while updating the seating, lighting, acoustics, snacks and programming. A licensed bar will also be installed.
Launching the summer season are two music-focused films: the 4K restoration of the groundbreaking Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, and Mutiny in Heaven, a documentary following the rise, chaos and demise of the Birthday Party, the seminal, notoriously dysfunctional post-punk band led by Nick Cave. The pop-up program also includes Christmas classics such as Home Alone, new releases like Maestro, and a surf series curated by surf and skate publication Monster Children.
Once the heritage-listed cinema reopens post-refurb in late 2024, its programming will hew to the same approach as Golden Age Cinema, under the guidance of Golden Age director of programming Kate Jinx and cinema manager Jessa Shields.
“As a family, some of our fondest summer memories were formed within the walls of the Lorne Theatre,” said Chris Barton in a statement. “It has always been a special place for us and we’re deeply aware of the space this building holds in the hearts of generations of local and visiting movie lovers. This shared personal history with the space is why we jumped at this opportunity. It’s a huge legacy to take on, but it’s one that we’re very excited to uphold and build upon.”
Lorne Theatre reopens for its summer season on December 1.
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