The Savoy Picture Theatre on the corner of Sandgate Road and Wagner Road, Clayfield opened in about 1920. This theatre replaced the open-air theatre operated by Sidney Cook as Cook’s Open Air Theatre on the corner of Wagner Road and Vine Street, Clayfield which operated from 1917 to 1920.
The Savoy Theatre was situated in the perfect location on the edge of the Clayfield shopping centre, just south of the tram terminus, and was also open air and operated by Sidney Cook. It was built with a rendered brick facade forming the entry, and low level walls surrounding the remaining three sides. The facade featured posters advertising coming movies. Patrons in canvas deck chairs watched silent movies which were produced using the old hand-cranked “Dog Beater” projector. The theatre was later purchased by Mr Munro who had a roof added.
The Brisbane Courier of 17 October 1922 reported on the first public concert to be transmitted by wireless in Queensland, saying that the concert held on the previous evening in the theatre was a fundraiser for the Eagle Junction State School organised by G Kitson with W Finney, President of the Queensland Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia and his helpers overseeing the broadcast. Scholars from Eagle Junction State School and visiting artists contributed to the program. E J Ward of the Brisbane Newspaper Co Ltd was in the audience.
The theatre was re-modelled in 1928 becoming the largest and most modern suburban cinema holding nearly 2000 people; it was opened by the Mayor, W A Jolly on 19 June 1928. Whole families were known to go to the Savoy together for their entertainment with some having permanent bookings. During this time the Savoy maintained its popularity with bookings actually needed for Saturday nights. The ushers wore evening dress (black suit and bow tie) and it has been said that for the general public “it was a collar and tie job”.
By the 1960s the Savoy, like many other cinemas, had lost its popularity due to the advent of television, and it finally closed. The Clayfield Ten-pin Bowling complex opened on the same site in 1969. This survived until 1996 when Clayfield College purchased the building. On 31 May 1997 the Clayfield College Physical Education Centre was opened on the site. For the safety of students, a tunnel was constructed under Sandgate Road for direct access from the school grounds. The Centre provides international standard basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton courts, as well as areas for competitive gymnastics, aerobics and weights training.
Above content is from the Archives of the Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc. situated behind the Nundah Library (off Bage Street, Nundah) and open Tuesday 10am to 3pm, Thursday 12 noon to 4pm and Saturday 9am to 11.30am, phone 3189 9466 and 0472 733 630, email nundahhistorical@gmail.com .
