Identifiernot specifiedPhotographernot specifiedKeywordsOdeonHornsby Cinema HornsbyDescriptionIt was opened in 1912 as an open air theatre then in 1914 it was called Hornsby Picture House and had 653 seats. The building was rebuilt in 1921, reopening as the Hornsby Theatre and again in the 1937 when art-deco was at the forefront of building design. A 540 seat dress circle was added to the 1,080-seats in the stalls giving a total seating capacity of 1,620. In 1971 the stalls seating area was converted into retail use and the former dress circle reopened again as Hornsby Cinema in December 1972. Later the owners, Hornsby Theatres Pty Ltd were taken over by Village Cinemas. In the 1990s it was re-named Odeon Cinema, Hornsby.
Recollections from Clive Leek [Local Colour (1997) Vol.6 No5. p.19] Hornsby Theatre was popular and it was run by Cyril Osborn. All the local kids used to run sticks along the tin wall in William Street. As they got older, they were often employed as ice-cream or lolly boys with their trays and uniforms. The girls were usherettes. The theatre had side doors, two on the right hand side and two on the William Street side. Another door led into William Street from the stairs to the Dress Circle. We would pay to go in and then go down the stairs, open the door and let our friends in for nothing. Also upstairs at the rear there was a manhole and just as the picture was finishing, we would stand on the seats and lift the lid on the manhole. We would climb in and stay there in the ceiling until the next show has started and then drop down. As always I was no angel.Physical FormatHornsby