“Look at this!” Member Duncan Morrison with the star. Photos: Supplied.
FROM JILL GREENHILL, WYNNUM MANLY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.
Three stars were perched on the front façade of the Star Theatre, which once stood in Florence Street, Wynnum. Recently, Glenda McConnell of Redland Bay offered one of those stars to the Wynnum Manly Historical Society. Her father had retrieved the star from the site whilst assisting with the clean-up after the devastating fire in 1959.
Wynnum Manly Ward councillor Alex Givney is able to store the relic at her office until a suitable mounting is available in the small Wynnum Central Park, opposite the former site of the Theatre. Presently, the Coles Wynnum store sits on the site where the Star Theatre was located.
On August 5, 1915, the first day in the life of the Star Theatre, an open-air theatre was opened by William Baker and five others. William Baker provided most of the money. Early theatres were open to the stars, with walls made of galvanized sheeting. Later, the building was enclosed. The floor was composed of chip bark, and chairs were made of canvas. The theatre held 1500 people. The films were silent.
The first proprietor/manager was Bert Mouland, who married William Baker’s daughter, Miss Ida Baker, and their reception was held at the theatre. Bert sold out to Mr Brandon, who sold the theatre to Sam Greene in 1924, when silent movies were becoming talking movies.
Sam replaced the chip bark floor with a wooden one. A crying room was provided for the babies, baby cradles were built between some of the seats, and headphones were installed with volume controls for those hard of hearing. Teddy bears were given away to the young children.
You can view the star in the Wynnum Manly Historical Society Resource Room at Room 1.08, 105 Florence Street, Wynnum.
