The story
of the blyth cinema
The Blyth Cinema was established in May 2005 in Blyth (Pop. 400) by a local community group to bring a city quality cinematic experience to residents and visitors of the Clare Valley region and beyond (target population 8,000).
Investment was made in the highest quality 5.1 dolby surround sound (Tannoy speakers) and a newly installed NEC DCI compliant projector (the equivalent of city cinemas), and we purchased acoustic curtaining, constructed an angled floor and new toilets. A new candy bar provides treats, complete with popcorn, ice creams & more!
Quality seating was purchased for 110 persons. The room is 12 metres long by 9 metres wide. Screen width is 5.4 metres. The building is fully air-conditioned.
Movies are normally screened every Friday and Saturday evenings & school holiday matinees, but we are happy to cater for group bookings at other times (eg on a week day or week night). The cinema needs 2-3 weeks notice to arrange for a requested movie to be sent from the distributor.
The Cinema has had about 70,000 persons through in its first 11 years. Approx. 27 volunteers man the screenings on a roster system. The Cinema has had many groups through, from Probus, Rotary Car & Seniors Clubs to schools and general interest groups.
The local Blyth Community Hall can supply a morning tea of a quality that only country cooks can provide, or groups can book for lunch at the Blyth Hotel before or after a movie.
This is one of the few Cinemas in Australia, perhaps the only one, where your group can choose the time you’d like to see a movie on the big screen, and you can even suggest the movie you’d like to see.
In 2007, the Cinema took out the inaugural Emu Award for “having a go”, awarded from applicants in a region stretching from Brinkworth to Virginia in South Australia.
In 2008, the Cinema was named the Westpac Community Idol 2008. From hundreds of entrants Australia wide the Cinema was selected in the final three. Ian Roberts (the Cinema Chair) travelled to the Communities in Control conference in Melbourne on 16 and 17 June and presented a 10 minute talk and slide show in front of the 1500 delegates to give the Cinema’s story. After voting by the delegates the Cinema was announced as the 2008 Idol winner.