JOANNE MCDONALD – 2024 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR
Joanne writes…
We met Jeff Bassen and a few of the local HOYTS projectionists while out exploring the night life of Perth. Jenny and I were offered a position at HOYTS as usherettes at the Paris Cinema, in the Plaza Arcade in March 1978, which we kindly accepted as money was beginning to run a little low. We were given a quick tour of the site and then frocked up in floor length gowns to wear as our uniform, which we thought was very glamorous at the time. When the other experienced usherettes went on a dinner break, Jenny and I could hear a buzzing sound coming from the curtains intermittently in the foyer. We had no idea what it was and continued to do checks inside the auditorium. When the usherettes returned from their breaks, we asked what the buzzing sound was. They were horrified as it was poor Rosemary downstairs in the box office buzzing frantically to be relieved so she could go to the bathroom. Back then you had to wait until after the main feature had started, as usherettes did not sell tickets or handle the money over the counter. I do not think the managers at the time thought we were capable of this task. Poor Rosemary did make it in time that night – just. All the box office ladies back then developed great bladder control. Welcome to HOYTS, usherettes!
From the Paris Cinema, I moved around the HOYTS circuit going to Cinema 1 in City Arcade. I believe Max Reddin oversaw the opening of Cinema 1. I was there when it closed and remember the massive screen which was made up of hundreds of vertical strips to give its curved shape. 70mm films were always spectacular on the screen at Cinema 1. Moving onto Cinema 2 in Wanamba Arcade, which was divided down the middle to become a twin – “Cinema 2 and 3” with 400 seats each. The old, deserted lounge area of the Theatre Royal was next door and eventually became Cinema 4, a 600- seater. During my time at Cinemas 2, 3 and 4, which went onto be known as the HOYTS CENTRE, I was promoted to box office/cashier. Coral Wake, Fran Mappin and Yvonne Blewett were the box office ladies who taught me the ropes.
In 1986, I thought it may be time to move on to something else. I had a couple of weeks off before looking for another job. I was getting ready to go to an interview at another establishment when I received a call from Max Reddin. He did not wish to divulge the job offer he had for me over the phone and wanted me to come into his office at HOYTS CENTRE. I said that I was about to head off to another interview and he could just let me know the offer as I did not want to waste his or my time. After some to-ing and fro-ing, I cancelled my appointment for the other interview immediately. It was around this time that I met my husband to be, Macca. We married in 1990 and have two children Jake and Ella.
I managed HOYTS Centre with a young assistant, Gordon Hough, who Max referred to as Kid Eager. He was going to take on the world. Not sure what ever happened to Kid Eager. We had an array of projectionists there – Norm Carter, Kevin Mifflin, Dave Goddard, Wally Holden just to name a few.
HOYTS took over City Theatres in December 1987 comprising Cinema City, Piccadilly, Perth Centre, and a variety of Drive-Ins. I worked at all the Perth locations, but none of the Drive-Ins. In 1988 I was promoted to Executive Manager based at Cinema City.
Then came the multiplexes. On June 28th 1990, HOYTS 8 Carousel Cannington was opened, adjacent to the shopping centre, with Paul Colreavy at the helm. Paul later moved into the role of Area Manager for the states of WA/SA/QLD. In October 1999 HOYTS 8 Cannington closed to make way for HOYTS Carousel Megaplex opening on the top level of the newly refurbished shopping centre, at that stage the largest shopping centre in WA.
Paul Colreavy had asked me if I would like to be the manager of this new HOYTS Megaplex at Carousel six months prior to opening. The reason for the lead time was that I lived north of the river, and he thought it may take some convincing for me to travel across the border each day! I was happy to take on managing the new shining light of Hoyts WA at Carousel & stayed there for the next 20 plus years.
Throughout my time at Cinema City and Carousel we held a variety of movie premieres, which I was always excited to be a part of and would go the extra mile to ensure our distributors were happy. In 2002 we had the Perth premiere of DIRTY DEEDS through HOYTS Distribution at the time. The theme was set – Holden Premiere car in the foyer, night club entrance to the cinema, one arm bandit slot machines with gangsters greeting guests with sledgehammers in hand, life size stills of all the characters leading from the front entrance through the foyer to the cinema entrance. Bryan Brown, the star of the film, attended the premiere, and wanted to know why Perth was the only cinema displaying these life size banners as he had been touring the country and had not seen them anywhere else before. Probably because I had them made up by a local graphic artist company! I was named the National Hoyts Manager of the year that year, winning a trip to the Movie Convention in Las Vegas. The DIRTY DEEDS premiere may have helped contribute to that award.
I’m now residing at HOYTS Garden City, an oldie but a goody, a little like me! Hopefully, I will see the revamp of HOYTS Garden City in the not-too-distant future. I have met some amazing people over the years. Many started at HOYTS and have gone onto become film distributors, filmmakers, film producers and much more. WA is unique in this industry, and even though our Exhibition competitor is the so-called “enemy”, we always have time for a chat, to share ideas and support each other. I am immensely proud to be a part of the WA cinema industry.
