This theatre is f…ing amazing

Quentin Tarantino – 2016

We arrived in Sydney in September 2014 so this year will mark the 10th Anniversary of our first visit to the best cinema in the world – the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne. This is our love letter to it.

Opening it’s doors in 1935 as a theatre that could screen films and live cast musicals it has played host to the Australian Ballet at one time as well as screening all the classic films. Like most of the old time theatres it fell into decline throughout the middle of the 20th century before it was saved in the 1980s by Michael Walsh OBE (One of the theatres inside is named after him) and returned to its former glory. Mike has done this on numerous occasions, reviving and bringing back to life cinemas in Avalon, Collaroy, Richmond (VIC) and Melbourne and should be regarded as one of the patrons of Australian cinema.

The restoration has certainly worked as walking through the doors immediately transports you back to that bygone era. Decorative rooms, art deco everywhere and the old fashioned usher uniforms creating the perfect atmosphere in the foyers and halls. Then you get into the theatres themselves. Red velvet cinema seats, grand curtained screens and each theatre having it’s own personality. The Arcadia has the green and gold of the Australian Olympics team and bas reliefs of sprinter Matt Shirvington. The Lounge has kept most of the original decor of the former ballroom that it now occupies while corner theatre The Hayden has an elaborate entrance.

The main Orpheum Theatre is quite magical and it’s always a pleasant surprise when a feature is on in it – there is literally no bad seat in the house. Under the stage of the main screen is a fully working Wurlitzer organ. The organ itself was shipped over from Fresno in California. Here is a video of resident musician Neil Jensen performing on it.

A hidden gem in the cinema can be found in the hallway linking both entrances on Parraween Street and Military Road. Every actor, director and moviemaker that has visited the cinema is included in a fantastic gallery. It’s a veritable whose who of Australian and International Cinema and includes a signed picture of Australian James Bond George Lazenby.

Beyond the Silver Screen

While we have went to many movies over the years – the enduring appeal of the Orpheum is its ability to create special moments with one off retro screenings and fan events – the best are the Q&A sessions. Most of these are often no more expensive than a regular movie ticket.

The first one attended was in December 2014 – the Lord of The Rings Extended Edition Marathon. 14 hours of cinema back to back. Thankfully those red seats are not just for show and are comfy. Watching this series with a crowd of fellow enthusiasts led to clapping and cheering at key scenes. As I recall – every time a bad guy died in the third movie – The Return of The King – a great cheer erupted.

On the news of actor Leonard Nimroy’s death in 2015 a special screening of Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan was held. Seeing this masterpiece on the big screen was fantastic in what was probably the most important Spock story ever put to paper.

A screening of Superman II on the big screen is enough of an event to get you in the door but the icing on the cake was a Q&A with Ursa and Jimmy Olsen themselves – Sarah Douglas and Marc McClure. And then a swerve that we would be watching the Richard Donner Cut as the feature movie.

They talked about the movie, filming with Christopher Reeve and Terence Stamp and their other projects – Marc talked about his work on the Back to the Future Series while Sarah talked about her Science Fiction body of work (V, Beastmaster, Babylon 5 etc).

Another science fiction titan – Michael Biehn hosted an evening where he talked about everything and anything. Anecdotes from his time filming Tombstone and hanging out with Powers Boothe (RIP) and Stephen Lang to working with Jim Cameron, especially on Aliens and The Terminator. Then we were treated to a screening of 1984’s The Terminator on the large screen in the Orpheum.

More recently the opportunity to see martial arts legend Mark Dacascos and a screening of John Wick 3. Mark was so great and gave some great insights into his role and the key scenes that enhanced it on future viewings. He was also full of vitality going into stories around filming with Jet Li, hanging out as a kid with Brandon Lee and his various films.

Side Note: Both the Michael Biehn and Mark Dacascos Q&A sessions were moderated by Ryan from Movie Nerds – a Sydney based movie fan site. (Check them out with the link).

And they are the ones I have been able to get tickets for. With the release of the Hateful Eight in 2016 there was a special 70mm screening of the movie with Quentin Tarantino, Kurt Russell and Samuel L Jackson there was such a clamour for limited tickets that I missed out on what was apparently an epic night.

But the one off events aside – the Hayden Orpheum has some longstanding traditions that keep brining you back.

Midnight screenings and anniversary features form the staple of this effort – The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary screening complete with White Russians available to buy as well as the two random guys who turned up dressed in their dressing gowns was a great night.

Two other points that hammer home their love for cinema.

First of all, Die Hard (1988) is a Christmas Movie (Fight me!).Every December The Orpheum hosts a special screening of that fateful night in Nakatomi Plaza.

Secondly – there is no such thing as a bad movie. In fact the worst a movie is – the more likely it is that it will find a home here. The Orpheum is like an Orphanage for Cult Classics.

This is how The Room has become one of its top selling movies of all time – thanks to heavily subscribed monthly screenings…..

“What a story Mark!”

Tommy Wiseau’s The Room is shown at least 12 times a year at the Orpheum and has done so for the past 11 years. It is not so much a screening as it is a wild ride – filled with audience participation. Profanity and verbal outrage is encouraged as well as the generous provision of (recycled) plastic spoons. You are handed a bunch of them when you enter the theatre and throughout the movie you are constantly provided more from the throws of your peers. If you sit down the front you are honour bound to throw them back into the maddening crowd.

You don’t watch The Room – you experience it. They even provide a guide for those that have not seen it for the 100th time so you can quickly get up to speed.

But how bad is it?

Award winning filmmaker and writer Ross Morin has described it as “The Citizen Kane of bad movies”

If you want to further delve into the myth and lore you can also check out the James Franco / Seth Rogen ‘making of’ movie – The Disaster Artist (2017) and this article from Vox – who do the topic more justice than I ever could.

Tempted? Here is the trailer to get you over the edge.

Advice: If you are going to this have a few drinks before hand. That way you can quickly get in on the action. Drink responsibly though!

More than just a movie night

The Orpheum plays host to part of the annual Sydney Comedy Festival. It’s stage in the Orpheum Theatre is perfect for a gig as well as the auditorium style setting. They also host a wide variety of music acts throughout the year and when a musical film is released such as Rocketman or Bohemian Rhapsody – a tribute act is always on hand to play an intro concert before the movie.

Overall the Hayden Orpheum is not just our favourite cinema – IOHO it is the best cinema in the world. If you are ever in Sydney you should check it out.