The Society of AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2020 IN THIS ISSUE: FROM THE PRESIDENT • Message from the President We directed those affected to sources of help and support and, where necessary, advised them • State Presidents and how to contact the relevant Cinema Benevolent the National Executive Societies. Committee In a time of job losses and instability in all sectors this support has been greatly • National Cinema Pioneer appreciated and we have had excellent feedback of the Year from members expressing gratitude for the information and the assistance. We maintain a • State Pioneers of the Year vital sense of community. Building on the Pioneers website established by • Humanitarian Award Kevin Adams the National Executive Committee undertook to give the website a fresh look. • Taking Care of Business The new website has been completed and was launched in October. The positive feedback has • Society contacts and been outstanding. Some of the major features that have been updated are the landing page, the information history of the Pioneers and the list of members as of June 2020. We are also delighted to advise • Notice of Annual General that Kevin will continue as webmaster. Meeting of Members Here is the link so please take a look https:// www.cinemapioneers.com.au. Special thanks to • State functions RUSSELL ANDERSON those who joined me on the Steering Committee, NATIONAL PRESIDENT Catherine Lavelle and Sandra Alexander and to • The Cinema ID Card & website designer Sam Vallellanes who gave a how to use it On behalf of Cinema Pioneers I’d like to thank refreshed polish to the site. Thanks also to the Sandra Alexander and the National Executive many members and friends who contributed Committee for their support and on-going images and input. • New Members commitment to the Pioneers. A small working party has approached the • Vale Welcome to the new members of the National National Film and Sound Archive to acquire the Executive Committee Catherine Lavelle, Kerry valuable historic records of Cinema Pioneers, • Past National Presidents Westwood, and Derek Screen. Welcome also to and we are grateful for the expert assistance of Amanda Pearson on her imminent appointment Tim Read and Graham Shirley. • Honouring National as President of the Victorian Branch of the Pioneers. Regrettably current restrictions prevent us from Cinema Pioneers of the holding our 87th National Anniversary Dinner. Year Congratulations to our new 93 members on As one of the key features of the Dinner is the joining the Pioneers since November 2019. presentations to the National and State Pioneers Becoming a Pioneer is a great recognition to of the Year and the Australian Cinema Pioneers your service and dedication to the film industry. Humanitarian Award. These will now be videoed and featured on the Pioneers website, Pioneers This year has been an extremely challenging one Please address all Facebook pages and Youtube. for all sectors of the cinema industry. correspondence to: In July next year after making outstanding The devastating bushfire crisis in January SANDRA ALEXANDER contributions to the operation of the Pioneers followed by floods impacted significantly on National Honorary Secretary/Treasurer Sandra Alexander is after three years stepping the business. Just when recovery was imminent down from her role as National Secretary / the Corona virus arrived to totally devastate 27 Surfside Avenue Treasurer at the end of July 2021. On behalf of not only the cinema community but life in Clovelly NSW 2031 Cinema Pioneers thank you. general. Throughout these challenges the Society email: [email protected] has continued to offer support and a sense of 0n behalf of the National Executive Committee community to our Cinema Pioneers membership. I’m delighted to announce that Greg Denning AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS BULLETIN 1 has accepted the Presidency of the Pioneers for know Ross from his involvement in the industry donation to help maintain the Pioneers as a 2022/ 2023. Greg is well known and respected over many years and given his background vibrant and relevant Society. (details) throughout the industry. Having worked in and knowledge of the industry he will make an exhibition, distribution and acquisitions. He outstanding National Secretary / Treasurer. Looking forward to better times. has also served as President of the Australian Independent Distributors Association and twice Thanks again to the National Executive Yours sincerely as Vice-President. Committee of their ongoing stewardship of the Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers I’m pleased to advise Ross Barnard has accepted the role of National Secretary / Treasurer as In closing I would ask you, the members, to Russell Anderson of August 2021 next year. Many of you will support the Cinema Pioneers by making a National President STATE PRESIDENTS AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The governance of The Society The National President, Russell Anderson, chairs the NEC. of Cinema Pioneers is carried out by the National Executive The Presidents of the Society’s State Former National Presidents currently serving are: Committee (NEC) which meets branches are: JOHN ROCHESTER twice a year in July and in New South Wales MIKE SELWYN SUE MILLIKEN November. The NEC has 14 Victoria DEREK SCREEN to 16 members, varying from MIKE BAARD (till 18/11/2020) time to time and comprises MICHAEL SELWYN Victorian AMANDA PEARSON former national presidents, state TIM READ branch presidents, national and (from 18/11/2020) state presidents-elect and other Queensland CHRIS PITCHER Co-opted Pioneers currently serving are: Pioneers members co-opted on South Australia JOHN CRONIN SUE COHEN an occasional basis. The National Secretary/Treasurer is an ex Western Australia ALLAN STILES CATHERINE LAVELLE officio member of the NEC. Tasmania YURIK CZYZ KERRY WESTWOOD 2020 NATIONAL CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR John had caught the movie bug when his John was also appointed as SA Promotions mother took him to see ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ Manager for Roadshow, working with such at the Metro Theatre in Hindley Street – it is industry legends as Roc Kirby, Graham Burke, still his favourite film. From a young teenager Allan Finney, Jim Sayle and Greg Ellis and John wanted to work in the movies and he during this time he made his mark with some was encouraged by his late sister Yvonne (an outstanding promotions for such films as ‘Alvin usherette at Hoyts Regent Adelaide) to leave Purple’, ‘Bedroom Mazurka’, ‘Blazing Saddles’, school at 14 and apply for a job as a Cadet at ‘The Grasshopper’ and ‘The Towering Inferno’ the magnificent Hoyts Regent Theatre. He was for which he won a National Marketing Award. hired by the Manager, Alan Bohnsack, and his dream became a reality. After 11 years at Clifford Theatres, John was approached by Terry Jackman to become Throughout his career John was mentored by the Promotions Manager for Hoyts SA & WA. His late Ted Winter (ex Hoyts) and they remained first week on the job was the release of ‘Star good mates until Teds passing aged 99 years, in Wars’. 2013. He was later appointed Advertising Manager When television came to Australia in the late for Hoyts Victoria & Tasmania which gave fifties, John was told that the future of the film him the opportunity to work in Melbourne on industry looked bleak and that he should look some outstanding Aussie successes – ‘The Man JOHN CRONIN 2020 National for another career. After a short time at EMI From Snowy River’, ‘Pharlap’, ‘Careful He Records and managing a local record store, John Might Hear You’, ‘We Of The Never Never’ and Cinema Pioneer of the Year turned his talents to radio and became Sales many others. In his role with Hoyts Theatres/ Manager/Announcer at 5AU Whyalla. His Hoyts Distribution John worked with some very It was obvious from a very young age that John yearning for the big screen was still alive and talented people at the Michael Edgley Group Cronin was destined to be a showman. in the mid-sixties he returned to Adelaide to which proved a great learning curve for him. work for the Clifford Theatre Circuit as Theatre As a young primary school student he would Manager/Advertising & Promotions Manager. It In 1982, John was appointed SA Manager for often stage backyard concerts and invite his was at this stage in his life that he realized that Hoyts Theatres & Hoyts Distribution and he has school mates to pay him a penny to see him his real love was in Marketing & Promotions. very fond memories of the outstanding success perform “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” and of ‘Crocodile Dundee’ which ran for a record- other songs of that era. With the money he During his time at the Clifford Theatre Circuit breaking season of 54 weeks at the Regent collected he would ride his bike to the local John, along with his work-mate Bob Parr, made a Theatre Adelaide. He also worked on such picture theatre, the Edwardstown Institute, great team and launched many ad/pub campaigns great Aussie hits like ‘Malcolm’, ‘The Year My otherwise known as ‘The Bughouse’, to see a for the hardtops and drive-ins on the Circuit. Voice Broke’ and ‘The Light Horseman’. double feature, a cartoon and serial at a Saturday Matinee session. 2 AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS BULLETIN One of John’s most memorable achievements John retained both SA Marketing accounts until Picture Industry Provident Fund from 1994 – was the introduction of the weekly television eventually working for Fox exclusively. 2016. He is also a Life Member of the MPI Club movie show “Clapperboard” which screened of SA and the South Adelaide Football Club. on NWS9 in SA. He had seen the program Together with his late wife Margaret, John in Perth and developed the SA version, hosted managed the not-for-profit Capri Theatre When Max Beck passed on three years ago John and produced by multi Logie award winning Goodwood for eight years during which time he took over as SA President of the Australian personality, Anne Wills.