Oatley Radio screening The Wonders of Aladdin, 1961. Image courtesy reader Carmen and Mr W. Collins
It may surprise you, especially if you’re an Oatley resident, to learn that the tiny suburb once enjoyed its own theatre! Designed by Sydney theatre architect extraordinaire Aaron Bolot in 1940, the Oatley Radio opened in 1942 to the delight of cinephiles everywhere (in Oatley).
Throughout the 1940s and ’50s, the Oatley Radio played host to popular films of the day, including Easter Parade (1948) and An American in Paris (1951). In fairness, it probably played host to some unpopular ones too.
The final curtain, 1961. Image courtesy Mr. W. Collins
It’s unclear exactly when the Oatley Radio closed (if you know, let me know), but I’m estimating it was sometime in the 1960s, an era when suburban cinemas were discouraged in favour of the big boys in the city. It’s claimed that the Radio became part of the Mecca family of cinemas (alongside Kogarah and Hurstville), but I haven’t been able to find much on this.
Oatley Theatre foyer, 1961. Image courtesy Mr. W Collins
What is clear is that at some point, the Radio was bought by the Oatley RSL and turned into their Youth Club, which is how we find it today. It’s now named the Jack Fisher Hall, after the founding president of the Youth Club.
Behind the Radio, it’s all too clear that it was once a 460-seat cinema, despite the tiny, unassuming frontage.
The Radio survives as one of six picture theatres in the Kogarah/Hurstville area still around today (along with the South Hurstville Paramount, the Carlton Odeon, Nash’s Penshurst Theatre, Beverly Hills Cinema and the Kogarah Mecca), but it’s largely avoided the sad fates of renovation or dereliction that have befallen those others. In a strange way, a suburban cinema like this one was the video shop of its day…I doubt anyone’s ever streamed The Wonders of Aladdin (1961).
Past/Lives of the Near Future 
Thanks for this post. I grew up in these parts and thought I knew a fair bit about the St. George area’s cinemas. This is certainly one I’d never heard of.
Since my last post I’ve pondered the Theatre’s name. The name “Radio Theatre” almost pre-empts its early demise. By the time TV started to decimate the suburban cinemas, they’d already done the same thing to the wireless. Also, I posit that there are at least 6 remaining theatres in the Kogarah/Hurstville area when you also count Nash’s Penshurst Theatre and the still operational Beverly Hills cinema.
The Oatley cinema is mentioned in this list of suburban cinemas from 1945:
There is a bool published by a fellow named Cork regarding Cinemas of Kogarah Municipality which has a bit of a potted history. Copies are available at Hurstville City Library 9660 3111
Others available are on Bexley Municipality and Hurstville Municipality
I was a baby in Oatley West in 1940 and often went, [when somewhat older], to the Radio Theatre on the other side of the railway . It was a large theatre with a good Jaffa rolling ailse. I think it later had trouble competing with the Mortdale Theatre, near the school I went to. Will drop by to take some photos if that is OK [ex-Nasho]
I went to the Radio in Oatley many times as a child and also to the Paramount in Railway Parade Mortdale. The ‘Radio’ was bought by a chap named Doyle long before Oatley RSL became the owners. He renamed it the Mecca and went on to develop the Mecca in the then former majestic Savoy at Hurstville and even later the Mecca in Kogarah which although now not operating still stands with the Mecca livery.
Mortdale Paramount was my favourite .. renamed Mortdale Hoyts in its later years. It had a theatre organ which played at interval on Saturday evenings. I watched its demolition in the early 60’s (possibly 1963 or 1964) and was devastated.
Several years ago I spoke to the relatives of the owners of the Paramount at Mortdale and it’s sister at South Hurstville. From my memory and a few low angle photos they provided I rendered a graphic which resembles how it looked in Railway Pde Mortdale … just down from Mortdale Public School.
My rendering may be viewed on https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16210454/THE%20PARAMOUNT%20FINAL%20V11_41.jpg
Additional to my last post. I mentioned that the Mecca Cinema in Kogarah (former Victory from the 1920’s) is still standing in it’s full livery. I was unaware at the time of writing that developers applied early 2012 to construct a large retail and residential high-rise on the site and that the Mecca was demolished in February 2013.
I knew that there’d been a development application for the Kogarah Mecca however was unaware that it had been demolished. I’m greatly saddened by this news. Does anyone remember the cat that lived at the cinema and wandered around whilst films were showing?
Unfortunately the whole Mecca story has been somewhat tarnished by the sins of Phil Doyle. He was an acquaintance of my uncle and I recall once speaking to him outside of the Hurstville Mecca after my cousins and I had seen a double feature. Even as a youngster Doyle seemed creepy.
I used to go to the Oatley theatre in the 60’s and worked at the Mecca Savoy Hurstville in the 70’s. Actually Phil Doyle leased the Oatley theatre off the RSL during the 60’s, he never owned it. He worked as a projectionist at Hoyts during the day and run the Oatley Cinema at night. He briefly renamed it the Mecca before the RSL took back possession to to use themselves. From there he went on to buy Kogarah and then Hurstville cinemas.
Sorry, I didn’t realise Phil Doyle was leasing the Radio from the RSL at the time. Presumed he had the freehold. Makes sense though. When we used to go there in our later teens the word around was that he was the owner.
My Grandparents Ken and Thelma Fidden built the Oatley Theatre, unfortunately they and their 2 children Ken and Geraldine (my mother) have passed away. My father, who still lives in Oatley, tells me that my grandparents the Fiddens sold the theatre around 1953/54. He doesn’t believe they sold it to the RSL and the name Doyle didn’t ring any bells. Sorry I don’t have any other details other than I grew up in Oatley and as a young boy learnt to Box with a man by the name of Williamson and also did a bit of Judo in the current RSL building. I still visit my Dad in Oatley regularly and get a bit of a kick out of seeing the old theatre knowing that my grandparents built it and that my mother and uncle worked there and my mother and father met there.
Yes indeed, Ken Fidden did build the Radio Theatre in Oatley. I was told that he was the Representative in Australia for RKO Studios. My parents moved to Oatley in 1939 when I was 2 yrs, old. I recall going to the Saturday Matinee shows and can still see Ken jnr. and his sister clearly in my mind. Ken Jnr. was a big lad. The plans for the Theatre made provision for a flat to be built over the foyer. As I recall, Fiddens sold the Theatre to a couple from W.A. but I can’t remember how long they had it in their possession. The Theatre was subsequently purchased by Jack and Rita Waters in 1958 or 1959. They were definitely the owners when it was sold to the RSL Club. Doyle did not own it at any stage.Some of the people who worked at the Theatre were…… long time resident, now deceased, George Kendall, Mrs. Jack Marks, Mrs. Mollett, Tony Curtis, John Sorrell and myself. It ran C & W projector heads and Hamilton Baker arcs all of which were sold to Phil Doyle. Jack told me that Doyle never finished paying for the equipment. It was equipped for Cinemascope. It could seat 466 patrons. Like Lawrie I too frequented the Mortdale Theatre (walking across Judd’s Paddock) but I do not recollect there being an Organ in the Theatre. There was, however, a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in the Hurstville Savoy. How do i know about the Oatley Theatre?. I married one of Jack and Rita’s daughters in 1963.
Your information rings a bell re the Fidden name. I knew two brothers in Oatley named Brown (lived in Herbert Street) in the late 50’s. I also did ‘Jiu Jitsu’ in the RSL Hall in the 60’s next to the old Radio Cinema. Seeing the old theatre still there always gives me a memory charge.
I did physical culture and gymnastic hete. My mum was president of the youth club in the 80’s. I remember old green chairs stored upstairs in what I presume was the projection room.
Those green chairs were always pulled out for the Soccer Club registrations each year. Our boys were in the club from very early ages to late teens and in the case of one, early 20’s.
I lived in Mortdale from about 1957 – 1967 and remember going often to the Mortdale, Penshurst, Hurstville and Oatley theatres. Regarding the Oatley I remember seeing at least one of the Godzilla films there as well as Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet. I remember in its last days the owner/operator telling people that next week’s attraction would be A Taste of Honey – not one for the kiddies (I’m sure he used that term) they wouldn’t understand it. There would have been about 20 or 30 people in the theatre at the time. He was obviously trying to drum up business. Wikipedia gives A Taste of Honey as released in 1961. Hope that helps put some dates to it. Thank you so much for the photographs.
David, see my reply March 2, 2014. Phil Doyle at no time owned the Theatre. I believe that he is presently a guest of Her Majesty. My in-laws sold the Theatre to the RSL. We wanted my father-in law to convert it into a wedding reception venue but he lacked the vision to do so. I know it raised some eyebrows when it was built in the War years when materials were in short supply.
Aaron Bolot was my great grandfathers Professor John Bolot (French Dance Academy of Oxford street Sydney) nephew. They changed the surname Bolotinski to Bolot.
The Oatley Bay Bus service was owned by a chap by the name of Lawler. The bus was an INTERNATIONAL and he used to run a service to and from the OatleyTheatre on a Friday and Saturday evening. There was also a Gungah Bay bus (an old canvas roofed REO) which was owned by a chap by the name of Kincaid. I remember an Oatley identity (no names, no pack drill) who would drive his wife to the Theatre, drop her off, enquire as to the time that the show would end and then pick her up. We used to get a good laugh as, 5 minutes after the show started, his wife would come out of the Theatre and be picked up by the boyfriend to then return about 15 mins. before the show finished and so home to hubby. This was in the ’60s. when my late father-in-law owned the Theatre. Anyone out there remember these buses?
My father Steve Roberts had the Gungah Bay bus from around 1938 till around 1949 and my mother also drove the bus her name was Ann Roberts
Hi Susan, any relation to the Roberts who lived in Oatley Ave?. We moved to Oatley in 1939 … I was 2yrs. old. II remember the Gungah Bay bus .. often caught it home. My recollection that in the 50’s it was owned by Kincaid. It was pretty old and I think it was a Reo. If you went to Oatley Public you might be iterested to know that a 100 yr. celebration is on the agenda this year.
Richard.
No we lived in Gungah Bay Road and went to Mortdale school but when my father sold the bus it was an old Reo that had a gas bag on the roof for use during the war. I am probably older than you born in 1940 and my brother in 1942 Thank you for replying and you may know my sister in law who was Helen Campbell. Have a great day and take care
Susan Ward. (Roberts)
Thanks Susan for your reply. I was born in 1937 so I am a bit older than you. We lived in Oatley Parade at the foot of Neville St. Yes, I remember Helen Campbell; her brother ,Bill, is married to Nola Cox, an old friend of my younger sister, Lesley. I thought the old bus was a Reo. If you want to contact me direct my email is jigsaw8@bigpond.com.
Again, lovely to talk to a contemporary Oatleyite.
Richard Benham
Hello,
I lived in Oatley from 1948 to 1966. We lived on the corner of Waratah St and Mulga Rd. I remember the theatre very well and my weekly job was to earn enough money to go to the pictures. I remember seeing the Famous Five serials, Zorro, Charlie Chaplin, Bambi and yes I saw Olivier’s Hamlet there. We always sang God save the Queen and there was an icecream for 3d at interval. Noisy kids got into trouble. I went to primary school at Oatley West and there was a Lyn Lawler in my class. Not sure if she was related to the bus driver. Oatley was a wonderful place to grow up. We had the bush and the river. My maiden name was Mannering. We lived next door to Milo Dunphy of conservation fame. Great reading the posts. Jorie Ryan
Hi Jorie, I was your next door neighbor behind you (down the hill towards the station. I went to school with Barry Mannering (I assume your brother) and was good friends with Guy Dunphy (Milo’s son). Oatley was the best place to grow up, in those days we roamed everywhere, as long as were home by dusk. Phil Shaw
I moved to Oatley in 1959, I was 5 years old. Before my father bought a Black and White TV set, I regularly attended the local cinemas with my father, Oatley, along with the Penshurst cinema and the Hurstville Savoy.
I remember watching war films at Oatley cinema, during the week nights. The toilets were at the rear of the cinema.
My last visit to the Oatley cinema, was on the last day, of the Christmas school holidays, in the early 1960’s, the next day was the dreaded, return to school, for myself, it was a new school year at Mortdale Primary School. Anyway
Every child in the area, on that last day of the school holidays, decided to attend the afternoon matinee session, it was a popular childrens movie.
Unfortunately more children turned up, than were seats available. Not wanting to turn away disappointed children, and obviously to maximise profits, the management found pillows and cushions and sat heaps of children in the aisles, on the steps.
Luckily for my brother and myself, we had the luxury of a seat. The National Anthem “God save the Queen” played, then on with the movie.
It was not long after that, much to my disappointment, the Oatley Cinema closed.
PS: Don’t ask me about the circuses setting up in Judds paddock
Fond childhood memories through 1940s of the Radio Theatre. Ken and Thelma Fidden were my uncle and aunt. They manned the theatre every night with son Ken as the qualified pojectionist, Geraldine (Gerry) their daughter as ushereer and on the refreshment bar at intererval and my lovely aunt Thelma in the ticket office. I loved visiting the theatre where every resident of Oakley was known and greeted by name. The choc coated icecreams at interval were wonderful. Ken Fidden snr was managing director of the Australian division of American R C A, the manufacturer turer of most sound and projection equipment in the day.