Cinema Chains

There are several different Cinema companies in Australia with the most notable being Greater Union and Hoyts cinemas. These movie theatres dominate the cinema market throughout Australia with theatres in each state.

Greater Union originally began operations as the General Film Co of Australasia before reverting to Union Theatres and Australasian Films. Union Theatres was liquidated during the 1930 depression and its assets were then purchased by Greater Union Theatres.

The name was changed to the Greater Union Organisation during the 1950s after British entertainment company Rank Organisation purchased 50% of Greater Union Theatres.

The vast majority of Greater Union cinemas are run as a joint venture with Village Cinemas, who trade as Australian Theatres. Only in Victoria do will you see the Village banner.

After beginning a business relationship with Queensland's Birch, Carroll & Coyle, Greater Union still maintains that relationship today with Birch, Carroll & Coyle cinemas promoted alongside Greater Union Cinemas.

Australian cinema chain Village Cinemas is a division of Village Cinemas International. They have partners throughout the world including Greater Union, and operate over 1000 cinemas through Asia, Europe and South America.

Reading Cinemas Harbour Town is one of the more popular cinema complexes on the Gold Coast with many holiday visitors of the Sunshine Coast heading to the complex to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters on one of the 14 screens. This Gold Coast cinema boasts the biggest movie screen on the coast.

AMC Australian Multiplex Cinemas have cinema complex at five locations in three Australian states. The Frankston complex in Victoria is the biggest with 12 cinemas. Stafford (10), Sunnybank (8) and Redcliffe (6) represent the Queensland arm of the business while Tweed Heads in New South Wales has 6 cinemas.

One of Australia's leading Art House cinema chains is Dendy Cinemas. You will find Dendy conemas on Australia's east coast with the company having 35 screens in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane & Byron Bay.

Dendy cinemas, while specialising in Art Films aren't restricted in what movies they show to their patrons. You can also see the latest new release movies such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Die Hard 4.0 with Bruce Willis at your nearest Dendy cinema.

Hoyts is the other big Australian Cinema Company who is jointly owned by Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and West Australian Newspapers Limited.

In 1909'A Melbourne dentist named Dr Arthur Russell bought a small share in an American travelling circus, known as Hoyts Circus in 1909. He travelled with the circus as a magician but eventually returned to work as a dentist after the group experienced financial hardship.

Russell then leased the old St. Georges Hall in Bourke Street, Melbourne and began showing short films. This proved to be a winner and he formed a company called Hoyts Pictures Pty. Ltd.

Russell died soon after the First World War but Hoyts cinemas had by now expanded into the suburbs of both Melbourne and Sydney.

Hoyts merged with Electric Theatres Pty. Ltd. and Associated Theatres Pty. Ltd to become Hoyts Theatres Limited. The success of Hoyts had seen Twentieth Century Fox buy a major shareholding of the company.

Twentieth Century Fox eventually sold Hoyts to a group of Australian businessmen 1985. The company expanded and holds cinema operations in New Zealand, South America, Europe and the USA.

The late Kerry Packer's family company, Consolidated Press Holdings, bought the chain for $745 million in 1999 before PBL and WAN purchased the business which had 47 cinema complexes throughout Australia and New Zealand.