Kevin Cork research papers, photographs and interviews relating to cinemas and theatres in New South Wales and Sydney, 1915-1997

MLMSS 9422
PXD 1391
SLIDES 300
VT 3047-VT 3048
MLOH 757

fonds

1915-1997

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Architectural and Technical Drawings, Moving Images, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

897894

Partly Digitised

7.36 metres of textual material (46 boxes), some files include photographs
Approximately 200 slides (1 box)
1 computer disk
7 architectural drawings
2 videocassettes (approximately 2 hr., 5 min.)
29 audiocassettes (26 hr.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

Kevin J Cork (1946-1998) is a theatre and cinema historian, photographer, lobbyist, activist and author of theatre history books.
In the early 1960s, he commenced photographing theatres and amassed an extensive collection. In 1982, the Australian Theatre Historical Society (now called the Australian Cinema and Theatre Society), was formed to cater for persons interested in Australian theatre and cinema buildings, their history and architecture. He served as both President and Secretary for this society for a number of years.
Kevin wrote books on the history of theatres and cinemas. His unfinished Ph.D thesis sought to explore the history and impact of Greek Cinema operators and owners in New South Wales, in the period before the advent of television. During the research process Kevin spent endless hours tracking down leads and information, and contacting Greek, mainly Kytheran cinema owners, and their descendants.
His cinema and theatre heritage activism and lobbying, lead to the preservation and restoration of many theatres and cinemas.
He was co-author of a number of submissions to the Heritage Office (NSW) and the Australian Heritage Commission, investigated new uses for theatre buildings, and compiled picture theatre register. They identified 6 cinemas in particular that had to be preserved or restored: The Strand at Young (1923), the Saraton at Grafton (1926), the Roxy at Leeton (1930), the Rex at Corowa (1936), the Roxy at Bingara (1936), and the Plaza at Laurieton (1959).

References:
Kythera-Family, http://www.kythera-family.net/index.php?nav=3-10&cid=21&did=5191&pageflip=3 (accessed 12 February 2014)

MLMSS 9422
BOXES 1-17
Files of photographs from MacCabe bequest, including laser, photographic prints and photocopies, research papers, newspaper clippings and correspondence of public and town halls, theatres and cinemas in NSW Country Towns, A-Y, ca. 1924-1997
Includes Hunter region, Snowy Mountains, Illawarra, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Newcastle, New England, Central Coast, Northern Rivers, Macarthur region, Central Tablelands, Riverina, South West Slopes, North Coast, South Coast, Southern Tablelands/Highlands, Northern Tablelands, Lake Macquarie, Central West

BOXES 18-22
Files of photographs Kevin Cork, including laser, photographic prints and photocopies, research papers, newspaper clippings, theatre programs, playbills and publicity material and correspondence of public and town halls, theatres and cinemas Sydney City, ca. 1920-1997.
Includes Palladium theatre; Capitol theatre; Century Crystal palace; Criterion Theatre; Embassy/Garrick; Empire Quay St; Lyric Theatre; Her Majesty’s Theatre Sydney; Liberty theatre; Lyceum theatre; Mayfair & Embassy theatre; Palace theatre; Paramount theatre; Paris theatre; Hoyts Plaza Theatre; Prince Edward Theatre and souvenir programs; Princess theatre and Railway square; Victor Theatre; Rapallo; Regent Theatre; St James theatre; State Theatre; Sydney Town Hall; Theatre Royal; Tivoli; Town/Esquire theatre; Variety theatre

BOXES 22-37
Files of photographs from MacCabe bequest, including laser, photographic prints and photocopies, research papers, newspaper clippings, theatre programs, playbills and publicity material and correspondence of public/town halls, theatres and cinemas Sydney Suburbs, ca. 1915-1997.

BOXES 37-39
Folders of photographs, including laser, photographic prints and photocopies, of public and town halls, theatres and cinemas in Australian cities, suburbs and country, ca. 1920-1994:
Queensland Cities and Suburbs, ca. 1920-1991. Including Her Majesty’s Theatre, Hoyts Regent, St James Theatre Brisbane;
Queensland Country, ca. 1920-1994
South Australia Cities 1993, Suburbs 1993, Country 1993
Victoria, City and Suburbs, ca. 1941-1993 including Hoyts Plaza, 1946 and Metro Theatre, Melbourne 1940-1954 and Victoria Theatre Sovereign Hill, 1993
Western Australia cities and suburbs, ca. 1940-1994
Tasmania, includes Theatre Royal Hobart 1983; princess Theatre Launceston, 1991; Lyric Theatre Scottsdale, 1996
Northern Territory, Star Theatre Darwin, ca. 1950
Overseas Cinemas, ca. 1990s

BOXES 39-40
Master of Arts (Hons) Thesis, ‘Twenty-Four Miles Around Nelungaloo: The History and Importance of Cinema Exhibition in pre-television times to a country are of central-western New South Wales’, by Kevin James Cork, University of Western Sydney, 1994
Files of research papers, manuscripts of notes, draft chapters of Masters Thesis
File of correspondence from University of Western Sydney and greeting cards re Graduation, ca. 1995
Address book of contacts who assisted with information of PHD thesis on Greek cinema exhibitions of NSW pre-television
Research papers and indexes cinema history
1 CD-ROM ‘Kevin Cork Thesis’
1 folder of loose photographs and photographic prints of theatres in State, Capitol Prince-Edward and Lyceum theatres Sydney and Regent and Wintergarden Theatre Brisbane by Rod Blackmore, ca. 1953-1968
1 folder of loose photographs and prints, some autographed, of singers, actors and actresses from theatre and film, 1929-1931, includes Cecil Kellaway, Lily Damita, Sidney Burchall, Charles Norman, Shirley Dale, Marie Burke, Lillian Pertka, Fannie Brewer, Pauline Frederick, Bill Williams, Penny Edwards, Alan ‘Rocky’ Lane, Robert Rockwell, Vaugh Monroe, Robert Black, Doriss O’Keefe, Dale Evans, Fran Crawford, Phil Dunham, Madge Elliot and Cyril Richard?

1 folder of photographs and magazine reproductions of actors and actresses from Paramount Pictures films, 1929. Includes:
Helen Kane, Jack Oakie ‘Sweetie’, 1929-1934, 1951
June Clyde and Buddy Wattles, ‘Backatge Blues’, 1929
Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and Nancy Carroll, ‘llusion’ 1929
Neil Hamilton and Evelyn Brent, ‘Darkened Rooms’, 1929
Jack Oakie, ‘Sweetie’, 1929
Clara Bow, ‘The Saturday Night Kid’, 1929
Harry Green, ‘The Kibitzer’
William Powell, Richard Allen. Fray Wray, Clive Brook, Noah Beery at Prince Edward, 1929
Ruth Taylor, Charles Buddy Rogers, Nancy Carroll and Phillip Holmes
Fay Wray and William Powell, ‘Behind the Makeup’, 1930
Lillian Roth and Jean Arthur
‘Pointed Heels’ Fay Wray and Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, 1929
‘The Saturday Night Kid’ Frank Ross, Jean Arthur, James Hall, Miss Bow, Eddie Dunn and Leone Lane
‘The Scarlet Empress', Marlene Dietrich, 1934
Charles McCarthy Director of Publicity, Home Office
Charles Boyer, Bob Hope, William Holden, Dean Martin, Alan Ladd, Kirk Douglas, Cornel Wilde, ca. 1951
The Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers, Second Annual Dinner, Wednesday 12 December, 1934 at Sydney Tattersall’s Club

BOXES 41-43
Files of research and presentation papers and notes compiled, ca. 1991-1998, relating to cinema buildings, moving picture industry, Hoyts, organs and organists with manuscripts of ‘A History of The Organs of Sydney’s Suburban Cinemas’,
Research papers for Beszant: The Story of a Showman’ book including manuscript 1984, ‘drive-ins’ with photographs 1978-1995, cinema and theatre newsletters, 1984-1997
Cinema indexes and directories including Sydney city theatres and cinemas compiled by Kevin J Cork, 1991, MacCabe Bequest and Cinema Index NSW Country and Sydney Suburban cinemas, 1996-1997, and list of NSW Cinema Venues compiled by MGM, 1954, Hoyts Sydney Suburban Theatres compiled by Kevin Cork, 1997, Chief Secretary’s Lists compiled by Kevin J. Cork 1959 & 1964, and drive-in theatres
Report to Heritage Council re Cinemas and theatres in NSW, 1983

BOXES 43-44
Box office receipt book, ca. 1942-1968
Press book for Paramount releases for January, February and March, 1928 signed Kevin J Cork, 1966
Movie theatre heritage register for New South Wales, 1896-1996
Literary review material for Greek Australian Cinema Exhibitions, 1977-1997, and draft manuscript of thesis 1997 version and later version ‘Greek Motion Picture Exhibitions in New South Wales, 1915-1963

BOXES 45-46
Manuscript thesis ‘Twenty-four Miles around Nelungaloo: The history and importance of cinema exhibition in pre-television times to a country area of central-western New South Wales’, Kevin James Cork, 1994
Two address books belonging to John MacCabe, 1997
Loose photograph of theatres in Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Bogan Park, Mandagery, Manildra, Penrith, Mount Druit, Mona Vale, Campbelltown, ca. 1987-1994
Loose negatives of cinemas, ca. 1990-1996, including one box of theatre and cinema negatives A-Z, ca. 1920-1980s
Kevin Cork interviews with Greek, mainly Kytheran cinema owners, and their descendants for thesis on Greek cinema history in New South Wales, ca. 1994-1996 (MLOH 757)

PXD 1391
7 architectural plans:
Hoyts Sydney Cinema Centre, proposed restaurant and discotheque at roof level, Roy Grounds and Co., ca. January 1976
Alterations to Embassy Theatre, Hoyts Theatres, architect Peter Muller, October 1966. Includes Foyer Plan, Circle Plan, Longitudinal Section, Stalls Section
Roxy Theatre Parramatta, Roy Grounds and Co., June 1975. Includes Mezzanine Level and Part Cinema, Ground Floor Plan Cinemas 1 & 2

SLIDES 300
Approximately 200 slides of theatres and cinemas taken by Kevin J Cork, ca. 1930-1993, RAHS talk, 1994

MOTION PICTURES
2 videocassettes ‘Old Picture Theatre – Now CRC Church Narrandera Plaza, made by Glenys Walter, March 1997’ and ‘The Cutting Edge – Shadows in the Streets (Brazil), Tivoli/Vaudeville, The Valladolid Controversy’ recorded from SBS 1997 is housed separately from the records at MLMSS 9422 (CALL NO.: VT 3047-VT 3048). For enquiries about this material please contact the Manuscripts Section

SOUND RECORDINGS (Call No.: MLOH 757)
Series 1: Kevin Cork interviews with cinema owners and their descendants for thesis on Greek cinema history in New South Wales, 1990-1996

This material is held offsite and is usually available after 4pm on the next business day. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to MLMSS 9422
Access via appointment - Applies to SLIDES 300

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Copyright restrictions may apply: Photographs in this collection created before 1955 are all out of copyright. Photographs created after 1955 are in copyright for the life of creator plus 70 years.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2013-2014
The description of this material has been supplied from the Oral History Digitisation Program, undertaken 2014 to 2017, of the Library's oral history collections.