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Palace Cinemas (Australia)

For the European cinema chain with the same name, see Palace Cinemas (Central Europe).

Palace Cinemas is an Australian cinema chain that specialises in arthouse and international films.

Palace Cinemas
Company typeCompany
IndustryFilm exhibition, film distribution
Founded1965; 59 years ago (1965)
HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
Area served
Australia
Key people
Benjamin Zeccola (CEO)
Websitewww.palacecinemas.com.au

Their head office are based in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra and they operate locations in New South Wales (Central Park,[1] Norton Street, Byron Bay, Ballina[2]& Oxford St),[3] Victoria (Coburg, Brighton Bay, Northcote, Balwyn, Brighton, South Yarra, Melbourne, Moonee Ponds & The Astor Theatre),[4] Western Australia (Raine Square),[5] Queensland (Brisbane & Fortitude Valley)[6] & Canberra.[7]

Operations

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Palace Cinema operate a variety of locations that specialise in international and local art-house films and cinema events. Palace has been managed by the Zeccola family since its inception.[8]

Palace Moore Park has a non-competition deal with its neighbouring cinema Hoyts to not screen mainstream titles.[3]

While Palace only owns one cinema in WA, it also operates several others in partnership with Luna Cinemas.[citation needed] The Luna Palace Cinemas line have their own independent website, membership program and offers.[9] Palace Cinema's regular nationwide membership and offers in other states, are therefore not valid at these cinemas. Luna Palace uniquely operates two seasonal outdoor cinemas, one in Leederville (opposite their traditional cinema) and one in Mosman Park.[citation needed]

Film festivals

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Palace also operate a series of international film festivals, highlighting a range of films from a chosen country.[10] Festivals include the Alliance Française French Film Festival,[11] the Lavazza Italian Film Festival,[12] the Spanish Film Festival,[13] German Film Festival and the British Film Festival.

History

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Palace Cinemas was founded by Antonio Zeccola in 1965.[14] Zeccola's first cinema, Pix Theatre in Noble Park, was originally only open on weekends and operated as a dance theatre for the rest of the week.[15]

In late 1994, Palace opened The Como and The George cinemas in Melbourne.[15] The George originally focused on "new Australian films as well as experimental fare and cinema of a more quirky nature, whether sexual, social or political", while The Como highlighted "films selected from the Cannes, Venice, Toronto and Berlin festivals".[15]

In 1995, Palace acquired the Academy Twin cinema on Oxford Street in Sydney and opened the four screen Verona complex.[16] Nicole Kidman officially opened the Verona site on Valentine's Day in 1996.[3]

In 2000, Palace Norton Street held Australia's first professionally organised Italian film festival.[17]

In 2005, Cinema Como received a $1 million renovation.[18] Antonio Zeccola announced that Brighton Bay, The George and Palace's Sydney locations would receive similar refurbishment. In December, Palace announced they would take over and reopen Sydney's Chauvel cinema.[19]

In 2016, Palace moved their head office to South Yarra.[20]

In 2017, Palace Cinemas opened Palace Central.[21] The venue features 10 standard cinemas and three Palace Platinum cinemas. Two of the cinemas feature floor to ceiling windows that curtains obscure when a screening begins.

The Pentridge Cinema opened in 2020 in the shopping centre located inside the old HM Prison Pentridge in the northern Melbourne suburb of Coburg. It was the first Palace Cinema to open with a Dolby Atmos dedicated auditorium.[22]

In November 2023, Palace announced that it would be permanently closing Palace Verona in February 2024. The site would be replaced with a new location at The Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park.[3]

In December 2023, Palace's Moonee Ponds location Penny Lane opened to the public.[23] The cinema has 11 indoor screens and a rooftop cinema.

Palace Verona closed on 25 February 2024.[24]

Locations

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Adelaide

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Brisbane

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Centro, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
  • Barracks
  • James Street (formerly Centro)

Byron Bay

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Canberra

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  • Palace Electric

Melbourne

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Palace Westgarth, Melbourne
 
Palace Cinemas in Balwyn, Melbourne
  • The Astor Theatre (Classic films mostly)
  • Balwyn
  • Brighton Bay
  • Dendy Brighton
  • Pentridge Cinema (opened 2020, located in the new shopping centre in old Pentridge Prison, First Palace cinema with Dolby Atmos auditorium)
  • Cinema Como
  • The Kino (partnership)
  • Westgarth Theatre
  • Penny Lane

Perth

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Cinemas in partnership with Luna Cinemas.[9] The outdoor cinemas run during the summer months only.[citation needed]

 
Luna Leederville, Perth

Sydney

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Palace Norton Street, Leichhardt, Sydney

Closed cinemas

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Adelaide

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Perth

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  • Palace Northbridge

Sydney

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The old Walker Street cinemas in North Sydney
  • Academy Twin (Paddington)[29]
  • The Walker Cinema (North Sydney)
  • Verona

Palace Films

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Palace has produced and distributed such Australian films as Kokoda and Chopper, and distribute many foreign language films in Australia.[30][31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dent, Nick (2023). "The best cinemas in Sydney". Timeout. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Ballina Fair Cinemas is now part of the Palace Cinemas family". Byron Shire Echo. 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Maddox, Garry (2023). "Sydney's 'thriving' Verona cinema is closing. Here's where the indie films will go". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. ^ Barber, Riley (2023). "The best independent cinemas in and around Melbourne". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  5. ^ Ardon-Coppinger, Renée (2023). "Perth's Best Cinemas To Catch Your Next Flick At". Urban: List. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  6. ^ Gunasekara, Dinushka (2023). "Grab The Popcorn, Here Are 13 of the Best Cinemas in Brisbane". stylemagazines.com.au. Style. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  7. ^ Amy, Martin (2023). "Canberra's Barbie fans flock to films preview screening at Palace Cinema". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  8. ^ Lambert, Catherine (26 September 2010). "Palace of dreams". Sunday Herald Sun.
  9. ^ a b "Luna Palace Cinemas official website". Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  10. ^ Furze, Andrew (2017). "How Palace Cinemas took over Australia's film festival industry". The Guardian. London: The Citizen.
  11. ^ "Alliance Francaise French Film Festival Website". Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Lavazza Italian Film Festival homepage". Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  13. ^ Mathieson, Craig (30 April 2010). "Say hola to cultural freedom". The Age. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  14. ^ Joyce, Emma (2023). "Roll the Credits: Paddington's Verona Cinema Is Closing, but It's Not All Bad News". Broadsheet.
  15. ^ a b c Weiniger, Peter (17 November 1994). "Film in the Blood And on the Pulse". The Age. Melbourne.
  16. ^ Holgate, Ben (30 August 1995). "Cinema for a New Age". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney.
  17. ^ Cazzulino, Michelle (29 November 2000). "Talking in Italian / SYDNEY LIVE". The Daily Telegraph.
  18. ^ Lyndall, Crisp (15 April 2005). "Cinema finds a comfort zone". The Australian Financial Review.
  19. ^ Garry, Maddox (5 December 2005). "No money in Chauvel makeover". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  20. ^ "Palace crowns success with a shift to South Yarra". Herald Sun. 2 March 2016.
  21. ^ Fraser, Ellen (3 November 2017). "The Palace Central Cinema Complex Has Opened and It's Beautiful". Broadsheet.
  22. ^ "Pentridge Cinema". Pentridge Coburg. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  23. ^ Ward, Sarah (21 December 2023). "Now Open: Palace Penny Lane Is Moonee Ponds' Brand-New Movie Haven with a Rooftop Cinema". Concrete Playground.
  24. ^ "Palace Verona Closed". 25 February 2024 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Adelaide Film Festival, Oct 14 - Oct 25". Palace Nova. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. ^ a b "About Palace Nova Cinemas Adelaide and Prospect". Palace Nova. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Palace Raine Square". Palace Cinemas. 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Sydney, get ready for the new Palace Central! | Palace Cinemas". palacecinemas.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
  29. ^ Thompson, Geoff (1995). "Art-house Cinemas Enter Foreign Territory". The Sydney Morning Herald (published 22 May 1995).
  30. ^ "Palace Films Website". Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  31. ^ "Palace Cinemas Website". Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
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