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The Boggo Road Theatre went through the first of many refurbishments, as the dirt and grime from its time as a clothing factory and goods store were cleaned away and the interior redecorated and fitted with new seats for an impressive 1,200 patrons. Electric lighting replaced the original gas system. The walls were hung with canvasses of “charming scenes” and a picture of the King and the Union Jack surmounted the screen. The renamed Princess Theatre was opened on the first of June 1912, by the mayor of South Brisbane, John Burke. The typical session comprised a number of short films along with other entertainment such as vocal numbers and “illustrated songs” performed by the manager Andrew Kirk, who also accompanied films on the piano. In 1914, the theatre ownership passed to solicitor Herbert Brealy Hemming but it remained leased to West’s. The Princess was used for other purposes. Amateur talent contests were held on Fridays for some years. Through 1917 the Reverend J. Abraham Turner (scientist) gave a series of lectures. In November, his address “Garden of Eden Found” was followed by a vocal recital given by Mrs. Reeding. The theatre was closed for some 6 months in 1919 in accordance with health regulations, as the influenza epidemic spread through the country. By 1920, the Princess was part of the Union Picture Theatre chain which included five Brisbane cinemas. The local area was a rough one, and patrons at times were forced to leave the theatre due to disturbances. On one occasion in 1920, a group of youths described as ‘hoodlums’, took control of the theatre for around a half an hour. A fight broke out and injuries included broken teeth and a nasty cut to the head. Curiously, the film being shown was Mary Pickford’s “The Hoodlum”. In contrast, the Salvation Army continued to use the theatre from time to time for special services. In 1925, the Princess was up for lease and it was refurbished again by new operators. The opening featured the films “Cold Steel” and “Whispering Palms” along with a performance by the newly formed “Princess Own” Orchestra. Friends could meet before or after the show at “The Cosy Theatre” café. Live productions including school concerts and burlesque as well as the occasional public meeting also continued. In 1925, the theatre operators hit on the idea of showing educational films that attracted large school groups. Throughout the silent era, theatre sessions continued to feature a live performance, often vaudeville, in addition to films. By 1931, the Princess had been equipped with the Pacent sound system, allowing “talkies” to be screened. However, the owner Herbert Hemming unsuccessfully advertised the theatre for lease for 4 years. It was finally let in 1934, but to a repertory theatre rather than a cinema operator. Source: highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2021/08/01/brisbane...

HOCKEY GIRLS REVUE WENT WITH A SWING THE 1936 Hockey Girls' Revue went with a swing from open- ing chorus to the finale at the Princess Theatre last night. More than 200 girls took part. In the final number the winner of the Popular Hockey Girl Competition, Miss Eileen Connelly, Taxation Club's candidate, was proclaimed. A song, "Popular Girl," composed for the occasion, was sung, and the Sash of Popularity was presented to Miss Connelly by Mrs. S. E. Travill, patroness of the Brisbane Women's Hockey Association. The voting in the competition was: Miss Connelly (Taxation) 8640 votes, Miss Jean Kerr (Clayfield) 6000, Miss Cynthia Grice (Saint Andrews) 5760, Miss Azubah Somerville (Neptune) 3240, Miss Jess Clarke (Metropolitan) 1800, Miss Elsie Mumford (Valley) 1440. Altogether £112 was collected for the 1937 inter-State fund, with which Queensland will entertain teams from all the other States. One of the prettiest numbers in the revue was "The Story of the Willow Pattern," in which Miss Gwen Barker sang particularly well. Thrills and screams punctuated Taxation's item, "Death Attends the Rehearsal." "College Days," by the Neptune Hockey Club was a tuneful number, with Miss Lena Rusky, the singing teacher, and Miss Ann Congleton the pupil. Plantation songs were introduced by the Metropolitan Club in "Way Down South." Other Items were "Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron," by Y.W.C.A.; a physical culture displayed by Kelvin Grove, "The Lost Dress," by Saint Andrews; and song and dance numbers by the Social Institute. Those present included Miss Freda Bage (patroness, Queensland Women's Hockey Association), Dr. Alison Wright, Misses Mildred Wilson, Dorothy Rae, Mrs. S. E Travill. MISS Dorothy Barker's party were: Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Barker, Misses Shirley Chuter, Edna Clark, Messrs. Dudley Grant-Thompson, Harry Ferrett. With Miss Sophie Rusky were Mesdames E. M. Carr, H. Simpson, W. Carr, Messrs. M. and W. Rusky, Mrs. H. J. Fogg. Misses A. Fogg, M. Cotham, and S.O'Gorman were with Miss Hazel Fogg. Miss Ina Goleby's party included Misses B. and M. Julius, N. Slattery, Z. Eales, A. Adams, B. and N. Young, and Mrs. A. Young. Miss Somerville had with her Misses O. Buckley, O. Glover, J. Somerville, L. Kiss, Messrs. F. Colborne, W. Somerville. Miss Dulcie Pinn's party included Misses C. Richardson, V. Gibbins, I. Smith, and C. Smith. Others noted were Mrs. F. J. Marshall, Miss P. Ferguson, and Mr. R. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Perry. Miss Grace Thomson, Mr. George Haughan. Source: 29 Oct 1936 The Courier-Mail, Brisbane trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37000630/1968109

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165386778# - this pic appeared in the Sydney Mail on 30th January, 1907...in a pictorial feature on the 1906-07 harvest...

England v Australia 1928 : test cricket comes to Queensland By JOL Admin | 18 July 2013 The year 1928 saw the culmination of a long campaign to bring test cricket to Queensland. The admission of Queensland to the Sheffield Shield competition in 1926 had opened the door. International cricket had been played in Queensland since 1883 when an English touring side visited the state and played a match against the Queensland team but efforts to bring test cricket to Brisbane for the England tour of 1907-08 were unsuccessful. The facilities at the Brisbane Cricket Ground were not up to scratch and Queensland cricket authorities returned to the Exhibition Ground which had not been used for first-class cricket for some years. This move proved successful and on 30th November 1928, the first test of the series against England began at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. The Brisbane Courier eagerly anticipated the first test. Supporters of cricket in Queensland have had their way after a long uphill fight, and Brisbane is to have a Test match. Two main reasons used to be advanced against holding one of the Tests in this city. The first was that the status of Queensland itself as a cricketing State did not warrant any change. That reason has lost weight, since Queensland now competes for the Sheffield Shield, and is recognised as a State of great cricketing possibilities. The other reason was that the wicket in Brisbane was not good enough for Test cricket. That objection also has been removed, for during the last visit of an English team to this city it was amply demonstrated that the wicket at the Exhibition Grounds could compare very favorably with the wickets in the South. Once a distinguished English cricketer opposed the holding of a Test in Brisbane "because Brisbane was too hot." Such an objection is not seriously raised nowadays, and we doubt whether that particular player was in earnest. There remains then for the success of Brisbane's first Test match only liberal patronage on the part of the public. There were no Queensland players in the starting eleven for Australia although local allrounder Ron Oxenham was the 12th man and took a catch to dismiss Sutcliff in the second innings. The side also included Victorian slow bowler Bert Ironmonger who was born in Queensland. Three Queensland players were featured in the other matches of the series. Otto Nothing, a medium-pace bowling allrounder played in the second test in Sydney. Ron Oxenham played in the last three tests and was joined in the last test in Melbourne by slow bowler Percy Hornibrook. This was the first time two Queenslanders had been on the Australian test team and both contributed to Australia's only winning performance of the series. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/england-v-australia-1928-test-cri...