For the first half of the 20th century, the name Mainsbridge was synonymous with picture show enterprises in the Parramatta and Liverpool districts. One time hot-water engineer Henry (Harry) Mainsbridge and his wife Harriett (Hettie), opened the Butterfly Picture Theatre in May 1910. The theatre was situated in Wentworth Street near Argyle Street announcing that ‘good old Parramatta can boast of having one of the best Photo-Play Theatres (The Butterfly) in the Commonwealth’ featuring ‘films of beauty, education and delight’.
In common with other early purpose-built picture theatres such as Bennington’s in George Street which just pipped The Butterfly by opening in March the same year, patrons of The Butterfly were seated on wooden benches in the open-air surrounded by canvas walls. Several months after opening, canvas roofs were installed for the comfort of patrons who were much discouraged from attending during times of inclement weather.
Before the development of motion pictures, theatres had been designed for stage plays and musical entertainments and needed to be modified to be capable of showing the new motion pictures in which the image was projected on a large screen. The idea of projection was an exciting major improvement on the kinetoscope in which individuals viewed the moving images through an eyepiece.
It was in 1895 that Lumiere Bros patented their invention which was to revolutionise the production and screening of motion pictures as we know them today. In Australia, individuals with imagination and creativity were experimenting with the new medium of moving pictures filming significant events such as the Melbourne Cup, first captured in 1896 and the opening of the inaugural Commonwealth Parliament in Melbourne in 1901.
Many early films were only about 90 seconds in length and before the development of film splicing techniques the projectionist needed to stop and load the next spool to continue with the film. Some early motion pictures consisted of abridged stage plays which had been filmed using a single fixed camera. Feature length films were not generally being produced until later in the1920s.
Early silent motion pictures were sometimes accompanied by a soundtrack which was produced by a pianist playing a photoplayer machine which used a paper slotted roll in a similar fashion to a pianola. Sound effects such as One of these machines forms part of the Kings Cinema display housed in the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
Alternatively, a musician playing an instrument such as a piano or organ added to the atmosphere as the drama and excitement built towards the climax. Films often came with suggestions for appropriate musical selections. The Mainsbridge’s were credited as the first to show talkie films in the suburban area using equipment known as a Vivaphone which enabled synchronisation of the film and a soundtrack recorded on an Edison phonograph.
A generous supporter of local fundraising activities, Harry Mainsbridge freely provided his premises for community fundraising activities. The Parramatta District Hospital evening in September 1910 successfully raised £40 with a capacity crowd of 1200 being present. A benefit night for Ryde Home for Incurables NSW in January 1912 was attended by the Mayoress, Mrs F W Jago and the program was enlivened by the performance of ‘a good brass band’ during interval. Mainsbridge was also one of the founders of the Pictureshowmen’s Association of Australia and in 1916 served as president.
Some of the films shown at the Butterfly during its early years included Sir Walter Scott's famous novel 'Ivanhoe, ' Pommy arrives in Australia’, the Australian drama 'The Bondage of the Bush’ and from the stage play ‘Scenes from Faust’. Of great local interest was the showing of the Jubilee Procession film celebrating the 50th anniversary of local government in Parramatta in 1911.
By the early 1920s both the Butterfly and the Bennington were under the control of Parramatta Cinema Limited however the era of the open air theatre was over and audiences now preferred the comfort and atmosphere of upholstered seating and luxurious surroundings. After its closure in 1924, the Butterfly Theatre site was occasionally the venue for balls and other functions and had various tenants such as Ralph’s Saleyard.
In the years following Harry’s death in 1924, Hettie Mainsbridge disposed of her established theatre interests in Parramatta, Burwood and Lewisham and relocated to Liverpool, where she built the Liverpool Butterfly Theatre (later known as the Regal Theatre). She also took over active control of the Mainsbridge Hotel in Macquarie Street, Liverpool. A capable and successful business woman in her own right, she also managed the old Butterfly Theatre at Fairfield, and several real estate properties at Parramatta.
Hettie passed away in August 1940 and amongst those gathered to pay their last respects were many notable representatives of the wine and spirits industry including Tooths, Hardys, Seppelts and Penfolds as well as members of theatrical circles and from the commercial world such as the Bank of NSW and Commercial Bank of Sydney.
One of the floral tributes was in the shape of a large butterfly. A fitting tribute for one who helped bring the wonder and excitement of the world to a generation through the magic of motion pictures.
Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021
References:
The Flicks: a history of the cinemas from Parramatta to the Nepean NSW, Kevin J Cork, 1992, p 28.
A century of Australian cinema, James Sabine (ed), Australian Film institute, William Heinemann (Aust), 1995, pgs 10, 12, 16, 22, 39.
Parramatta: A past revealed, Kass, Liston & McClymont, Parramatta City Council, 1996, p 291-292.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 10 Sep 1910, p 6.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 17 Jan 1912, p 2.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 30 Aug 1913, p 5.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 6 Sep 1913, p 6.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 10 Oct 1924, p 5.
Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Sep 1924, p 8.
The Northern Champion, 4 Oct 1924, p 4.
Liverpool News, 22 Aug 1940, p 1.
Motionpicture News, 2 Sept 1916. https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew14moti_3/motionpicturenew14moti_3_djvu.txt
http://www.britannica.com/art/history-of-the-motion-picture/The-pre-World-War-II-sound-era#ref785993
http://heritagecentre.parracity.nsw.gov.au/search.do?id=90885&db=object&page=1&view=detail