Lobethal Cinema

At the Lobethal Centennial Hall, contempory movies are shown in a classic environment about every two weeks, depending on the availability of the hall.  Patrons are seated on comfortable seats in an art décor hall with the novelty of an interval in the middle of the movie. A canteen is available. Patrons will find a quaint ticket box from where to purchase their tickets. Once there were so many patrons, two ticket boxes were required to cope with the number.

The art deco Lobethal Centennial Hall foundation stone was laid on 8 August in 1936 on the centenary of the proclamation of the state of South Australia. It took another 60 years before the hall was finished with store room, two large change rooms with heating, two showers and extra toilets in 2002. The terrazzo floor at the front of the hall was the first of its kind in South Australia.

Initially, local people assisted in the furnishing by buying double seats for ₤1 with a name plate on the seat acknowledging their contribution. You can still find the name plates on the seats. The Onkaparinga Woollen Mill donated the money to the Centennial Hall committee to help build the toilets inside the hall, and renovate the original seating. The seat upholstery was replaced with lush fabric by a local upholsterer and the backs of the seats were revarnished.

Black and white silent movies were first shown in the Senior Citizen's Hall from 1919 by Harold Hill, projectionist, with assistance from George Dankel.In 1932‘Talkies', or black and white movies with dialogue, came to town. If you look in the entrance next time you enter the Senior Citizen's Hall or when you visit the Christmas Tree Festival, note the ticket box at the front of the hall and the stairs up to the projection area. The showing of movies moved from the Senior Citizen's Hall to Centennial Hall.

There was a lull in movie showing in the early 1990s when Mr Bendow, the projectionist, moved on with his equipment. The current projectionist, Clarrie Siedel, travels from Victor Harbor to use his sound and projection systems for the enjoyment of patrons.

There is still evidence of shops that were once in the front of Centennial Hall until 1993.

Centennial Hall is now run by a small, dedicated band of volunteers.