Submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Arts in Public History, Dept. of History. CONTENTS Section one: A history of the cinema in Melbourne, 1896-1942. Section two: Building citations: Regent Theatre, Collins Street p69. State Theatre, Flinders Street p79. Astor Theatre, East St Kilda p90. Balwyn Theatre, Balwyn p95. Barkly Theatre, Footscray p102. Burnley Theatre, Burnley p109. Carlton Theatre, Carlton p115. Clifton Theatre, Clifton Hill p121. Elsternwick Theatre, Elsternwick p127. Northcote Theatre, Northcote p134. Palais Theatre, St Kilda p142. Progress Theatre, West Coburg p150. Rivoli Theatre, East Hawthorn p156. Sun Theatre, Yarraville p164. Waverley Theatre, East Malvern p170. Westgarth Theatre, Westgarth p176. Windsor Theatre, Windsor p183. KEY WORDS Cinema, Picture theatres, Films, Movies, Movie houses.