Astor Theatre Gala Event

Going to the movies is mainly about what’s on the screen, of course, but it would be a mistake to say that the venue doesn’t make a difference to the whole experience. And for all the bells and whistles a modern multiplex can offer, there are occasions when that feels a little lacking in soul.

So it was a pleasure to see that Melbourne’s Astor Theatre, an art-deco establishment with celluloid projection and the best choc-tops in town, had retained and even gussied up its own individual style when it re-opened for business Thursday evening with a gala premiere screening of Gillian Armstrong’s entertaining documentary Women He’s Undressed.

The place was packed with local luminaries (including Armstrong) and film buffs clearly overjoyed that the cinema was back in business, especially after a prolonged period when it seemed like the Astor’s future was uncertain.

And with an upcoming season of classic movies, cult sensations and modern hits making up the schedule in the months ahead, cinemagoers can expect the joint to remain jumping for quite some time. Long live the Astor.