Ozone Theatres

Ozone Theatres Ltd

Company type	Private
Industry	Cinema exhibition
Founded	1911
Founder	Hugh McIntyre Waterman and partners
Defunct	1951
Fate	Acquired by Hoyts
Headquarters	Adelaide , Australia
Area served	South Australia, other Australian states
Key people	Hugh Waterman (founder, managing director), Clyde Waterman (joint managing director), Sir Ewen McIntyre Waterman (executive)
Products	Cinema exhibition, film presentation
Number of employees	300+ (1938)

Ozone Theatres Ltd, initially established as Ozone Picture Company and later renamed Ozone Amusements Ltd, was a cinema chain headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. It operated from 1911 until 1951, when its theatres were acquired by Hoyts. Founded by Hugh Waterman alongside partners, the enterprise was overseen by him and his seven sons, including notable figures such as Clyde Waterman and Sir Ewen McIntyre Waterman. Its subsidiaries, including S.A. Theatres and Ozone Theatres (Broken Hill), collectively formed what was known as the Ozone circuit. Together with D. Clifford Theatres Limited, Ozone represented one of the two dominant film exhibition companies in South Australia from the post-World War I era through to the late 1940s, particularly commanding the market after 1938.

History

The Ozone Picture Company was launched in Semaphore in 1911 by Hugh McIntyre Waterman, a stationer, along with four partners. Initially, films were shown at Semaphore Town Hall and subsequently at Port Adelaide Town Hall. In 1913, the company inaugurated its first dedicated indoor cinema, named the Ozone, located in Port Adelaide. Up until 1923, screenings continued to be held in pre-existing halls such as Unley Town Hall. By the conclusion of the silent film era around 1929, Ozone and Dan Clifford's Star circuit had emerged as leading cinema operators within Adelaide’s suburban areas.

Expansion continued with a second theatre opening in Alberton in 1924, situated next to Waterman's home. Additional venues followed in Enfield, and by 1929 Semaphore Town Hall had been converted into a cinema. By 1928, Ozone had acquired multiple cinemas from National Theatres throughout Adelaide suburbs and regional centres like Victor Harbor. Architect Chris A. Smith was responsible for designing most of the cinemas during the 1920s; from the early 1930s onward, design responsibilities transitioned to E. Grant Walsh and subsequently F. Kenneth Milne until construction activities ceased around 1942 due to World War II.

Ewen Waterman became part of the family enterprise in 1928. Prior to 1934, the Watermans established S.A. Theatres Ltd to oversee leases including the Theatre Royal and Adelaide’s inaugural outdoor talkie venue located at the Chinese Gardens on North Terrace. Both sites primarily screened MGM productions. By 1936, Hugh Waterman held the position of managing director across Ozone Theatres Ltd, S.A. Theatres, and Ozone Theatres (Broken Hill), while his sons occupied various executive positions; notably, Clyde assumed joint managing director status in 1938.

The premier Ozone Glenelg theatre commenced operations on 25 November 1937; that same year saw the acquisition of the Lyric Picture Palace in Murray Bridge, which was rebranded as the Ozone Theatre. By 1938, the company employed more than 300 staff members and managed suburban cinemas in Glenelg, Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Alberton, Enfield, Prospect, and Marryatville; regional cinemas included Port Pirie, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, and Renmark; interstate locations encompassed Broken Hill and Mildura.

In March 1938, S.A. Theatres expanded its holdings by purchasing assets from Greater Wondergraph Company—comprising Adelaide’s Civic and York Theatres as well as Wondergraph venues at Unley and Goodwood—thereby solidifying its status as a leading national cinema operator. Later, in August 1947, S.A. Theatres divested the Civic Theatre to Greater Union.

By 1949, Ozone managed a portfolio of 34 cinemas across South Australia and other states. In Adelaide’s suburbs, venues included Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Thebarton, Glenelg, alongside several Windsor-branded theatres situated in Brighton, Lockleys, Hilton, and St Morris. Ewen Waterman stepped down from his executive roles in 1948.

The Waterman family divested most of their Ozone theatres to Hoyts in 1951; following this acquisition, the combined company operated under the name Hoyts-Ozone Theatres Ltd.

Impact

The South Australian Heritage Council (2022) highlights that Ozone Theatres significantly influenced public perceptions and experiences of cinema during the interwar years. It set elevated benchmarks for film presentation and pioneered advancements in architectural design, technological integration, and audience comfort, particularly following 1929 with the advent of sound films.

Cinemas after sale

Originally housed within the town hall, Semaphore Cinema underwent enlargement and refurbishment in 1929 featuring Art Deco design elements before closing its doors in May 1960. Ozone Alberton ceased operations in 1961.

The Hoyts Ozone Theatre located in Murray Bridge ended its service in 1969.

Ozone Glenelg was transformed into the Glenelg Cinema Centre under the management of Wallis Cinemas until its closure in 2009.

Ozone Marryatville received a comprehensive restoration and currently functions as the Regal Theatre situated in Kensington Park.

The cinema at Victor Harbor, initially accommodating 910 patrons at acquisition, was rebranded as Ozone Theatre with distinctive vertical signage. Following multiple ownership transitions and refurbishments, it evolved into the twin-screen Victa Cinema by 1995. Additional renovations took place in 2005, preserving its original Art Deco characteristics. Purchased by the City of Victor Harbor in 2020, the venue holds heritage status and was showcased in the 2024 photographic exhibition Now Showing... Cinema Architecture in South Australia at the Hawke Centre's Kerry Packer Civic Gallery.

Ewen Waterman

Sir Ewen McIntyre Waterman held key leadership roles including secretary of the South Australian Theatrical Proprietors' Association in 1937, president of the South Australian Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association in 1944, and vice-president of the Federal Cinema Exhibitors' Council of Australia by 1947. After parting ways with his brothers’ enterprises, he assumed international positions connected to the Australian wool industry and was honored with a knighthood in 1963 for his contributions to pastoral affairs.

External links

• Ozone Theatres on CAARP