Wallis Cinemas
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cinema exhibition |
| Founded | December 1953 |
| Founder | Hugh Wallis |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
Key people | Lorna Wallis, Michelle Wallis, Deanna Wallis |
| Products | Cinema exhibition and advertising |
Wallis Cinemas, previously known as Wallis Theatres, is a South Australian family-run enterprise managing cinema venues throughout greater Adelaide and various regional locations within South Australia. The company partners with Big Screen Advertising, which handles the distribution and display of commercials at its cinema sites.
Company history
The company was established by Hugh Wallis in December 1953, beginning with the Blueline drive-in theatre located at West Beach. Originally involved in refrigeration, Wallis shifted its focus to the cinema industry. In 1991, Hugh’s son, Bob Wallis, purchased and refurbished the Barr Smith residence, Auchendarroch House, situated in Mount Barker, where he introduced a tavern alongside a seven-screen cinema complex.
Following Hugh Wallis’s passing in 1994, Bob assumed the role of general manager until his death in 2007. Since then, management has been undertaken by Bob’s widow Lorna, their daughter Michelle, and granddaughter Deanna. The company publicly rebranded from "Wallis Theatres" to "Wallis Cinemas" in 2005, with the formal name change finalized toward the end of 2007.
Drive-ins
The Blueline drive-in holds the distinction of being South Australia’s inaugural drive-in theatre and Australia’s second, established on a 40-acre parcel acquired from Adelaide Airport. Wallis quickly expanded its footprint by launching numerous drive-in locations across Adelaide and regional districts.
Drive-ins within Adelaide included:
- Blueline, West Beach
- Oceanline, Christies Beach
- Mainline, Gepps Cross
- Parkline, Mitchell Park
- Valleyline, St Agnes
- Harbourline, Outer Harbor
- Hi-line, Panorama
- Hollywood, Salisbury Downs
Regional drive-in sites comprised:
- Bonneyline, Barmera
- Murrayline, Berri
- Northline, Clare
- Riverline, Loxton
- Groveline, Renmark
- Barossaline, Tanunda
By the early 1990s, most suburban and country drive-ins were either sold off or ceased operations. The Blueline closed its doors in November 1998 while Valleyline ceased operations in May 2003. Wallis maintained operation of the Mainline Drive-in—the last remaining drive-in theatre in Adelaide—until it announced its closure in early 2022.
Glenelg Cinema Centre
Located in Glenelg, the Ozone Theatre was designed by architect Kenneth Milne and opened on 25 November 1937 with seating for up to 1,920 attendees. Ownership belonged to the Waterman family through Ozone Theatres Ltd.
By February 1945, the Ozone ranked as Adelaide’s second-largest suburban cinema with a capacity of 1,853 seats. It was surpassed only by the Star Theatre / Hindmarsh Town Hall operated by the Clifford Cinema Circuit, which accommodated 2,012 patrons.
In 1951, management was under Hoyts-Ozone Theatres Ltd., and it remained a single-screen venue until Wallis acquired it in 1971. Wallis transformed it into South Australia’s first multi-screen cinema, renaming it Glenelg Cinema Centre. A third screen was added to the complex in 1978.
On 1 February 2009, Wallis hosted a complimentary screening of Gone with the Wind prior to closing the cinema permanently. The building was demolished in mid-2011.
The Ozone Glenelg was highlighted in Now Showing... Cinema Architecture in South Australia, a photographic exhibition displayed at the Hawke Centre’s Kerry Packer Civic Gallery during April and May 2024.
Chelsea/Regal
On 1 January 1971, Wallis Theatres took over the lease of the Chelsea Cinema located in Kensington Park, effectively preventing its demolition. The cinema is currently heritage-listed and under the ownership of the City of Burnside.
Academy Cinema City
In 1976, Wallis expanded by acquiring a warehouse situated in Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, transforming it into a twin-screen cinema. By 1980, three more screens were added, and the venue was named Academy Cinema City. This complex was closed and demolished in 2007 to facilitate the construction of a serviced apartment and hotel project.
Piccadilly
To save it from being demolished, Bob Wallis purchased the single-screen Forum Cinema in North Adelaide in 1983. Between 1989 and 1990, it was redeveloped into the three-screen Piccadilly Cinema, maintaining the original building’s heritage and architectural integrity. A significant refurbishment was finalized in 2022.
Oxford Cinema
The Oxford Cinema, a single-screen venue housed within the Unley Town Hall, ceased operations in 2001.
Noarlunga, Mt Barker, Mitcham
Wallis inaugurated the five-screen Noarlunga Cinema Centre near the Colonnades shopping centre in 1991. This was followed by the opening of Mount Barker Cinemas in 2003 and Mitcham Cinemas in 2007.
Present locations
As of , Wallis Cinemas manages cinemas at the following sites:
- Gawler
- Mildura
- Mitcham Cinemas located within Mitcham Square Shopping Centre (7 screens)
- Mount Barker Cinemas (7 screens), including Mount Barker Outdoor
- Noarlunga Cinema Centre (5 screens)
- Piccadilly Cinemas, North Adelaide (3 screens; refurbished in 2022)
Other activities
Since 2004, Wallis Theatres has collaborated with Big Screen Advertising to provide pre-film advertisements across all its cinema locations. This partnership followed the acquisition of their former advertising partner, Val Morgan Cinema Advertising, by competitor Hoyts. Additionally, Wallis supports independent cinemas within South Australia such as the Capri Theatre at Goodwood and Victor Harbor theatre by offering programming assistance and related services.
Auchendarroch House
Adjacent to its Mount Barker cinema complex, Wallis Theatres owns Auchendarroch House along with the Wallis Tavern.
The property was initially purchased in 1878 by Scottish immigrants Robert Barr Smith and Joanna Barr Smith for £3000. At that time, it included the Oakfield Hotel. They expanded it into a French Renaissance-style mansion featuring 30 rooms, designed by architect J. H. Grainger. Named Auchendarroch—which translates from Scottish Gaelic as "holy place of the oaks"—the estate boasted extensive gardens comprising orchards, lawns, and approximately 50 oak trees. Produce from these gardens was distributed to the local community.
Following Robert’s passing in 1915 and Joanna’s in 1919, the house was sold in 1921 to the Memorial Hospital and repurposed as a convalescent and air force hospital. Portions of the property were sold off by the government in 1976.
In 2000, Hugh Wallis acquired both the house and surrounding land. Restoration efforts led by his daughter Michelle transformed it into a function centre while maintaining its historic gardens.
See also
- D. Clifford Theatres
- Greater Union – industry rival
- Hoyts – industry rival
- Reading Cinemas – industry rival
- Cinema articles related to South Australia
- Capri Theatre
- Mercury Cinema
- Odeon Semaphore
- Piccadilly Cinema
- Regal Theatre, Adelaide
- South Australian Film Corporation