Maintaining a tradition of mixed entertainments : Birch, Carroll & Coyle's regional Queensland Wintergarden Theatres

The Authors argue that the construction of the Wintergarden theatre chain by the Birch Carroll and Coyle consortium was important, not only in attracting more sophisticated audiences to the cinema in keeping with its Tropical Theatre concept, but also for sustaining earlier traditions of popular entertainment and live theatre. Using a previous case study of the Rockhampton Wintergarden (Boyle, Burke, Cosgrove and Cryle, 2001) as a starting point, the authors will undertake brief comparisons with other Wintergarden locations (Ipswich, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Townville), in order to discern local cultural patterns and identify the main factors which contributed to Birch Carroll and Coyle's ongoing commercial success.