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1908 Hoyts Pictures started in Bourke Street Melbourne by Dr Arthur Russell (dentist and resident magician at Hoyts Circus, a small American travelling circus) by accompanying the silent films with his small family band: his wife on piano, son on drums, and Russell on cornet. By 1918 he had expanded into Melbourne's suburbs and a cinema in Sydney. In 1926 he merged with two other companies (Electric Theatres and Associated Theatres). In 1932 Hoyts merged until 1937 with Greater Union Theatres, a much bigger chain who were struggling financially. 1936 Fox Films in America, about to merge with Twentieth Century-Fox, becomes Hoyts Pictures major shareholder. In 1937, Greater Union Theatres removed itself from the previous merger. 1982 Twentieth Century Fox sold the Hoyts company to Stardawn Investments, a group of four Melbourne businessmen. In 1985, the Fink family subsequently bought out the other partners to become the sole owner. That same year, 1985, in the US a 50% share in Twentieth Century Fox was purchased by Rupert Murdoch, later becoming a 100% share. 1987-1996 Major expansion of Hoyts Cinemas worldwide. 1996 Hoyts Cinemas floated on stock exchange. 1999 CPH Consolidated Press Holdings (Kerry Packer's private company) purchases the chain for $US 620 million and sells most of the overseas cinemas. 2004-2005 Hoyts bails out and purchases the struggling advertising company Val Morgan. 2005 During the year of Kerry Packer's death CPH sells Hoyts to its associated company PBL (Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd) 50% and WAN (West Australian Newspapers) 50%. 2007 Private markets fund manager Pacific Equity Partners purchases Hoyts. 2010 Hoyts purchases Australian Multiplex Cinemas (AMC) a Qld chain (Sunnybank, Stafford, Redcliffe, Tweed Heads South). 2014 Sun Xishuang (ID Leisure Ventures) purchases Hoyts (for up to $AU900 million). Linked to Dalian Wanda Group. 2015 Wanda Cinema Line (Dalian Wanda Group) largest Chinese film distributor, world's largest cinema chain in June 2015 purchases Hoyts (430 screens)
1913 West's Pictures, Spencer's Pictures, Amalalgamated Pictures, and Greater JD Williams Amusement Company form a four company partnership known as "Union Theatres" and "Australasian Films". Also known as The Combine. 1931 After twelve months of losses (July 1930-June 1931) Union Theatres is liquidated. Greater Union Theatres (still with the four holding companies) purchase all the assets in October 1931. In June 1932, Australasian Films re-emerges as Cinesound Productions, making movies up to WW2. August 1932 Greater Union merged with Hoyts, forming the General Film Corporation. One of Hoyts's shareholders at the time was Fox Family Films in America. In 1936 Fox Films, about to merge and become Twentieth Century-Fox, became Hoyts major shareholder. 1937 Norman Rydge, a Sydney man famous for "Rydges Business Journal", bought back control of Greater Union Theatres, removing it from the previous merger. 1945-1984 British Rank Organization purchase a half-share of Greater Union immediately after WW2. 1965 The four holding companies ownership in Greater Union Theatres was merged into the Rydge family company Amalgamated Holdings Ltd (AHL) and Greater Union Theatres renamed as Greater Union Organization Pty Ltd. 1988 Greater Union invests in one-third of Village Cinemas alongside Warner Brothers (USA) and Village Roadshow (Melbourne) who had originally started Village Drive-Ins in Croydon Melbourne in 1954. 1991 Buys out Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas (BCC). BCC had become a cinema chain in Queensland in 1923 with Edward Carroll (along with his brother Dan) having played a significant role as a producer and exhibitor of silent films in Australia. He is reputed to have staged open-air screenings at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds as early as 1901. 2003 Warner Brothers sells its stake in Village Cinemas to its two Australian partners. Australian Theatres is subsequently formed as a joint venture between Village Roadshow and Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL). 2009 Greater Union Cinemas begins rebranding itself as Event Cinemas - with over 50 venues. 2015 In December 2015, Amalgamated Holdings Ltd (AHL) changed its name to Event Hospitality & Entertainment Limited.
Balmoral-Hawthorne, Redbank, Nerang, Victoria Point and South Bank
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