From an episode of Primal ScreenPresented by Flick Ford and Cerise Howard

Interview

Primal Screen: Melbourne's History of Arthouse and Repertory Cinema

You may have heard of these iconic cinemas in Melbourne, The Astor Theatre and The Valhalla (which later moved and became the Westgarth Cinema), but how much do you know about their history? Special guests Zac Hepburn, General Manager of The Astor Theatre, and John Rouse, General Manager of the former Valhalla and one of the co-founders at Cinema Nova, discuss with Flick and Cerise the vibrant history of Melbourne's cinenmascape, from the importance of spotlightling more subversive films for the time, to creating spaces for individuals to come together and 'find their tribe,' to have the freedom to express themselves within their communities.

The Astor
Listen to Primal Screen: Melbourne's History of Arthouse and Repertory Cinema55:3326 May 2025