**************Roxy Theatre Bingara 70th Anniversary Festival****************

*Launch of Peter Prineas' book : ‘Katsehamos and the Great Idea’ *

* Unveiling and dedication of photos of the Roxy Theatre Founders*

* Bingara NSW, Saturday April 1, from 6.30pm *,

The magnificent art deco Cinema at Bingara in north western New South Wales was established by three Greeks from the island of Kythera.

- Peter John Feros, Katsehamos, (Mitata);
- George Ernest (Proto)Psaltis, Katsavias, (Frilingianika); and
- Emanuel Theodoropoulos Aronis, aka Emanuel Aroney, (Aroniadika)

They operated under the business name Peters & Co., as did many other Kytherian cafe-owners whose businesses were not necessarily connected. Old Peters & Co. signs can still be seen on shop fronts in NSW country towns.

The Roxy Theatre opened on Saturday evening 28 March, 1936. It closed its doors in the late 1950's, and lay silent and empty for forty years. Now the Roxy at Bingara has been restored to its former glory and serves as a regional centre for the performing arts managed by Gwydir Shire Council. The cinema now resembles a "picture palace" - a "parthenon down under" to use Kevin Cork's description.

To celebrate 70 years since the opening of this grand country cinema, The Roxy is holding a Festival which will culminate with the Roxy "Movie Ball" - 1st April 2006 - 6:30pm. Guests are encouraged to dress in the fashion of the 1930's.

Between 7pm and 8pm there will be an unveiling and dedication of a framed photographic display of the three Kytherian founders at the Roxy Theatre.

Peter Prineas' book will then be launched:

'KATSEHAMOS AND THE GREAT IDEA:
a true story of Greeks and Australians in the early twentieth century'
240pp, paperback, bibliography, notes, index.

KATSEHAMOS AND THE GREAT IDEA is about the lives and struggles of Kytherian immigrants to Australia in the early twentieth century, including the fascinating Roxy Theatre story.

The book investigates this turbulent era in Greek and Australian history through the experiences of Peter Feros and his contemporaries.

The production costs of 'KATSEHAMOS AND THE GREAT IDEA' are being funded by a grant from the Nicholas Aroney Trust.

All are welcome to come to Bingara and join in the celebration.

If you need assistance to travel to Bingara - please contact George Poulos on 93888320.
Email George here


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Katsehamos and the Great Idea is now available on Amaon Kindle for $9.99

To view photos of the Roxy project in 2010, click here.

The three Greek partners who built the Roxy in the 1930s quickly found themselves involved in a 'cinema war'. To discover more about the fascinating story behind The Roxy, visit Katsehamos and the Great Idea.

To read reviews of Katsehamos and the Great Idea click here.