Megalo Theatre, Carinda NSW.

Map of Northern NSW. Walgett lies in the Far West, and Carinda is situated to the South below it.

Letter from Emanuel T Conomos to Mr Les Tod, Cinema Historian [find other references to Les Tod by using the internal search engine].

18th August 1985.

.. Tamworth Street
Dubbo NSW 2830.

"As mentioned to you on the telephone, I have obtained a little more information on the Carinda Theatre.

The building was originally the Carinda Hall, which was purchased by my father, and converted into a Picture Show.

The first show was screened on Monday, 12th July, 1937. The name of the picture was Naughty Marietta. Confirmation of this can be gained from the Walgett Spectator, 30th July, 1937.

In its hey-day pictures were screened three times a week, with such epics as; Gone with the Wind, South Pacific, and Ben Hur, drawing crowds from as far away as Walgett and Coonamble.

In 1958 the Theatre was extensively renovated and an upstairs section, seating some twenty odd patrons was added.

The Theatre's name was prominently displayed, being Megalo Theatre. The word megalo coming from my father's Greek surname, being Megaloconomos.

My father left Carinda and moved to Dubbo in 1960, but he continued to commute each weekend back to Carinda to show pictures of a Saturday night. Better roads and transport, and communications saw the demise of the picture show in Carinda with the last screening being in late 1969.

To my knowledge the Theatre still exists, all seats have been removed; however, the projection booth should still be found largely unaltered from the days when it was in operation.

Further information of its present state could be gained by contacting Emanuel P Conomos, on Carinda ...., or ....

If photographs of the old or new Theatre would be of any use, please let me know and I shall forward copies.

Emanuel T Conomos


Mr Les Tod's notes from August 1985 on the Megalo Theatre are:

The Carinda Public Hall was licensed 22.8.30 to seat 313 persons on one level. It was used sporadically as a cinema during the thirties until 1937, when it was sold to a Greek immigrant, Mr Megalaconomos. This gentleman shortened his name to Conomos, and reopened the hall as the Megalo Theatre on Monday, 12 July, 1937. The first feature was Naughty Marietta.

Mr Conomos business interests spread to include the hotel, houses and a generator he purchased in order to get an ice cream machine. He was particularly keen to get an ice cream machine as there was only one in the West at the time. Surplus power from the generator was used to run his theatre, store and hotel, and power was left over to supply many homes.

In 1937, Mr Conomos was also involved with his brother in the building of the large art deco Luxury Theatre in Walgett.

The Megalo, (the name means big/great in Greek), ran three programmes a week in its heyday, and was very popular. A small dress circle of around 20 seats was later added. Second hand projectors were bought for the theatre in 1937, called peekaboos; which are said to be still in it.

The building is of fibrous cement front and corrugated iron walls. The screen, projectors and seats are still there also.

In 1960 Mr Conomos left Carinda to live in Dubbo. He continued to travel back to carinda on Saturday nights to screen films.

The theatre was equipped with CinemaScope and screened such epics as Gone with the Wind, South Pacific, and Ben Hur.

It closed late 1969, and is presently out of use (August, 1985).

Further Information:

Wagga Spectator, 30 July, 1937.

Chief Secretary's Department, Licensing Lists, 1959.


Thank you to Les Tod, for preserving the information, and allowing it to be reproduced at kythera-family.