Back before streaming platforms took over and “Netflix” became a verb, if you wanted to watch the latest blockbuster film, you had to actually leave your home. And while we love the comfort of streaming movies in bed, there’s something super special and nostalgic about catching a flick at the cinema. The super-sized screen, the plush reclining chairs, the obnoxious aircon and the irresistible scent of buttery popcorn – you just can’t beat it.
Right in time for this Sunday’s Oscars, our Global Film Editor has revamped Time Out’s list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world – and two Sydney cinemas have been given starring roles.
Without doubt the grandest cinema in Sydney, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne claimed the 22nd spot on Time Out’s list of the world’s most beautiful cinemas. Dating back to 1935, this Art Deco theatre is a stunning step back in time, featuring six glitzy auditoria, each with its own colour scheme and decor. However, the true star of the show is the 744-seat Orpheum, where a genuine Wurlitzer cinema organ rises from a stage pit on weekend evenings, complete with flashing lights and a grinning organist.
The other Sydney theatre to make Time Out’s list of the most beautiful picture palaces was Golden Age Cinema and Bar, located in Surry Hills, in position 36. Though it was only converted into a theatre in 2013, this 60-seat basement cinema is dressed like a character from the 1940s. With moss-green velvet, polished wood, and a raised stage beneath its small yet perfectly formed silver screen, it’s a nostalgic nod to cinema's golden era (fun fact: during World War II, the space was used for screenings of newsreels and informational films for the military). The bar is as beautiful as the theatre, featuring handmade choc-tops; smoked almonds; popcorn sprinkled with salt, Sichuan or cinnamon; and a Cameo Cocktail special inspired by a recent flick. Located in one of Sydney's trendiest precincts – in the same building as the sexy-as-hell Paramount House Hotel – Golden Age gets our vote as the best special-occasion cinema in the city.
The other Aussie cinema to make the list was The Astor, Melbourne’s oldest single-screen theatre and the last of its kind in operation, which ranked seventh on the carefully considered list.
You can check out Time Out's full list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world here.
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