Greater Union

Greater Union is an Australian chain of cinema multiplexes. They are rivals with Hoyts and Village Cinemas, although Amalgamated Holdings Limited, who run the Greater Union chain, have a 50% share holding in the Village Cinemas chain. Greater Union also trade under the name Birch Carroll & Coyle, which is found in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the northern region of New South Wales.

History

The story of Greater Union begins in 1910, when Thomas James West established West's Pictures. Over the next three years the company merged with other existing film distributors, first becoming 'the General Film Co of Australasia', then 'Union Theatres and Australasian Films'.

During the 1920s the organisation grew further, developing a relationship with Queensland's Birch, Carroll & Coyle, a brand that Greater Union maintains today. The Great Depression of the 1930s caused significant changes. Union Theatres was liquidated, and its assets purchased by Greater Union Theatres. British Empire Films, the National Theatre Supply Co., and Cinesound all derived from 'Union Theatres and Australiasian Films'.

In 1945 the Rank Organisation purchased 50% of the now stable Greater Union Theatres. The name changed to 'Greater Union Organisation', or GUO in the 1950s, a time which saw the formation of strategic alliances with Hoyts and the predecessor to Village Roadshow (1955 and 60) in order to exploit opening markets. GUO expanded by acquiring the MGM Theatres cinema chain in 1971, the Western Australia based Ace Group in 1986, and completing their acquisition of Birch, Carroll & Coyle in 1991. The majority of the GUO sites are a joint venture with Village Cinemas (trading as: Australian Theatres). In NSW, ACT, QLD, SA and WA they trade under the GU and BCC brands but in Victoria under the Village banner. GUO has since expanded into Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. [http://www.ahl.com.au/ Amalgamated Holdings Limited] acquired control from the Rank Organisation in 1984, and continues to run the company today.

At the beginning of 2008 allocated seating was rolled out in the majority of its cinemas nationwide.

Locations

outh Australia

Adelaide has two Greater Union cinemas, an eight-screen multiplex adjacent to the Centro Arndale shopping centre in Kilkenny and Megaplex Marion, the largest Megaplex in the southern hemisphere, which sits atop the Westfield Marion shopping centre. A third location, Hindley Street in the city, closed in September 2008. Megaplex Marion opened in 1997, after Westfield Marion underwent a major renovation. When originally opened, the Megaplex had a total of 30 auditoriums, 8 of which were Senstadium. Two of the Senstadium auditoriums seat just over 550 people. The cinema had seating capacity for just over 5,200 people. The length of the cinema complex is approximately the size of two full size football fields, or two times the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The cinema acquired the use of a golf cart which was converted as a passenger mobile to transport customers from the foyer area to cinema's down the concourse, who found it difficult to get to the auditoriums. This is especially the case in disabled and elderly customers. In late 2003, early 2004, Megaplex Marion underwent renovations, which resulted in 7 of the small cinemas being converted in to 3 Gold Class cinemas, capable of seating up to 90 people, 30 in each cinema.

ACT

In Canberra, they have one cinema Manuka after Civic closed in late 2007.

New South Wales

In New South Wales they have many locations, including MEGAPLEX Macquarie & Castle Hill and the 16 screens CBD in George Street. Macquarie has three Gold Class cinemas, twelve Senstadium cinemas, as well as one new concept cinema by the name of Silverscreen cinema and bar.

In early 2006, 11 new screens opened at Westfield Parramatta and a new cinema at Campbelltown's Macarthur Square replaced 9 older screens in a newly built complex. At these two locations the company is introducing a new concept of cinema, G-Max. The auditoriums feature screens 25 metres across and larger, more comfortable seating.

The Company's head office is still above the State Theatre, which Greater Union built in 1928.

Greater Unions are typically located wherever Westfield shopping centres are, such as Burwood, Bondi Junction and Miranda.

But currently a Top Ryde city Cinema should open in 2010 or later.

Western Australia

In Western Australia, they have 2 locations - Innaloo and Morley (suburbs of Perth).

Queensland

In Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Greater Union Cinemas are known as Birch Carroll & Coyle.

Until early 2006 two cinemas in the Brisbane CBD were managed by Birch Carroll & Coyle with half the screens owned by BCC/Greater Union and half owned by Hoyts. Hoyts pulled out of the two Brisbane CBD sites, located in the Myer Centre Complex and the old Regent Theatre building, and the two cinemas are now fully managed by Birch Carroll and Coyle.

Birch Carroll and Coyle operates three Megaplexes in Brisbane at Chermside, Indooroopilly and Garden City. These Megaplexes were once the home to the states only Gold Class cinemas. However Gold Class cinemas now also operate at Birch Carroll and Coyle's cinema at Australia Fair on the Gold Coast. Gold Class is a luxury cinema experience with reclining chairs, a licensed bar and table service of traditional snacks, hot food and drinks. Birch Carroll and Coyle are no longer the only cinema chain in Queensland offering such an experience.

Besides the different name the cinemas are identical to other states' Greater Union Cinemas.

Victoria

In Victoria, there is a single Greater Union cinema, located in Russell Street, in the Melbourne city centre.

Northern Territory

Both Greater Union Cinemas located in or around Darwin - one in the city centre on Mitchell St, and one in Casuarina as part of the shopping mall. These are both named Birch Carroll and Coyle.

Greater Union and Hoyts

Greater Union had previously ran in partnership with Hoyts in several locations in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane including Sydney's CBD location. As of December 2005, Hoyts and Greater Union have separated their joint ventures in these locations [http://smh.com.au/news/BUSINESS/ACCC-approves-Hoyts-GU-divorce/2005/12/07/1133829653515.html]

External links

* [http://www.greaterunion.com.au/ Greater Union Official Site]
* [http://www.ahl.com.au/ Amalgamated Holdings Limited Official Site]