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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Broken Hill cinema legend John Wren honored for keeping film alive in outback city

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • John Wren, a local legend, is being honored for his decades-long dedication to keeping Broken Hill's Silver City Cinema operational.
  • Wren purchased the cinema in 1979 and navigated challenges like video rentals and economic downturns to provide movie entertainment.
  • His cinema played a crucial role in the production of

Broken Hill, a remote outback city in New South Wales, has long been a cinematic backdrop for iconic Australian films. While film crews and stars have come and gone, the Silver City Cinema has remained a vital link between the community and the film industry for nearly 60 years.

You could say Broken Hill was the place of Mad Max.

— John WrenRecalling the era when the cinema was used for the production of Mad Max 2.

Now, the cinema's current owners are honoring John Wren, the local figure who dedicated himself to keeping this connection alive. Wren, along with his family, became the cinema's longest-running custodians after he purchased it in 1979. He was driven by a strong desire to offer quality movie entertainment in Broken Hill.

Wren faced numerous challenges, including difficult film distribution deals, competition from video rental stores, and an economic downturn. These hurdles led him to relinquish a local drive-in theater, but he remained steadfast in his commitment to the Silver City Cinema. He actively encouraged patrons by dressing as popular movie characters and collaborated with local schools, clubs, and charities for fundraising events.

His contribution was vital to that movie.

— Scott SmithHistorian Scott Smith commenting on John Wren's role in the production of Mad Max 2.

The cinema's significance extended to the film industry itself, notably playing a pivotal role in the production of "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" in 1981. Wren kept the cinema open late for producers to screen raw footage, a contribution that historian Scott Smith described as vital to the film's presence in Broken Hill. Wren himself fondly recalls that era, saying, "You could say Broken Hill was the place of Mad Max."

His role was absolutely integral to having that movie in Broken Hill.

— Scott SmithHistorian Scott Smith emphasizing John Wren's importance to the filming of Mad Max 2 in Broken Hill.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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