Decorations for the 'Prehistoric Cabaret' [PRG 1459/6/10] • Photograph
Decorations for the 'Prehistoric Cabaret'
A 14 foot high model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex conceived and made by Doug Mackenzie, with assistance of members of the the Apex Club of Glenelg, for the 'Prehistoric Cabaret' held in the Glenelg Town Hall on 27 March 1953. The dinosaur was brilliantly painted by Eric J. Field and photographed by Ross J. Rainsford. The sound effects were by Bob Malin. In the background, beneath the 12 foot wing span of a hovering Pteranodon, can be seen part of the 200 feet of 5 foot high painted scenery depicting life in prehistoric times as portrayed by volunteer Adelaide artists. The scenery was illuminated by a continuous string of festoon lighting concealed beneath a cardboard pelmet. The hall above remained in darkness creating the illusion that the onlooker was actually surrounded by the pre-historic landscape. The awe-inspiring, towering image of Tyrannosaurus Rex, illuminated by an eerie green spotlight, dominated the scene. Part way through the evening, with dancing in full swing, a devastating, thunderous roar, comprised of a mixture of the roaring of lions and other jungle denizens, burst at full volume from a large speaker concealed in the throat of the monster. So shocked were a number of the dancers that they immediately fell flat on the floor and it was indeed fortunate that no one suffered a heart attack. During a following pause a desperate sounding announcer shouted "Quick, he's hungry. He won't stop roraring until you throw money into his mouth". We only dared to try this stunt once more during the evening which resulted in a considerable amount of money being ingested by the monster. Unfortunately it proved almost impossible to get it all out as most of it was caught between the wire mesh lining and the Papier-Mache skin. For a number of years following this event coins were often excreted every time the monster was disassembled. [Text by Doug Mackenzie.] A unsourced newspaper cutting is pasted to the back of the photograph - see PRG 1459/6/10V.
Decorations for the 'Prehistoric Cabaret'
A 14 foot high model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex conceived and made by Doug Mackenzie, with assistance of members of the the Apex Club of Glenelg, for the 'Prehistoric Cabaret' held in the Glenelg Town Hall on 27 March 1953. The dinosaur was brilliantly painted by Eric J. Field and photographed by Ross J. Rainsford. The sound effects were by Bob Malin. In the background, beneath the 12 foot wing span of a hovering Pteranodon, can be seen part of the 200 feet of 5 foot high painted scenery depicting life in prehistoric times as portrayed by volunteer Adelaide artists. The scenery was illuminated by a continuous string of festoon lighting concealed beneath a cardboard pelmet. The hall above remained in darkness creating the illusion that the onlooker was actually surrounded by the pre-historic landscape. The awe-inspiring, towering image of Tyrannosaurus Rex, illuminated by an eerie green spotlight, dominated the scene. Part way through the evening, with dancing in full swing, a devastating, thunderous roar, comprised of a mixture of the roaring of lions and other jungle denizens, burst at full volume from a large speaker concealed in the throat of the monster. So shocked were a number of the dancers that they immediately fell flat on the floor and it was indeed fortunate that no one suffered a heart attack. During a following pause a desperate sounding announcer shouted "Quick, he's hungry. He won't stop roraring until you throw money into his mouth". We only dared to try this stunt once more during the evening which resulted in a considerable amount of money being ingested by the monster. Unfortunately it proved almost impossible to get it all out as most of it was caught between the wire mesh lining and the Papier-Mache skin. For a number of years following this event coins were often excreted every time the monster was disassembled. [Text by Doug Mackenzie.] A unsourced newspaper cutting is pasted to the back of the photograph - see PRG 1459/6/10V.