Dan Clifford

Dan Clifford (1887 – 9 December 1942) was a well-known cinema entrepreneur and philanthropist in South Australia. He was also a keen promoter of the cinema industry, and owned 20 cinemas across the state at the time of his death, including several in Art Deco style, such as the Piccadilly Theatre and the Goodwood Star (now the Capri).

He founded the Star chain of picture theatres in 1917, which became Star Pictures Ltd in 1922 and then D. Clifford Theatres in 1923. The business was also referred to as the Clifford Theatre(s) Circuit, the Dan Clifford Cinema Circuit or Star (Theatre) Circuit in newspapers.

Five years after his death, in 1947 his theatres were bought by Greater Union; however, the business name of Clifford Theatres Ltd and the Clifford Theatre Circuit continued to be used until at least 1954.

Early life and education Clifford was born in Adelaide in 1887, He was the eldest of eight children, and one of his sisters was Ellen, who married John Walkley, who had attended Rostrevor College.

He attended St Joseph's School in Russell Street (in 1934 becoming inaugural vice-president of the Old Scholar's Association), and Sturt Street School, both in the south-western corner of Adelaide city centre.

After starting his working life in 1902 in 1916 He then enlarged and converted Hindmarsh's town hall to create the Hindmarsh Star Theatre, going on to do the same with Thebarton (later Thebarton Theatre

He also built the Norwood Star (now the Odeon Theatre),

He also built cinemas at Semaphore and Port Adelaide. ) and the New Star Theatre at Unley, ).

In September 1920 Dan Clifford bought Wondergraph's suburban circuit, which included cinemas at Unley, Goodwood, and Semaphore. The Unley and Goodwood theatres later passed back into Wondergraph hands.

Through the 1920s, Clifford also booked vaudeville entertainers to perform between films at his cinemas. ) was renamed the Plaza Theatre in 1937

On Saturday 14 May 1938 the former Central Picture Theatre at 70 Wakefield Street, Adelaide The Central (also designed by R. R. G. Assheton, Wakefield Street New Star; and the Wakefield Street Star Theatre. The cinema was situated adjacent to the Wakefield Hotel on its western side. The Star closed around 1959 or 1960 and reopened in 1962/63 as a Greek theatre, the Pantheon. It was demolished (date unknown)

After the acquisition of the New Star Theatre in Wakefield Street, it was reported that Clifford owned 15 theatres.

The Vogue Theatre in Kingswood the first new cinema built in Adelaide for around 10 years.

The Piccadilly Theatre, built the following year,

Having earlier acquired the Ozone Theatre in Goodwood and renamed it the Star, in 1941 Clifford built the New Star Theatre two doors down. The old Star continued to operate as the Curzon Cinema until it closed in 1964, and the New Star later became the New Curzon and later the Capri. Others in the city, suburbs, and regional South Australia followed.

Star Theatre, Hindmarsh Town Hall, seating capacity 2,012 Ozone Theatre, Glenelg (opened 5 November 1937), seating capacity 1,853 The Piccadilly, North Adelaide (opened 23 1940), seating capacity 1,437 The New Star Theatre, Goodwood (opened 8 October 1941; now the Capri Theatre), seating capacity 1.472

The company Clifford was managing director of D. Clifford Theatres, which was also referred to as the Clifford Theatres Circuit, the Dan Clifford Cinema Circuit or Star (Theatre) Circuit, with its address at 313a King William Street.

Other roles Clifford was a philanthropist, giving generously especially to children's charities,

He was president of the Motion Pictures Exhibitors from 1932 to 1935, after several years of vice-presidency. Clifford spent every Thursday afternoon with his family. Being Catholic, his funeral service was held in St Ignatius Church in Norwood, and he was buried in the Catholic portion of Centennial Park Cemetery.