1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,479 Speaker 1: What is the best place honor. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: Lost lost landmarks? You could have warned me about that. 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: I did get a warning. All I had was have 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: a listen to the introduction to the segment. It's pretty 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: funny and the segment is all about Perth lost landmarks. 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 3: Well, it became known as the Perth Entertainment Center. Opened 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 3: on the twenty seventh of December nineteen seventy four, is 8 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 3: the Channel seven Edgeley Entertainment Center with the Australian debut 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 3: of the second Disney Oparade show Now You Dad is 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 3: what started it all? 11 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: And what an opening it was. 12 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 4: Ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls. This is a 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 4: wonderful day for the city of Perth, whom to this live. 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: Color to a cast of the official thing of the 15 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: Channel seven Entertainment Center, Hollywood. 16 00:00:59,000 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: Wasn't it? 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 3: Oh? Joining us now entrepreneur and former original owner of 18 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 3: the Perth Entertainment Center, Michael Edgley. 19 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Good morning, Michael, welcome, good. 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: Morning, and thank you for having me on your show. 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 3: Does that bring back some memories that that opening there? 22 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: Oh, well, the Perth Entertainment Center and general brought back 23 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: a lot of wonderful memories. I know you go to 24 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: ask me how it all came about. And it came 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: about because through one man, really, and anyone who in 26 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: Perth or most people in Perth over the age of 27 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 2: fifty will remember a wonderful Verston called Bryant Treasure. Bryant 28 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: Treasure was initially worked at the West Australian and when 29 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: the television came on board in Perth in fifty eight, 30 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: I think it was westers Newspapers had a chunk of 31 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: the shareholding and they set up an independent company obviously 32 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: to run seven and the head of it was Brian 33 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 2: Treasure was the general manager and he was just fantastic. 34 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: He was a phenomenal go getter and he sort of 35 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: was behind the likes of the big telethon the street parades. 36 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: He was did everything obviously and he was my mentor actually, 37 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: because my father died at a relatively young I was 38 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: relatively young. He was sixty nine nights in my twenties 39 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: early twenties, and Brian took me under his wing and 40 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: he was fantastic. And I always bringing a lot of 41 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: shows to Australia in general, and we did an original 42 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: tour of Disney on parade in a big tent and 43 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 2: we produced a big tent because there were no venues 44 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: at all in Australia those and Brian said, okay, next 45 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 2: time we did this, we're going to build an entertainment center. 46 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: And he was behind it all. And initially it was 47 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: going to be at ground and Ryan said, no, no, 48 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: we don't be at the showground. We wanted to be 49 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: down there, right there where it was down there, you know, 50 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 2: in a great spot. And yes, he was behind and 51 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 2: he got it going. We were close together, obviously, very 52 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: close together, and that's how that's how it all began. 53 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: And it actually we actually as a rehearsal, it actually 54 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: brought out what was then the Olympic gymnastic team from 55 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 2: Russia with that little Olga Corbett who was the first 56 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: the very famous female gymnasts that performed amazing things. And 57 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: then we hit it with the with the opening, the 58 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 2: official opening with Disney on Parade, and it went on 59 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: from there just incredible. And then of course and then 60 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: of course all the other I think that I think 61 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 2: New South Wales I was never ran. I was behind 62 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: that in Sydney for the Sydney Entertainment Center and we 63 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: were involved as well. Initially and they sprung up all 64 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: over the country and Brisbane. I left Perth and in 65 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty never would have left Perth, but it was 66 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 2: doing so much at the time, and either traveling from 67 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: Perth to Melbourne or Pertha City once a week and anyway. 68 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: Moved over to Sydney and had a long home on 69 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: the half of there. It wasn't particularly happy, didn't like 70 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: Sydney much and was making a was making a mood 71 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 2: on the Gold Coast and I spent a year going 72 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 2: backward and forged to the Gold Coast. We were making 73 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: this film called Some people made it a call called 74 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: Cool and Get a Gold and it became quite of 75 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: a cult film actually, and they still hold the race today. 76 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: We invented that race that couldn't get a golddle Oh, yes, 77 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: for the film. We did it for the film. Anyway. 78 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: I love my purpose, my first love. But why I 79 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: left Perth but because of the travel all the time, 80 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 2: as I said, and also the timeline whereas here. So 81 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: we ended up moving to gold Case and we've been 82 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: here ever since and it was great and I brought 83 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: up a family here and it was It's a wonderful 84 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: place to be. I think the Gold Coast and the 85 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: two best places in Australia and there. So yes, we 86 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 2: had some amazing things. I remember when we brought the 87 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: first international circus program to one of the international service 88 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 2: programs to Australia and a line got out backstage and 89 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: this never made the press because we hushed it up 90 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: and a line was running around. The running was running 91 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: around backstage, and we eventually yeah, and we eventually caught 92 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: it caughting it off into a room and the handle 93 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: has got it out here. But there's a lot of 94 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: eventful things happened at the events, you know, at the 95 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 2: center it was it's a great state. I mean it's 96 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 2: like it's like you know when you look at the 97 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: highs if we shue builder thirty forty thousand, but you 98 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: can't see that far ahead. And it certainly served its 99 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: purpose and it was great for the people at Perth. 100 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 2: I mean we just hit a million people at that 101 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: point and we opened it was a million people in 102 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: Perth and it was perfect at the time, and we 103 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: designed it. We designed it in a whale that behecause 104 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 2: don't forget Perth didn't have any particularly good theaters as such. 105 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: There's a good one now at the casino, but then 106 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: it was, and so we designed it in a way 107 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 2: that you could do theatrical productions. I mean, not rock 108 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: and all. I mean we had ballet there, and we 109 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: had Rudolffiraf there. We had big ballet companies there, and 110 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: although it wasn't perfect ballet, it was better than that 111 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 2: particular ballet not coming to Australia, not going to Western 112 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 2: Australia at all. So you never would have seen the 113 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: likes of Eurea Fo. 114 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 3: We would not be able to do and we probably 115 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 3: wouldn't have seen it something like Bob Hope before me 116 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 3: and I was at that show. Yeah, I'm pretty sure 117 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: Florence Henderson was part of the Yeah, it was incredible. 118 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 3: But Michael, there's a lot of bands, you know, rock 119 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 3: and roll bands that we would never have seen in 120 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 3: the seventeen and eighties had we not had this state 121 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 3: of the art, amazing venue for them to performing, because 122 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 3: it was hard enough to get them to come across 123 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 3: the Nuther board. 124 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: It wasn't well. That was another thing that Brian said, 125 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: he said, if we do this, we'll also get I 126 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: said absolutely, because that was an adequate capacity in those days. 127 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: You know, to to. 128 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 3: Appease them, Yeah, to make it worth their while, because 129 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: it wasn't cheap to get you know, to get it 130 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: right for them. 131 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: No, and my father some very early years when we 132 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 2: were running His Majesty's set, it was cheaper to do 133 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: a tour of New Zealand with the likes of a 134 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: musical like My Fair Lady than it was to bring 135 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 2: to Perth because you can same distance you could get Auckland, 136 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,239 Speaker 2: Wellington and christ Church. So I remember my father father 137 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: putting up some great battles to convince that My Fair 138 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 2: Ladies and the sound of musics and those genre to 139 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: come over and play His Majesty's, which eventually we did. 140 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: But it wasn't easy. 141 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: You have a lot of say in the way that 142 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: it was designed because I was a nine year old 143 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: look at the incident it was like a space spaceship 144 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: land and well. 145 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 2: Str yeah we did. And I can't remember the architects now. 146 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: Oh yes, obviously Brian and I sat down with over 147 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: in these plans listed this list to that, and the 148 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,599 Speaker 2: other people who were very helpful in it were the 149 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 2: Bull and family, the Bull and Circus. 150 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: He so sorry, but oh they probably got that line 151 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 3: of dangers. 152 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: They didn't have this the Thorpake, but coming on, it 153 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,599 Speaker 2: was coming on. I don't think so. I think this 154 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: a Thoro pack started after the Center. Yes, no, they 155 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 2: were still touring their own or shows too. But when 156 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: I bought out the acts, I chose the action. Like 157 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: you kidnapp, you didn't have the ability to access information 158 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 2: through Internet, et cetera. Side like putting together a Moscow circus. 159 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 2: You know, I spent over one hundred trips going to 160 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 2: Russia and the Dame in the Soviet Union, touring all 161 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 2: over the place, picking an acting in an act there. 162 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: These days they just send me, send you copies of 163 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 2: their videos or whatever. Online you can say, yeah, we'll 164 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: put that in there, and not that I'm doing circus anymore. 165 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: We put that in there, and this and there and 166 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: there you go. So there was some wonderful stories. I 167 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: remember presenting Icontina Turner there, and I didn't. I didn't 168 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 2: do a lot of rock and roll, but I did. 169 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: I did quite a few things. I mean, we did 170 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: done Bob Marley, we did John Denver, we did Paul Simon, 171 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: and I did remember she was a wonderful person, but 172 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: he was horrible. And I can say that now because 173 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 2: he's past. And I remember when he left the next 174 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: stop on their tour, which we had nothing to do 175 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 2: with with Jakarta, and they had this massive hallware it 176 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 2: was fifteen thousand that sold out and they were ready 177 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: to go on, and I said, no, we're we're not 178 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: and complained about something, and the fellow that was producing 179 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: the show said, mister Turney, you know you've got to 180 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,959 Speaker 2: go on, and it's already in the music. Blah blah blah. 181 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: No I'm not going I want this, I want that. 182 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 2: He says, he You're not going on. So the fellow 183 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 2: came back about three minutes later with armed security, which 184 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: you can't do now. I actually go to police. There 185 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 2: are army people. He said, he going on there, said 186 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 2: he going on now? I said, yes, we're going quite 187 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 2: get away with that impurpose. He behaved in the step self. 188 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: But that's one of hundreds of stories that came from 189 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: the center being there. 190 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 3: There are hundreds of stories. We've all got them, and 191 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 3: we're going to talk about them for the rest of 192 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 3: the morning. 193 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: You might have to bring up Bullins later in the week. 194 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 2: Two. 195 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:19,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, Michael has been lovely to reminisce about the 196 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 3: beginning of the entertainment and what do you think of 197 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 3: the rac arena that's there now, the design. 198 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: Of that it is. 199 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's great, magnificent. 200 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 3: I'm so glad that they kept that location. 201 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's magnificent. And I know the people that who 202 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 2: manage it, and they splendid. They do the Bridgeman Entertainment 203 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 2: as well, Center as well, and a few others and 204 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: they're very, very good. They're a world class company and 205 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: they know what they're doing. And Perth's got everything that 206 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: needs and more because you've got wonderful weather most of 207 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: the time you like here on the Gold Coast in Queensland, 208 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: so you know, we keep Queensland and West Astralia, keep 209 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: the country going, I think, yeah, mate. 210 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: So many great memories and a lot of people will 211 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: remember Brian Treasure very fondly too that you've brought his name. 212 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 3: Lots of memories. Thank you for providing. 213 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: Them for us. Yeah, absolute pleasure. 214 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: Lovely to talk to you all the best. The first 215 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: name we will chase it, so thank you, thank you. 216 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 2: Bye.