Queensland cinema pioneer Beryl Madsen dies, aged 89

A Queensland cinema pioneer who helped shatter the glass ceiling for women in the industry has died, leaving a legacy which included a telegram from Paul Hogan and launches featuring the likes of Jack Thompson and Susannah York.

Celebrating bigger and better cinemas on the Sunshine Coast: Beryl Madsen with then manager Christine Pitcher and assistant manager Brooke Doughty. Photo: Lou O'Brien / Sunshine Coast Daily

Beryl Madsen, one of the pioneers of Queensland cinema who helped shatter the glass ceiling for women in the industry, has died, aged 89.

The 2019 Queensland Cinema Pioneer of the Year winner started her career in Maryborough in 1963 as a cafe attendant at the Starline Drive-in.

Ms Madsen worked nights while her husband looked after their four children. She rose through the ranks to become assistant manager.

In 1973, she was appointed manager of the Wintergarden Cinema and Starline Drive-In in Marybough. She was the first female in the management team at BCC Cinemas.

The Wintergarden Cinema hosted several stars of stage and screen including Jan Michael Vincent (World’s Greatest Athlete), Jack Thompson (Sunday Too Far Away) and Susannah York and Tim Burstall AM (Eliza Fraser).

Beryl Madsen hosted several stars of stage and screen including Jack Thompson (Sunday Too Far Away).

Ms Madsen also hosted The Drifters, Slim Dusty and Chad Morgan at live shows.

Queensland cinema pioneer Beryl Madsen. Photo: Contributed

But one of her greatest career highlights was receiving a personal telegram from Paul Hogan following a record-breaking season of Crocodile Dundee at the Cinema Maroochydore.

Paul Hogan sent Ms Madsen a telegram after the record breaking-success of Crocodile Dundee at Cinema Maroochydore.

Christine Pitcher, who worked for her at Maroochydore, said Ms Madsen passed away on Thursday night after contracting pneumonia.

“Beryl was my boss, my mentor in the cinema industry but, most importantly, my friend.”

The two met when Ms Pitcher was working for Sunshine Coast radio station 4SS (now Mix FM) booking the cinema advertising.

“She was just great fun,’’ Christine said, adding they developed a great friendship over lunches.

Beryl Madsen and Christine Pitcher having some fun at a Cinema Pioneers lunch.

After she moved to Canberra to work at another radio station, Ms Pitcher got a call from Ms Madsen asking whether she wanted to work with her as her assistant cinema manager

“She was the one who persuaded me to leave radio and join her in the cinema industry.

“I will be forever thankful to her. Beryl was an absolute joy to be with and she taught me so much about the wonderful world of cinema.”

“She was just such a great mentor and teacher even in the stressful times.’’

Beryl Madsen with her award in 2019 in recognition of her service to the cinema industry.

Ms Pitcher remembers with laughter how Ms Madsen ran out of the hairdressers while getting a perm after the power went off at the Sunshine Plaza.

With six cinemas running during holidays, she knew it would be chaotic without power so scrambled back to work to help deal with the crisis.

Ms Pitcher, who joined BCC in 1989, then worked between the drive-in and the cinema

“We had many funny incidents, especially at the all-night sessions. Many patrons would arrive with their partner in panel vans and fall asleep. It was my job to wake them in the morning and send them home,’’ she wrote for this publication.

Christine Pitcher in theBirch Carrol and Coyle Sunshine Plaza complex she helped develop and manage.

Ron Livingston said he had ‘very fond memories of Beryl in 4MB (Maryborough radio) country.”

“She would bring into my office her advertising schedule to be booked in. Always a fun conversation. We did movie premiers of Grease and scary ones too.

“A lovely woman. A mixture of softness and toughness. It was still very much a man’s world in the 70s.

“Beryl more than held her own in the business world and I’m pleased to say a good friend.”

Beryl Madsen (left) with the 'cinema girls' from their last Christmas lunch.

The final screening at the Wintergarden Cinema saw a packed house for a double feature of Phar Lap and Man from Snowy River.

Birch Carroll and Coyle sold both theatres in Maryborough in 1983 and Ms Madsen became manager of the Maroochydore Cinema and Drive-In.

A year later, she became the manager, and the new BCC Maroochydore Cinema 6 opened in the Sunshine Plaza.

She managed the Sunshine Coast operation until her retirement to spend time with family and travel.

Ms Madsen lived in Alexandra Headland and had regular ‘cinema girls’ catch ups with past BCC staff.

Ms Madsen was 89. She had four children – Susan, Peter, Martin and Cameron, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Her husband, Andy Anderson, who was the editor of the Maryborough Chronicle for 13 years, passed away in 2017.

Originally published as Queensland cinema pioneer Beryl Madsen dies, aged 89