Vale George Aleksiunas

An email sent to The Society Of Australian Cinema Pioneers

I am very sad to report that Industry veteran and Croydon Cinemas General Manager George Aleksiunas passed away earlier today. He loved every aspect of entertaining patrons and putting on a show. George enjoyed nothing more than the buzz of a crowded, bustling foyer and cinemas full of happy patrons.
 
George commenced his cinema career as a cleaner working at the Village Geelong Twin Cinemas back in the 1970s. After a few years George moved to Melbourne where he became an assistant manager working at the Russell Cinemas complex for Greater Union.  Upon the closure of the Forum Cinemas, Greater Union offered limited options for advancement so George found a position with Hoyts as a manager. He spent time in Tasmania and ran the Hoyts Midcity Cinemas in Hobart. Hoyts then embarked upon a multiplex expansion and after working at Chadstone and Northland, George settled into Highpoint for many years and then Chadstone as the location manager. 

George was instrumental in the opening of Hoyt's La Premiere Cinema offering at Chadstone, as by this time he had moved into the position of State Marketing Manager.
 
In 2004 George decided to take on the Croydon cinemas which had been expanded to 4 screens.  George then had a period working for Specialty Curtains working on the cinema supply area of the business, and Reading Cinemas as operations manager before once again heading up Croydon cinemas as General Manager.
 
George was found deceased at home in the early hours of Monday April 9. Initial reports are that he passed away from natural causes.
 
Funeral details are yet to be made.

Kind regards,
 
David Kilderry
Victorian Branch Committee Member
The Society Of Australian Cinema Pioneers
(With contributions from Derek Screen and Tom Schouten)