Reg Boulter, cinema pioneer and news cameraman, passed away on April 26 after a long illness. Reg’s interest in movies began at the age in 12 in 1950 when he was employed selling Screen News at The Renown Cinema in Elsternwick. At the age of 14, he worked for Val Morgan, cleaning, rewinding, and delivering film commercials to cinemas.
Leaving school at 15, he progressed to an assistant projectionist for many cinema organisations, eventually becoming a projectionist for Hoyts Cinemas in Melbourne’s CBD. Reg played an integral part in the early days of new gathering, starting his career in television at Australia’s first regional television station GLV-10 in 1961 as a telecine operator.
His tenacious professionalism led him to many scoops including being the first cameraman at the Westgate Bridge collapse along with Ray Rowe, the tragic four-jet RAAF disaster in Sale, Harold Holt’s disappearance, Cyclone Tracy and many others.
By the mid-sixties, Reg had moved to Channel Nine, where he quickly garnered praise as a professional and dedicated newsman. In 1965, Reg was sent to Vietnam to film Australian and US combat operations for Channel Nine. Arriving for his first patrol in the jungle in his pin-stripe suit and tie, the Lieutenant in command told him he couldn’t possibly go out on a mission until he changed out of his suit. That was the way Reg operated; he just wanted to get on with the job. He lamented he was only paid $68 per week to risk his life!
Reg later moved to Channel Seven and experienced the change from film news gathering to video-based ENG. After a long stint with Seven, Reg moved back to his first love, film, working for the film unit of the Department of Agriculture. After several years of filming rural projects, he moved to Lemac Films as their rentals manager.
During his camera operating career, Reg also ran and operated several suburban cinemas, often shooting news by day and projecting films at night and weekends. He enjoyed his work as a news cameraman, but truly loved running cinemas and screening movies for the public. Later, Reg enjoyed the country life in Victoria’s Western District where he produced corporate videos and operated the Hamilton Cinema for many years.
Reg was made a life member of the ACS in 2010. He was a true pioneer of the Australian film and television industry who was at the forefront of news-braking events, and often mentored industry beginners like a young John Bowing ACS.
His contribution to the Australian television and cinema industries is of immense significance.
Reg is survived by his children David, Julie, Jennifer, Kathleen, Geoff, and Kevin (dec).
