Michael Smith is the only man to have ever circumnavigated the globe solo in a sea plane, stopping in 80 cities and coming close to death on the west coast of Canada.
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The epic adventure, taking on the world in a converted hobby SeaRay originally designed to fly only three hours per leg, is what he’s best known for, winning Australian Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year in 2016.
While a nostalgic fascination with the golden era of 1930s travel and his grandfather’s history flying Catalinas in WWII were drivers for the 2015 expedition, he also visited 70 cinemas on his seven month journey.
“My love of cinema came before flying. I loved movies as a kid, ran the film club at Melbourne Uni and had my first job in the industry as engineer,” he said.
“I took up flying in my mid thirties to avoid a mid-life crisis, or maybe it was my mid-life crisis.”
Spending two to three days at each stop from Bangladesh to Greenland, Smith saw old theatres restored, and experienced their centrality to communities worldwide.
“There was a drive-in in India which really represented the class system that still exists,” he said.
“If you could only afford a cheap ticket, around 80c, you could sit on the grass at the front, behind this for double the price were seats, then cars then a massive stadium.”
“There were 10,000 people there with people paying 80c to $10. It was one of the most exciting nights of cinema in my entire life.”
It takes a lot to excite a man who’s risked his life against the elements in a tiny single-engine plane and spent a week sleeping in it on the Mississippi river, but film never fails to rouse his interest.
“Community cinema has a really important role to play, a well run small cinema can be heart of community, a meeting place and good movies are in essence good lessons in life, it’s a wonderful experience,” he said.
Michael and his wife run two restored cinemas, the Sun Theatres in Yarraville and Bairnsdale, Victoria.
After returning to the country in November 2015, he has toured around small country towns, reliving his experiences.
“I didn’t want it to be over, to share the story keeps the kernel of it alive,” he said.
While screening a documentary, produced by Robert Murphy on his trip in Wagga recently, he was introduced to the colourful history of Junee’s own Athenium.
“When I see an old building saved and become a focal point for a town it’s really special,” he said.
He’ll be landing on a local farmer’s airstrip in Junee before taking his story to audiences at the theatre on October 21, from 6pm.
The screening and Q and A is free for children and $15 for adults.