Lecture Presentation and Afternoon Tea

In an Australia we still remember, in each suburb and every country town, was the Greek café or milk bar—open all hours, 7 days a week. Remember the Niagara, the Parthenon, the California, the Astoria and Paragon? They gave us more than milkshakes, lollies, ice cream and home style meals. With Modernist designs, American gadgetry and coloured light, cafés brought atmosphere, a touch of glamour, at times a hint of Hollywood—a little break from the mundane reality of local life.

As the good old days faded away, Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszewski took their camera and tape recorder, camera and pen into this vanishing world. They captured the faces and stories, the style and the ethos that gave our popular culture one of its most memorable expressions.

Hear Effy and Leonard present this fascinating journey at the Iconic Paragon in Katoomba, the oldest and one of the last remaining Greek cafes.  After the lecture enjoy an afternoon tea of freshly baked scones and meet Effy and Leonard and an opportunity to purchase their book.