Vintage photobooth finds new home at Lygon Court

Carlton is now home to its very own vintage photobooth, thanks to the team behind the iconic Flinders Street Station booth, which has set up a new spot for locals to enjoy at Lygon Court.

Jessie and Chris, the pair behind Metro Auto Booth, are continuing the legacy of Alan Adler, who ran the Flinders St booth for more than 50 years before his passing in December last year. 

Today, Metro Auto Booth operates six vintage booths across Melbourne’s most iconic locations.

The couple's journey began on their first date, which was “going very well,” when they visited the Flinders St booth and noticed a sign saying it was going to be removed. 

Determined to save a piece of Melbourne’s history they both cherished, they decided to take action.

“This has been here longer than both of our ages combined, we needed to do something,” Jessie said.

Chris, a photographer by trade, reached out to Alan and asked if he could take photos of the booth.

“That moment changed our lives. We helped save the photobooth from being removed with thanks to City of Melbourne as well,” Jessie told Inner City News.

From there, a friendship blossomed, and Chris became Alan’s unofficial protégé. 

“It was never about taking over the booth,” Jessie said. “It was about preservation and not wanting Alan's legacy to die with him.”

As Alan faced health challenges, Jessie and Chris were the perfect pair to carry on his work – passionate fans of the booths and their place in Melbourne’s cultural fabric.

The Lygon Court booth is one of several that Alan had kept in storage. Metro Auto Booth is dedicated to restoring these vintage treasures so Melburnians can continue to enjoy them.

“These things had been sitting in storage for 20 or 30 years, so there was a lot of cleaning, pulling the machines apart, and rewiring to restore them to their former glory,” Jessie said.

With its nostalgic charm and reputation as a go-to spot for Carlton locals to catch a budget-friendly movie or savour an Italian coffee and cake, Lygon Court was the perfect choice for Metro Auto Booth’s next venture.

“The response was overwhelming, it’s been so lovely. When we were installing it, we had to put headphones on at one point because there were just so many people coming up to us,” Jessie said.

“That sort of area brings a lot of not only the older generation that would remember these, but also a new generation of people that really appreciate it.” 

Honouring Alan’s legacy remains at the heart of everything Chris and Jessie do, with each booth featuring a photo of Alan or his family – a nod to the man who started it all.

“My favourite part is definitely seeing people's responses and the waiting and the anticipation the strip of photos it coming out,” Jessie said.

“When it comes out and you hear the squeals or the laughter, it never gets old. No matter how many times you hear it, you always smile.” •