Page 20 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

dressing rooms. The colour scheme is based on a warm cream tone with ta~teful use of white, salmon and light
brown. The seating is a shade of rose red. We had a brief photobreak to enable photos to be taken of the
former Plaza and Lyric theatres. Next stop was Castlemaine the Theatre Royal. After these two the visit to the
Rex Theatre, Daylesford. This building is now used as a variety store but the interior is virtually original, even
to the stage curtains. Overall, this theatre is just a little worse than the Melbourne Regent but is very restorable.
An unlikely event given its size (looks to seat about 1200) in ~ small country town.

NEWSSHEET N0. 16 - 1993
This year s events started with a double feature visit to the St. Kilda Palais and National theatres. The Palais
is a handsome relic from the past glories of the picture palace. The acres of seats and everything else is still in
place and although in some respects showing its age, is still most impressive. The architectural style, especially
in the proscenium area, is comparable to the Sydney State, both theatres having the same architect. After it
was on to the National, formerly Hoyts Victory for an afternoon visit. This theatre has been transformed in a
way similar to that of the Melbourne Capitol and Ballarat Regent in that the upper floor has been extended to
the stage and in the case of the National, offices and rehearsal rooms have been built in the former stalls
space.

NEWSSHEET NO. 17
The annual visit to the Roxy attracted a good roll up of members and friends to enjoy SHOWBOAT and a
variety of supporting shorts. Following the April meeting we enjoyed Brian Beatty s presentation of CINERAMA
NOSTALGfA. This show was thoughtfully assembled with special attention being paid to backing the visuals
with appropriate sound.

NEWSSHEET NO. 18
The convention held in the Albury district over the May 15-16 weekend was an outstanding success. Thirteen
members and friends travelled to Springhurst and we paid a visit to the former Chiltern (Star) Theatre now
operating as a pioneer museum. The theatre, regarded by some as the oldest mainland theatre structure is still
a sound brick building and as a part of the tourist show shortmovies are screened. As the day was still bright our
group then moved on to Beechworth. It appears that the old theatre was erected as an Oddfellows Hall around
1880. Some time later it was known as the Federal Hall and around the mid 1920's as the Regent Theatre. It
functioned as a cinema until television came to the area around 1960 when it became a reception centre kriown
as The Regency Room. Sunday we set off for Albury where we caught up with Sydney (ATHS) and Gippsland
members before inspecting the Village Twin (ex Regent). What a fantastic experience! what a fantastic theatre!
We visited the Civic Theatre. Our reactions were mixed - it has a cold personality and although only built in the
1960's is very much dated. During the convention a handout was given out with details of Wangaratta and
Benalla theatres. Then to Swanpool. What a revelation. The stage and the projection ends of the building are
models of what cinema should be.

NEWSSHEET NO. 19
After the fantastic success of the Albury trip, the July video presentation was poorly attended. The video
records of our trips to Bendigo and Albur-Y were great and will be repeated at the October meeting. We also
enjoyed the documentary of the installation of the Compton organ at the Malvern Town Hall taken by Ken
Tulloch and was edited by Graham Smythe and narrated by Denzil Howson. How's that for talent in the Society.

NEWSSHEET NO. 20 - THE REGENT REPORT -
If this was a newspaper the headline would read TEAMWORK TRIUMPHS. The success of the Open Days on
September 18 and 19, 1993, was the result of the outstanding teamwork by all involved. Every team has its
leader on which its fortunes depend, and in this instance Rod Cook deserves the spotlight. CATHS-V was in
charge of the Regent. Rosters drawn up were soon abandoned, as everybody seemed to find a natural niche
in carrying out the various tasks. Everybody looked the part, the ladies in long frocks and blouses, and the men
in jackets and wearing bow ties. One of the most recurring compliments referred to the Audio Visual display. It
is worth recording here that the slides were lent to us by the president of the Save the Regent Committee. After
being broken in on Saturday, the work was on in earnest on Sunday when something lik~ twice the Saturday
attendanc~ took place. During the afternoon the atmosphere was unforgettable. A line of people queued up
right across the f9.yer and into the street ready to buy tickets, the buzz of conversation filled the foyer, the
Regent organ (tape) was entertaining the crowd who were stunned by the beauty of the foyer ceilings all
professionally flood lit. Inside the theatre tour guides and their groups were everywhere. If the crowds had have
been any larger it s doubtful if we could have handled them. The situation at the bio box had to be seen to be
believed. There were more people in it than there would have been at the final film screened at the Regent.

Note: (This was the last CATHS-V NEWSSHEET, replaced by "Happenings" in CinemaRecord, January 1994)