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The Roxy was built in two parts,
          the shops and the entrance foyer, and
          then the auditorium and projection
          room. The narrow entrance to the
          theatre has terrazzo flooring, a stepped
          ceiling and features an island ticket
          box. Behind the ticket box four glass
          doors lead into the small inner
          vestibule. This area still features the
          original glass fronted poster display
          cases. At the top of the steps four
          Queensland walnut finished doors lead
          directly into the stadium style
          auditorium.
            The Roxy, despite its size, only
          seated 400/572 (2)  in a configuration of
          about 200 seats on a rake occupying
          about a third of the floor space with the
          balance of seating mounted on skids on
          the front dance floor space.  This area
          was purpose built for dancing with the
          flooring boards laid in a square pattern
          (to prevent movement).
            The architectural style is
          reminiscent of the Charles Bohringer
          design for the Embassy Theatre in
          Sydney. However, the Roxy’s architect
          could not be identified.
            The auditorium is long and tall in
          which backlit plaster grills meet a
          magnificent deep, rectangular and
          stepped proscenium. The ceiling
          features a rectangular, stepped recess
          pattern. Grill work on the left hand wall  The similar interiors of the Roxy (top) and the former Embassy, Sydney tempt
          covered the ventilation windows. The  speculation about the architect, but there is no evidence linking Charles Bohringer to
          original stage curtain was probably a  the Roxy. The Embassy image is courtesy of Ross Thorne.
          deep blue with heavy appliqué and a
          matching boxed top. Clever lighting
                                               The Roxy opened with great fanfare  was used; the Regent advertised that it
          effects were used.
                                            on 28 March 1936, an event not     was Australian owned and staffed.
            The stage area was the full width of
                                            matched by its subsequent patronage.  The Roxy eventually came under
          the building but shallow in depth.
                                            Over its 22 years the Roxy was not a  the control of its rival in the early
          There were no back stage facilities such
                                            successful theatre. The rival Regent  1950’s. Len Payne continued to operate
          as dressing rooms or loading dock. As a
                                            and its picture gardens proved to be the  both venues. The last regular exhibitors
          multi purpose venue the Roxy was
                                            dominant venue, mainly because of  at the Roxy were the Koovousi Bros.
          limited. Films were generally only
                                            access to Fox, MGM, Warner Bros.,  who in 1957/58 also ran the Regent
          screened on a few nights each week,
                                            RKO and British Gaumont products,  Café, and the Regent theatre and
          such as Wednesdays and Friday and
                                            whilst the Roxy screened Paramount,  picture gardens. (2)  This family closed
          Saturday.
                                            Universal and Columbia films.      the Roxy in 1958 but continued at the
            The projection room, and its
                                                Mr. Len Payne was the exhibitor at  Regent until about 1966. The Regent
          associated rewind and work areas, is a
                                            the Regent for many years whereas the  indoor, under other operators,
          large space accessed from a wide
                                            Roxy had at least nine exhibitors,  continued to screen until the early
          external concrete staircase and a
                                            (including Len Payne for two years.)  1970’s.
          balcony at the rear of the auditorium
                                               Intense competition led to various  The Roxy, except for the use of the
          (over the entrance vestibule). Its two
                                            promotional ruses. The most telling was  small vestibule known as the Roxy
          projectors are still in position. The
                                            the installation of two large      Café, was empty for years.
          sound system was an RCA Photophone
                                            loudspeakers on top of the Roxy’s     In 1999 the Bingara Shire Council
          installation. The 1950’s Cinemascope
                                            parapet. These were part of the theatre’s  purchased the Roxy and its neighboring
          format installation was cheap and nasty.
                                            RCA public address system and were  buildings. With State Government and
          The screen was placed in front of the
                                            used for competitive spruiking and to  Council resources a staged
          proscenium and was covered by the
                                            broadcast announcements, music and  refurbishment and extension program
          patterned brocade curtains of the day,
                                            film soundtracks to the town’s     was begun. At a cost in excess of
          which were totally out of character with
                                            residents. Even thinly disguised racism  $600,000 the Roxy is on the way to
          the rest of the décor.
          10  2004 CINEMARECORD
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