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In this variation on the Regent Collins Street, every patron climbs the grand staircase. The Stalls entrance is directly beneath the
arched window, Lounge or dress circle patrons turn left or right at the head of the staircase. The walk to or from the underground car
park is behind the staircase. Hoyts Archives.

Also from the USA came the A Finish Fit For a King The floor was terrazzo. A
technical hardware, the latest Western Rising some three stories above passageway led off this foyer to a lift or
Electric sound-on film system, a Queen Street, the Romanesque exterior staircase to the offices upstairs.
WurliTzer pipe organ and carbon arcs gave little hint of the delights beyond. From the corridor, marble steps led
supplied by Hall and Connolly. The directly into a second and decorative
largest piece of fully-imported Spanish-Gothic foyer. Here the ticket
equipment was the Brunswick- counter was of marble and grille work,
Kroeschell air conditioning plant. This similar to the one in the Regent
plant rivalled the WurliTzer organ in Melbourne. A central marble staircase
cost: (30,000 pounds, $60,000). It had leading to the art gallery, Dress Circle
the capacity to cool 175,000 cubic feet and stalls was an eye-catcher.
of air per minute. The effect was The street entrance is narrow, as if Balconnetes with draped valences over
described in publicity as ‘a perpetual to disarm expectations and only slowly mirrored backgrounds were set along
spring wafted throughout the theatre.’ reveal its pleasures. It continued as a the Grand Foyer. A ceiling mural
The seats were unique, each one in passageway some 22.7m (74ft) in ceiling depicted patriots in period
Jacobean style - a timber frame length. The ceiling here was an costume, and gothic windows in amber
supporting a woven cane back - to elaborately decorated barrel-vault, glass rose above the doors from the
maximize air-flow in the tropical finished in gold, bronze and copper foyer entrance. The height from floor to
climate. Stalls and Dress Circle seating plate. The patterned ceiling and its two ceiling in this foyer was over 8m. (29ft)
was the tip-up variety with a leather murals of medieval scenes, set one each Access to Elizabeth Street from the
seat base. The lounge seats had larger end of this corridor were indirectly lit. front entrance was through the Grand
seat cushions. Copper-frame showcases and two ticket Foyer, descending one flight of stairs,
windows were set into walls treated in past toilets and a car park for some 200
the fashionable method of old-gold vehicles - modern by 1929 standards.
scumbling.

14 2005 CINEMARECORD