Page 23 - RD_2015_12

Closure And Reconstruction
In the face of rising costs and
diminishing audiences Hoyts prepared
for change. In 1966 they announced
that two cinemas would open in a new
office building to replace the Regent
and Paris. The development went
ahead, but without the cinemas.
The 1970s saw Hoyts look again at
the Regent; their lease with the Mayne
Estate was drawing to a close.
Negotiators settled on a plan to keep
the building, but demolish the
auditorium and build four cinemas in it.
Public protests resulted in a
compromise: Hoyts agreed to restore
the two foyers and to re-use decorative
elements from the auditorium.
Final approval was reached in 1978: One of the 1980 cinemas with some original décor.
the original Regent was now doomed. Acknowledgments References
With closure imminent, Hoyts arranged
I am indebted to many former staff The Diaphone Vol. 7 No. 2, May 1968
a farewell performance with well-
of the Regent Brisbane who generously
known performers and celebrities, The Regent Theatre Story by Gordon
shared their memories and stories. In
complemented by nostalgic film clips. Berry.
particular I wish to acknowledge the
Neil Jensen was organist for the The Courier Mail
help of the late John Scott (Manager),
occasion, playing on an electronic The Telegraph
Eric Morris (former Head Projectionist)
organ. The farewell concert was a Cinemas of Australia via USA by Ross
the late George Haines, the late Gordon
sellout. Less than a week later, on 26 Thorne
Berry and Neil Jensen.
August 30 1978, after the final
Hoyts Archives, and my own files.
screening of Thank God It’s Friday with At a Glance:
Donna Summer, the Regent was closed. Hoyts Regent Theatre Brisbane
As might be expected on this 167 Queen Street
project, the extent of what was meant Built for: J.C. Williamson Brisbane Bounty
by conservation was an emotionally Ltd. and Brisbane in the 1920s was a
charged issue. Disputes led to long Hoyts Theatres Ltd. capital city in fact but not
delays in the reconstruction. The Architects: Charles Hollinshed, population, at least by comparison
National Trust had submitted plans for
Aaron Bolot with Sydney or Melbourne. One
a three-cinema proposal to retain the measure of the gift J.C.W. and Hoyts
and Richard Gailey
entire balcony and proscenium, but this Builder: A.J. Dickinson gave to Brisbane is to compare
was thwarted on engineering grounds. population numbers in the capitals in
Seating: (1938): 2,583. Stalls 1,642,
By December 1978, demolition teams 1929 with the seating capacities of
were in full swing on the interior. Circle 672, each Regent. The ratio of persons
Lounge 268. per seat shows that J.C.W. and Hoyts
The new Regent opened on
Saturday, 2 August 1980 with the Opened: 8 November 1929. did not compromise on the size of a
Regent just because there were
foyers restored and four new cinemas. Fox Follies of 1929 fewer people to use it.
The seating was: Cinema 1, 400; Projectors: C & W (3)
Cinema 2, 344; Cinema 3; 740 and Organ: 3/15 Wurlitzer City Population* Regent People
Cinema 4, 492. As promised, one (French console) Seats** per
Seat
cinema did include elements salvaged Opus 2040
Brisbane 308,580 2,586 119
from the original auditorium and the Model 260. Sydney 1,127,470 2,208 510
former circle foyer had been CinemaScope: 31 Dec. 1953 Melbourne 1,000,000 3,253 307
painstakingly dismantled and re-erected The Robe Adelaide 330,217 2,262 146
on the lower level. The cost of New Projectors: Gaumont Kalee 21 *Year Book Australia, 1929
refurbishment came to $5.5 m.
Westrex Sound ** Film Weekly 1958. No comparable list for
Despite new cinema developments Closed: 26 August 1978. 1929.
in Brisbane since 1980, the company
Architects for Lange L. Powell,
and the public must be pleased with the
outcome, because Hoyts Regent 4-screen complex: Dodds and Thorpe.
Re-opened: 2 August 1980
Cinemas were renovated in 2003, and
Current status: An operating
are still screening. H
cinema

CINEMARECORD 2005 23