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Letters





                       Australia
                  ABN 37 195 378 179           The story of the Regent Brisbane   At the time I thought the Regent
                    Reg A0020747R           (CR 49) generated more letters than  was the best cinema in Brisbane, if not
                                            any other subject. They have been  Australia. It would have been great to
           The aims of CATHS are: to record the  edited to avoid repetition.   see a large stage show in such grand
           history of cinemas and theatres, and to                             surroundings. What a pity going to the
           promote interest in theatre heritage and                            pictures is not the same these days.
           architecture, and other related areas.  REGENT BRISBANE
                       Patrons:                Congratulations to Ian Hanson for  Barry Freeman, Morphett Vale (SA)
           Frank Van Straten OAM Peter Smith OAM  the excellent article on the Regent. As a  The article on the Regent Brisbane
           Elaine Marriner   Philip Brady   Brisbane-born and bred film buff, the
                                                                               was a knockout. When I was a tertiary
                     Committee:             Regent will always be my favourite  student in Brisbane in the early 1960s I
           President: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870  picture palace. It was a true palace of  used to go to the pictures now and then.
           Vice President: Peter Wolfenden 9744 2570  dreams, and any film (good or bad) was  Coming from the country I found the
           Secretary: Mike Trickett 5278 1986  an event when viewed there. Ian's  Regent a bit overpowering, only
           Treasurer: Barrie Wraith 9435 9785  article demonstrated this with the  knowing plain, small interiors.
                         ★                  wonderful photos. I am thankful that I  As I understand it, the Regent
                                            can count myself as one of the last
           Archivist: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870                                  organ has been brought back to
           Central Victoria Co-ordinator:   generation to really appreciate the  Queensland to go into the Museum of
           Fred Page 5444 0428  (Bendigo)   original Regent.
           Gippsland Co-ordinator:             Your readers may not be aware of  Modern Art at South Bank.
           Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870  (Traralgon)                                   According to the website of Theatre
           Events Co-ordinator:             an off-screen drama which occurred in  Organs of Australia, the opening of the
           Brian Miller 9557 7446           the Regent’s grand foyer in 1962.   Regent had to be postponed for a few
           Film Buffs Group:                   Five gunshots were fired as a jail  days. When the organ was being put
           Mike Trickett 5278 1986          escapee was spotted and chased by
           Publications Sales:              plain-clothes detectives. About half-  through its paces, it was noticed that
           Garry Saunders 9812 7227                                            plaster started to flake from the ceiling.
           Membership Secretary: Peter O’Reilly  way along, on the southern side of the  Powerful instrument!
           See postal address               grand foyer a bullet hole is still clearly  Kevin Walters, Toowoomba (Qld.)
           CinemaRecord Editor:             visible.
           Ian Smith                           On the day I received my copy it   The Regent Brisbane was always
           iansmith8@bigpond.com                                               my favourite, even after getting to
           CATHS website:                   was reported in The Courier-Mail that
           www.caths.org.au                 Hoyts was to relinquish its Brisbane  know them all. I lived in Toowoomba,
           Postal address:                  cinema connections after 76 years, a  and when I joined the Army I
           PO Box 476, Bentleigh 3204.      connection which began with the    remember going to the Regent for the
                         ★                  construction of the Regent. The    films and sing-along for the troops,
           Membership                       ‘Greater Union Regent’ just doesn't  with an hour long show with the
           Annual membership subscription is $40,  sound right to those of us who have  wonderful WurliTzer rising out of the
           (overseas subscribers $50) and   loving memories of this once mighty  pit playing show tunes, and then the
           members receive four copies of   cinema.                            fabulous orchestra coming up later on.
           CinemaRecord, notification of events,  Jim White, Alderley (Qld).   These were wonderful times.
           and copies of the agenda and minutes                                   The entrance and main foyer still
                                               Congratulations to Ian Hansen for
           of all meetings. There is no joining fee.                           exist, still with impressive mirrors,
           Meetings                         his splendid article on Brisbane’s  drapery and chandeliers and of course
           Meetings are held on the last Sunday of  Regent Theatre and the many  the two-level marble staircase. Only
           February, April, June, August, October &  photographs which accompanied it.   problem is, the top of the stairs now
           November.                           I lived in Brisbane during the late  brings you to the ‘plastic-box’ style
           Archive                          1950s and went to the Regent many  cinemas.
           The Archive is located in the Prahran  times to see the latest films and puff on  The downstairs Cinema One is
           Mechanics’ Institute, 140 High Street  a cigarette whilst doing so. A special  supposed to be a replica of the old
           Prahran, 9510 3393. The Archive will  treat was to see and hear the organ
           be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm  being played before the session started  Regent, but you need a vivid
           on the Saturday before each meeting  and at interval.               imagination to see this.
           (see above), and at other times by                                     I was at the Farewell to the Regent
                                               During the school holidays the
           appointment with the archivist.  white baby grand piano was also used.  concert. Before this occurred, the stage
           Publications                                                        had been renovated and new dressing
                                            It would rise up from the orchestra pit
           Back issues of CinemaRecord, other                                  rooms built in a bid to keep the theatre
           publications, CDs and videos are  and the keys would be move as if by  for live performance.
                                            magic, under the control of the organist
           available at meetings. Items are also                                  That last night concert was a sell-
           available by mail. Please contact Garry  on the organ console.      out, the first time the theatre had been
           Saunders on 9812 7227 for details.                                  packed to the ceiling for years.
                                                                               Gavin Drummond, Brisbane (Qld.)
          4   2006 CINEMARECORD
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