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The theatre avoids the later ‘all stops
                                                                               out’ approach of Melbourne and
                                                                               Brisbane. It is a delightfully feminine
                                                                               theatre.
                                                                                  The contract for the beautiful
                                                                               fibrous plaster was assigned to Messrs.
                                                                               Forman and Nicoli. This was an
                                                                               undertaking of considerable magnitude
                                                                               as most of the work had to be specially
                                                                               modelled, the ceiling and proscenium
                                                                               arch causing most problems.
                                                                                  Ordinary plastering was carried out
                                                                               by the construction company's own
                                                                               staff; some 6,500 yards (6,786 metres)
                                                                               of plastering and 170 yards (155
                                                                               metres) of tiling went into the building.
                                                                               The interior was lined with marble and
                                                                               mahogany. Carved furniture and chairs
                                                                               of native timber were supplied by
                                                                               Tonson Garlick of Auckland.
                                                                                  A large, fireproof projection box
                                                                               was filled with the best equipment
                                                                               available. New Simplex front-shutter
                                                                               projectors on Universal bases were
                                                                               installed with low intensity arcs.
                                                                               (Williamson's usually installed
                                                                               Ernemann IIs in their theatres). The
                                                                               final cost was 28,580 pounds (NZ).
                                                                                  Set snugly in the heart of a building
                                                                               block flanking the lower side of the
                                                                               Octagon, the theatre took pride of place
                                                                               in the fast-growing city; a work of
                                                                               dignity, grandeur and general beauty. Its
                                                                               large electric sign invited in one and all.
                                                                                  The 2,000-seat theatre opened on
                                                                               Friday 1 June 1928 with the British
                                                                               film Madame Pompadour starring
                                                                               America’s Dorothy Gish. The support
                                                                               was Two Flaming Youths with Chester
                                                                               Conklin and W.C. Fields.
                                                                                  On stage was a Williamson
                                                                               Celebrity Vaudeville act The
                                                                               Bohemians; two men, a winsome maid
                                                                               and a piano, all under the musical
                                                                               direction of Maurice Guttridge (London
                                                                               Royal Academy of music) an American
                                                                               of English parentage who conducted
                                                                               the Regent Operatic Orchestra.
                                                                                  Sound arrived on 5 June 1929
                                                                               courtesy of Western Electric’s sound-
                                                                               on-disc system. The film was MGM’s
                                                                               The Bellamy Trial starring Leatrice Joy
                                                                               and Betty Bronson. However, the
                                                                               talking sequences were confined to the
                                                                               last part of the film.
                                                                                  By December 1931 J.C. Williamson
                                                                               Films (N.Z.) Ltd. were in receivership.
                                                                               Their assets, up for public tender, were
          From the top: The Regent in 2005. The exterior above the verandah retained much of
                                                                               taken over by the J.C. Williamson
          the frontage of the hotel that it replaced. (Image: James Barrand); Big film, big
                                                                               Picture Corporation (N.Z.) Ltd., a
          advertising, c.1938; The Life of Emile Zola won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1937.
                                                                               company formed in mid-April 1932 for
          ‘Saturation’ advertising may have sold more tickets but it cluttered the foyer.
                                                                               that express purpose. The new company
          (Images centre and above - David Lascelles)
                                                                                       CINEMARECORD 2007 17
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