Page 7 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Greater Union steps in Two Deco Regent’s for sale
Greater Union has acquired the Closed since business was
leaseholds on the cinemas at Beverly transferred to the city’s new Forum
Hills and Cronulla for the total of Complex, the art-deco Regent
$9.8 million. Cinema’s at Tamworth are now
The latter cinema was known as the advertised for sale. Despite conversion
Odeon and was a former G.U. house to a multi-screen venue some years ago,
closed in 1972. Later it was used as a the Regent retained its stylish art-deco
single screen cinema, before being entrance and circle foyers as well as
converted to a complex of cinemas in much of the ceiling decoration in the Tamworth Regent exterior & entrance
the 1990's. The cinema building adjoins largest cinema upstairs which was foyer.
the Rydes Hotel which is owned by formed from the original dress-circle
Amalgamated Holdings, who as owners balcony. Conversion to either a
of both the Rydes and Greater Union nightclub or retail use is most likely,
companies, now have a possible however, one wonders if it could be re-
expansion point if required. opened as a dedicated art-house venue
Beverly Hills Cinemas were to service the large regional population?
extensively rebuilt in 2008 having Another rural Regent, the
began its life in 1940 as the single magnificent Regent Theatre at
screen St. James. Mudgee is also searching for a new
owner. With its imposing façade and
massive interior the Regent is perhaps
one of the most completely intact Sale of Drive-In land underway
examples of a true country picture- In suburban Sydney, the sale of
palace. Price $950,000. residential land from the subdivision of
the former Bass Hill Drive-In Theatre
site is progressing well with deposits
taken for 22 of the 106 lots.

Renovations at the Opera House
At the iconic Sydney Opera
House...after two years construction the
$38million renovations of the western
foyers are finished with new escalators
and the building's first public lift! George Street Mega-plex
Australian 18/11/09 The freehold of the Sydney’s CBD Also currently for sale is the
Suburban Upgrades George Street Cinema Complex was historic Olympia Theatre in Bombala.
sold for $85million in August last year.
With the completion of the stand
alone Gold Class five screens at Castle Greater Union has six years to run WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Hill, the refurbishment of the of its current lease, with a 15 year Cinema Pioneer Passes
Macquarie including Gold Class and option so any development would be Arthur Stiles, who was
cafe bar in the foyer are next. longer term. The giant, fully digital affectionately known as Perth’s ‘Mr
complex is again being refurbished. Cinema’, passed away in early January.
This time it comes complete with a new
Mr Stiles, who was 89, started out
name “Event Cinemas”. The new
in cinemas in the South Perth area as a
concept features Gold Class cinemas,
boy and went on to manage the Grand
3D digital projection in some cinemas
Theatre Company which branched out
and giant “V max” screens.
into drive-ins and multi-screen cinemas.
In fact, the new brand of “Event
Today, Grand Cinemas is still
Cinemas” is continuing throughout the
prominent on the WA cinema scene and
old G.U. circuit, with many complexes
is headed by his son Allan who
being altered with new features
described his father as a great
previously not installed. Judging by the
ambassador for the industry.
advertising on the internet and in the
print media, it seems the name “Greater
Readings Closure
Union” may ultimately be replaced.
Reading Cinemas under-achieving
Market City Complex in Sydney’s Trade up at the State
Chinatown was closed after the final Sydney’s magnificent State Theatre Newsreel continues
screenings on Wednesday, August 26, experienced improved trading conditions, on page 30
2009. Nothing has been announced yet compared to last year with an increase in
as to its future use. the number of concert performances.
CINEMARECORD 2010 7