Page 9 - CinemaRecord #87

The Regent today - all signage has been removed.

In 1968, Hamilton Police reported that the In 2015, the Regent was in use as indoor
theatre was used for the storage of projectors markets. The dress circle is out of use and
and other theatre equipment. The following mainly empty apart from some old kitchenware
year, Police reported that the theatre was items. The colour scheme of the auditorium is
empty, these items having been removed. mainly a dark green. The ceiling and wall
decorative treatment remains, as do the
In 1968, a proposed sale to convert it into a decorative features on the front of the balcony.
dance hall fell through. On 18 August 1969, The huge proscenium arch with its curve and
S & A Harrison purchased the property and filigree work, and its flanking Grecian pillars
converted it into a supply store for builders and also survived, albeit damaged in places.
renovators. Although the exterior and interior
remained virtually untouched, the awning was The terrazzo steps to the circle mentioned in
removed. The earthquake of 28 December newspaper reports at the time of opening are
1989 caused some damage to the curved still extant, including their original doors to the
parapet at the front and the rear stage wall. circle, and a ceiling dome in the vestibule. The
The building was repaired and repainted original vestibule area has been subdivided
externally and is a fine component of the into shops and storage. The downstairs bio
architectural fabric of the street in which it box is also extant, but was not inspected. The
stands. exterior of the theatre is also basically
unchanged, although the awning has been
The Regent was formally de-licensed on removed. ê
4 November 1970, meaning that its cinema
days were now over.

Opening night advertisement - Newcastle Herald
and Miners’ Advocate Monday December 9, 1929.
(Trove)

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to State Records of NSW for permission to
quote from Chief Secretary’s Department File 1687
10/53101. Other sources include Front Stalls or
Back: The History and Heritage of the Newcastle
Theatres, by Kevin Cork and Les Tod [Australian
Theatre Historical Society, Inc, 1993]; and the
Newcastle Morning Herald and Newcastle Sun.

Images:
CATHS Archive
Mike Trickett

CINEMARECORD # 87 9