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Aspects of the Regent interior (above) were repeated in the Palais, St Kilda. Geelong Advertiser, Sat. 19 Oct. 1929.

Nor were the interiors of other USA
landmark theatres opened between
1913 and 1920 simply reproduced in
Geelong. The city received an original,
and one in which White and Gurley
introduced to Victoria the concept that a
Regent must display symmetry and a
three dimensional elaboration of the
proscenium. Their way of doing it was
different to what was to come in the
designs of Cedric Ballantyne and
Charles Hollinshed.
Health Department records show
that the Regent Geelong was often the
subject of correspondence regarding
inadequate ventilation. The reliance on
what seemed to be rudimentary fan
ventilation is interesting, because
Building magazine a few years later
will praise White and his engineering
consultants for the way they worked as The dome offered some visual relief to back stalls patrons sitting under an extended
a team to get the system right for the St balcony as well as serving as a ventilation outlet.
James, Sydney.
It is tempting to suggest that the Cooling was by inlet fans delivering
problems White encountered in 10,000 cubic feet/minute (280 c.
Geelong sharpened his thinking about metres/min) of air.
ventilation, and he made sure that it At this time, the foyer was upgraded
was never an issue again. and new entrance doors fitted. The
With the change to sound came a architects for these changes were H.V.
pair of Kalee 11s on Western Electric Taylor and Soilleux of Melbourne, who
universal bases. The light source was were then working on plans for the
Westrex arcs. The throw was 135 feet Rivoli, in the Melbourne suburb of East
4
(41m.). Hawthorn.
In October 1937 plans were In late 1946, alterations were made The 1937 entrance doors designed by
submitted for the installation of heating to the foyer and lounge areas; as well, Taylor and Soilleux (simplified). Horizontal
and cooling. The installation was the toilets were given a major upgrade. lines in the glass of the transom offer an
completed mid-1938, and passed the Prior to this, access to the ground floor illusion of width.
winter test by maintaining the men’s toilets was via a door off the side
auditorium at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. street. The bio-box was also upgraded

22 2006 CINEMARECORD