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ABOVE: Bingara’s Roxy Theatre in April 1936, flanked by cafe and shops. From ‘Katsehamos and the Great Idea’ © Peter Prineas.

Earlier writers did not identify the The chronology of events at Bingara The first picture theatre, known as Old
architect of the Bingara Roxy and can also benefit from some clarification. Bingara Pictures or Finkernagel's
although Gerry Kennedy acknowledged Peters and Co were not new arrivals in Theatre, was established in 1912 by
similarities with the Embassy Theatre Bingara when they began building the William Finkernagel and John Veness
in Sydney, he was careful not to add Roxy Theatre. They had operated a on the eastern side of Maitland Street
to speculation that the Roxy was the successful cafe business on the corner south of the Cunningham Street corner.
work of Charles Bohringer. I was of Maitland and Cunningham Streets
fortunate to find some correspondence since the mid 1920s. The second theatre was Victor
in NSW State Records identifying Mark Peacocke's old Regent Theatre which
Woodforde of Sydney as the architect Two of the partners - Peter Feros and operated in the School of Arts and
of the Bingara Roxy. Woodforde was I believe also Emanuel Aroney - were Soldiers' Memorial Hall. The Old
retained to prepare and submit plans at the time of the 'cinema war' in Regent theatre introduced talkies to
for the theatre to the Chief Secretary Bingara, naturalised British Subjects Bingara and eventually vanquished its
of NSW whose approval was required (in those days there was no Australian competitor, Finkernagel’s Theatre,
before the development could proceed. citizenship as such). which closed in late 1934. The third
The correspondence indicates that theatre was Peacocke's New Regent,
Woodforde did not supervise the works. Bingara has had four picture theatres a purpose-built structure erected with
Further research may reveal the name but only two operated at any one time. amazing rapidity in 1935 to meet the
of the builder, but it is fairly clear that threat of the coming Roxy Theatre. As
George Psaltis took a close interest in the Gerry Kennedy mentions in his article,
works and it appears that he personally Peacocke's New Regent is still standing
installed the electrical system despite and serves as the town's civic centre.
having no trade qualification.

It has been suggested that the timber
used in the extensive dance floor of the
Bingara Roxy is kauri pine, however,
Tony Deakin, the architect employed
for the restoration, has confirmed that it
is cypress pine.
The Roxy today. New Regent today.

8 2011 CINEMAREC ORD