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The Roxy was built in two parts,
the shops and the entrance foyer, and
then the auditorium and projection
room. The narrow entrance to the
theatre has terrazzo flooring, a stepped
ceiling and features an island ticket
box. Behind the ticket box four glass
doors lead into the small inner
vestibule. This area still features the
original glass fronted poster display
cases. At the top of the steps four
Queensland walnut finished doors lead
directly into the stadium style
auditorium.
The Roxy, despite its size, only
seated 400/572 (2) in a configuration of
about 200 seats on a rake occupying
about a third of the floor space with the
balance of seating mounted on skids on
the front dance floor space. This area
was purpose built for dancing with the
flooring boards laid in a square pattern
(to prevent movement).
The architectural style is
reminiscent of the Charles Bohringer
design for the Embassy Theatre in
Sydney. However, the Roxy’s architect
could not be identified.
The auditorium is long and tall in
which backlit plaster grills meet a
magnificent deep, rectangular and
stepped proscenium. The ceiling
features a rectangular, stepped recess
pattern. Grill work on the left hand wall The similar interiors of the Roxy (top) and the former Embassy, Sydney tempt
covered the ventilation windows. The speculation about the architect, but there is no evidence linking Charles Bohringer to
original stage curtain was probably a the Roxy. The Embassy image is courtesy of Ross Thorne.
deep blue with heavy appliqué and a
matching boxed top. Clever lighting
The Roxy opened with great fanfare was used; the Regent advertised that it
effects were used.
on 28 March 1936, an event not was Australian owned and staffed.
The stage area was the full width of
matched by its subsequent patronage. The Roxy eventually came under
the building but shallow in depth.
Over its 22 years the Roxy was not a the control of its rival in the early
There were no back stage facilities such
successful theatre. The rival Regent 1950’s. Len Payne continued to operate
as dressing rooms or loading dock. As a
and its picture gardens proved to be the both venues. The last regular exhibitors
multi purpose venue the Roxy was
dominant venue, mainly because of at the Roxy were the Koovousi Bros.
limited. Films were generally only
access to Fox, MGM, Warner Bros., who in 1957/58 also ran the Regent
screened on a few nights each week,
RKO and British Gaumont products, Café, and the Regent theatre and
such as Wednesdays and Friday and
whilst the Roxy screened Paramount, picture gardens. (2) This family closed
Saturday.
Universal and Columbia films. the Roxy in 1958 but continued at the
The projection room, and its
Mr. Len Payne was the exhibitor at Regent until about 1966. The Regent
associated rewind and work areas, is a
the Regent for many years whereas the indoor, under other operators,
large space accessed from a wide
Roxy had at least nine exhibitors, continued to screen until the early
external concrete staircase and a
(including Len Payne for two years.) 1970’s.
balcony at the rear of the auditorium
Intense competition led to various The Roxy, except for the use of the
(over the entrance vestibule). Its two
promotional ruses. The most telling was small vestibule known as the Roxy
projectors are still in position. The
the installation of two large Café, was empty for years.
sound system was an RCA Photophone
loudspeakers on top of the Roxy’s In 1999 the Bingara Shire Council
installation. The 1950’s Cinemascope
parapet. These were part of the theatre’s purchased the Roxy and its neighboring
format installation was cheap and nasty.
RCA public address system and were buildings. With State Government and
The screen was placed in front of the
used for competitive spruiking and to Council resources a staged
proscenium and was covered by the
broadcast announcements, music and refurbishment and extension program
patterned brocade curtains of the day,
film soundtracks to the town’s was begun. At a cost in excess of
which were totally out of character with
residents. Even thinly disguised racism $600,000 the Roxy is on the way to
the rest of the décor.
10 2004 CINEMARECORD