Page 20 - RD_2015_12

entertainment. In 1938 the seating
accomodation was 1,443 in the stalls
and 804 in the circle, a total of 2,247.
Two Lovers was a silent film, but by
1930 the theatre had been converted to
sound and settled into the typical
program cycle of suburban theatres.
Because it was built to a superior
design and finish, there was no call for
major alterations or improvements. In
1947 the carpeting in the foyer was
replaced with terrazzo, a somewhat
slow change to a surface well in use in
other theatres.
If the reason for building such a
grand theatre was to complement the
thinking that had made parts of Fitzroy
a stylish address and given it a town hall
to match, then a changing demographic
began to work against the building. In
Thereafter the theatre programs
correspondence from the late forties,
were first week out of the city (along
management’s disdain for the manners
with the Regent South Yarra.)
of their patrons became evident. Carpets
The orientation of the theatre was
were not just replaced, management
parallel to Johnson Street with the main
wanted to explain to Health why. When
entrance near Brunswick Street.
Health wanted improvements made to
Retractable lattice gates, typical of the
the men’s toilets, the company reasons
period, protected the entrance when the
not to proceed were accepted, based on
theatre was closed. The axis of the
inferences about the likely behaviour of
foyer was at right angles to the
patrons. It was a sad commentary on the
auditorium, which meant that patrons
gap between management’s aspirations
turned right to enter the stalls. This
for the theatre and the realities.
foyer was a continuation of the
As part of a post-war plan, Hoyts
rectangular building and was not an
implemented a policy of ending some
exaggerated reversed ‘L’ like the
joint partnerships and converting
Regent South Yarra.
leasehold properties to freeholds.
A feature of the design was the
Northern Theatres Pty. Ltd. appears to
grand lobby in which columns
have been one of those terminated. From
supported an elaborate barrel-vaulted
1948 the Regent was fully integrated
ceiling. This style of foyer was a first
within Hoyts Suburban Theatres.
for a Melbourne theatre. Entrance to
the Dress Circle was via a marble SUBURBAN SEATING:
staircase at the far end of the foyer with THE BIG SIX
a return in it that took patrons on to a
Theatre Capacity
promenade area and then to the
entrance doors. Palais
St Kilda 2,968
The auditorium was enormous in
comparison with the Solway. The length Victory
from bio-box to the stage was 120 feet St Kilda 2,547
(37m) and the width was 80 feet (24m). Regent
The ceiling featured at least seven cut- Fitzroy 2,257
crystal chandeliers. The proscenium was Regent
slightly arched, some 40 feet wide South Yarra 1,870
(12m) and 26 feet high (8m). Padua
Hollinshed had used the same curve, Brunswick 1,758
Top: The barrel vault ceiling of the grand
with more ornament, for the Regent,
lobby. Regent
Brisbane. At Fitzroy the stage was only
Middle: A mirror on the landing enhanced Thornbury 1,697
21 feet deep (6.4m) but it did have a fly
an illusion of depth. Source: Film Weekly 1958
tower. Two large dressing rooms and an
Above: Looking back to the entrance.
orchestra pit provided for the needs of Cinemascope with stereophonic
The space would have been more
live performers. The orchestra was sound was installed in 1954. The
impressive if it had been wider.
short-lived, sound-on-film and the proscenium could accommodate a new
Images: Ian Hanson Collection
depression soon curtailed any live screen with a picture width of 36 feet
20 2004 CINEMARECORD