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CINEMA AND From the Editor....
THEATRE
The write-up of a trip is a tight-rope assignment. The selection of words and
C A T H S pics may not gel with the favourite impressions of the participants, nor can the

selection hope to convey the atmosphere for readers who were not present. The
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
best that can be done is to present the facts about the theatres, the main reason for
the trip, and to follow-up themes in later issues.
Ian Hanson’s story of the Regent Fitzroy could have been subtitled ‘ Always in
the Shadows.’ In the early thirties the management shunned the style of advertising
The official journal of the Cinema And that other theatres thrived on. Although worthy of consideration as a peer to
Theatre Historical Society Inc.
Regent South Yarra and Victory St. Kilda, it never used block advertising like they
ISSN 1443-3664 • Published quarterly
did and in the round robin of individual theatre advertising that accompanied the
★
roll-out of sound, no ads were placed for Regent Fitzroy. This reticence may partly
Editor: Ian Smith
★ answer Ian’s question about the place of the theatre in local lore.
CinemaRecord Artwork: Eric White’s Cinerama at the Plaza expertly captures a time of excitement and
Bill Kerr, Optimum Design 9419 4144 explains the changes to the theatre in loving detail. Re-living this time through the
★ article I concluded that the Plaza could have gone on for years longer. The day of
The main aim of CATHS and this
the single screen was not over when it closed. The flurry to open theatres like the
publication is to accurately document and
Bercy, Roma and Total may have been the last fling for the single screen, but in
create an archive of the history of
cinemas and theatres in Victoria. that company the Plaza could have remained top of the tree. – Ian Smith
Input in the form of articles,
constructive criticism, and substantiated
dispute of printed matter is welcome, and NOW SHOWING!
necessary to enable us to reach our
objective.
Opinions expressed are those of the
4 Letters
Editor or contributors, and unless
expressly stated so, are not necessarily 4 Newsreel
those of the Cinema And Theatre
Historical Society. 7 The Amazing Brenograph
Articles printed in CinemaRecord 8 Cinema War in Bingara - Gerry Kennedy
should not be reproduced without the
permission of the author or the editor. 12 Cinerama at Hoyts Plaza
All photos are from the collection of Collins Street - Eric White
the person or organisation stated. Every
18 The Regent Fitzroy - Ian Hanson
effort has been made to trace the
ownership of copyright. In the event of
any questions arising as to the use of any
material, the author and publisher will be
happy to make the necessary corrections
in future printings.
Contributions and suggestions for
CinemaRecord are most welcome. Please
contact the Editor if you are planning
to write an article for the magazine.
We may be able to assist you with
information, contacts, etc and it will help
us with forward planning.
25 CATHS Adelaide Tour - Brian Miller and Gerry Kennedy
★
Contact: Ian Smith
Telephone: 5443 0692 (1-9pm) Images in this publication are from CATHS-V Archive unless credited to another source.
Email: ijsmith@impulse.net.au
Postal Address: PO Box 476, Cover: The rather stark exterior of the Regent Fitzroy belied its stylish interior.
Bentleigh, Victoria, 3204 See story page 18.

CINEMARECORD 2004 3