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The Grand Foyer from the head of the staircase: more emphasis on balconettes than in Melbourne, and less symmetry - the doors to
the outer foyer are off-set. Hoyts Archives.

enhanced with metallic finishes of
bronze, copper and gold-leaf, offset
with coffee-brown painted surfaces.
The main ceiling dome measured
18m.in length (60ft) and some 12m. (40
ft) in width. From the rim to the ceiling
of the dome was just over 3 m. (10ft),
its perimeter decorated with plaques
depicting scenes of Roman life,
illuminated by a large central
chandelier.
Three archways in the side walls of
the Circle were covered by ornamental
grille work from which red lanterns
Ms. Margaret Murphy in the ticket box of the Grand foyer.
were suspended. Another feature
introduced first to Queensland was an
Stories persist that this basement was the Lounge and Dress Circle were at
improved form of aisle lighting.
intended for a second cinema, each end of the mezzanine. In the early
(Melbourne again), but there is no days a nursing sister was on duty to Advertisements for the opening of
proof of this. It was one of a handful of attend to any patron who fell ill. the Regent proclaim a 3,000-seat
theatres in Australia built for public First night patrons must have been auditorium, but exaggeration was
access from either end of the building. astonished by the size and grandeur of customary. The oldest list available
(1938) shows the total as 2,582,
Patrons at the top of the marble the auditorium, which at its widest
comprising Stalls 1,642, Dress Circle
staircase, on the mezzanine level, point was 32.7m (108ft). Finding a
672 and Lounge 268.
walked past art works, antiques and two plain, unadorned surface was a
miniature fountains. The entrances to challenge. A Roman-Gothic theme was
CINEMARECORD 2005 15