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Melbourne version. Not surprisingly, as
a former soldier in training near
Brisbane, who spent many nights at the
Regent, Gavin rated Brisbane overall as
his favourite.
The Regent, Sydney scored
plaudits for its façade. Although
comparisons are fraught because the
styles were so different, Les Tod scored
Sydney’s frontage as just ahead of
Adelaide. Les Tod was also partial to
the classical design of the Sydney and
Adelaide foyers.
Respondents were unanimous about
one shortcoming of the Regent,
Sydney: the balcony so close to the
stage, although Gavin Drummond and
Les Tod conceded that this compromise
gave the interior ‘a sort of intimacy.’
Some commentators deplored the
covering up of much of the original
proscenium when the screen was
brought forward for CinemaScope. One
positive from this: Les Tod credited
Sydney with having the best
CinemaScope screen.
Since the main article favours the
Regent, Adelaide, let another Adelaide
observer, John Thiele have the last
word:
In

In 1968 two friends and I went on a
‘theatre-crawl’ to visit, and photograph
the capital city Regents. Going to
shows in each of them in the space of
four weeks (the same James Bond
movie was showing in them all) was a
unique opportunity to make
comparisons. First impressions are
Regent, Sydney. An exterior to rival or surpass Adelaide was not followed through to
lasting, but subsequent visits did not
the interior. The main staircase was only adequate for such a theatre.
change my views. They were all grand
Images: Top, JTC and above Brian Pearson Collection.
theatres, all definitely Regent Theatres,
their differences giving them their Manager, I learned that the screen had In Melbourne I rated the upstairs
individuality. to be replaced every two years because barrel-vaulted foyer, as the most
The long narrow entrance foyer to of the grime. Imagine the long-term impressive example of this space.
the Regent, Brisbane did not impress effect on the walls! The auditorium was breathtaking.
me, but it did have a beautiful pair of The auditorium of the Regent, Unlike the other Regents, a row of
frescoes, one at each end, which I was Sydney was much like that of Adelaide, columns backed by gold curtains gave
to discover in each of the capital city with many of the same plaster majesty to the balcony walls. Trough
Regents. The barrel ceiling of the mouldings. The arched windows each lighting highlighted a different and
upstairs foyer was somewhat shallow side of the balcony were smaller and wider proscenium arch, and it was joy
compared with ours in Adelaide. less ornate than those in Adelaide and to hear the richness of the WurliTzer.
The burnished copper finish of the the proportions of the auditorium were Over the years I returned to all of the
interior did not appeal. Perhaps its not quite as pleasing. Regents, but the Regent, Melbourne
original glamour had been soiled. A I did not think that the green Act became one of my favourites.
new experience for me was watching Drop was as appropriate for a Regent I guess we were lucky in Adelaide.
the movie through a haze of cigarette as the traditional red of the other Our Regent always looked immaculate.
smoke. In a conversation with the theatres. Only two years before it was gutted for

18 2006 CINEMARECORD