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The theatre avoids the later ‘all stops
out’ approach of Melbourne and
Brisbane. It is a delightfully feminine
theatre.
The contract for the beautiful
fibrous plaster was assigned to Messrs.
Forman and Nicoli. This was an
undertaking of considerable magnitude
as most of the work had to be specially
modelled, the ceiling and proscenium
arch causing most problems.
Ordinary plastering was carried out
by the construction company's own
staff; some 6,500 yards (6,786 metres)
of plastering and 170 yards (155
metres) of tiling went into the building.
The interior was lined with marble and
mahogany. Carved furniture and chairs
of native timber were supplied by
Tonson Garlick of Auckland.
A large, fireproof projection box
was filled with the best equipment
available. New Simplex front-shutter
projectors on Universal bases were
installed with low intensity arcs.
(Williamson's usually installed
Ernemann IIs in their theatres). The
final cost was 28,580 pounds (NZ).
Set snugly in the heart of a building
block flanking the lower side of the
Octagon, the theatre took pride of place
in the fast-growing city; a work of
dignity, grandeur and general beauty. Its
large electric sign invited in one and all.
The 2,000-seat theatre opened on
Friday 1 June 1928 with the British
film Madame Pompadour starring
America’s Dorothy Gish. The support
was Two Flaming Youths with Chester
Conklin and W.C. Fields.
On stage was a Williamson
Celebrity Vaudeville act The
Bohemians; two men, a winsome maid
and a piano, all under the musical
direction of Maurice Guttridge (London
Royal Academy of music) an American
of English parentage who conducted
the Regent Operatic Orchestra.
Sound arrived on 5 June 1929
courtesy of Western Electric’s sound-
on-disc system. The film was MGM’s
The Bellamy Trial starring Leatrice Joy
and Betty Bronson. However, the
talking sequences were confined to the
last part of the film.
By December 1931 J.C. Williamson
Films (N.Z.) Ltd. were in receivership.
Their assets, up for public tender, were
From the top: The Regent in 2005. The exterior above the verandah retained much of
taken over by the J.C. Williamson
the frontage of the hotel that it replaced. (Image: James Barrand); Big film, big
Picture Corporation (N.Z.) Ltd., a
advertising, c.1938; The Life of Emile Zola won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1937.
company formed in mid-April 1932 for
‘Saturation’ advertising may have sold more tickets but it cluttered the foyer.
that express purpose. The new company
(Images centre and above - David Lascelles)
CINEMARECORD 2007 17