Page 24 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Well before the lease expired, Hoyts proprietor of Albury Amusements Ltd,
were planning to build their own for picture entertainment. The crowd
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theatre. Hoyts’ final screening in the which thronged about the building,
Regent was on Saturday, 3 April 1937, hundreds were disappointed on being
a few weeks after the opening of the unable to gain admission to the packed
ultra-modern Hoyts Albury (see interior. The success of Mr Smith’s
CinemaRecord 61). For some perverse venture in leasing the Regent is already
reason Hoyts then re-named its building assured and a huge complement of fire
(10)
Hoyts New Regent. The ‘old’ class pictures has been secured for
Regent then closed. early screening.
Whether Hoyts knew the ‘old’ Luxuriously refurnished, the Regent
Regent had a new lessee is not known. well compares with any theatre in the
Albury Amusements, a company owned cities. Its fine interior has been
by Charles H. ‘Pinot’ Smith, a local redecorated and the rich velvets and
jeweller and businessman, was tapestries in the curtains and
operating both the Plaza Theatre in the upholstery add superlative comfort to
Mechanics Institute, and the Theatre the lovely environment. On Saturday
Royal, which was used for dancing. It evening, well-dressed men and women
took over the Regent and in the short admired the beauty of the lounge and
space of three weeks had it extensively trod for the first time on deeply padded
renovated. carpets in a striking colour scheme of
When it re-opened on May 1, Hoyts rust, fawn and brown. An already
was defiantly operating its new theatre spacious foyer is given extra
as Hoyts New Regent, and continued Universal’s Showboat (1929) was filmed dimensions by a number of large
to do so for almost a week. Adjoining silent, then released as a part-talkie. mirrors of various shapes placed at
block advertisements in the local paper intervals around the cream walls…
for two Regent theatres must have In the theatre proper the seats offer
(11) The seating has been reconditioned and
caused some confusion for patrons. roomy comfort to patrons who viewed
replaced where necessary, new
On 30 April 1937, Albury carpetings laid down and furnishings new stage curtains in well blended
Amusements advertised the final installed. The sound equipment has shades of gold and orange. The screen
program in its Plaza Theatre: Tonight been replaced with Raycophone’s latest itself is new and of the very latest
and this afternoon will see the final production, while new biographs have Sonora design of which there are only
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presentations of our attractions in the been set in place. (This implies that five in Australia…
Plaza Theatre. To our Plaza patrons Hoyts removed its projectors). It is thought that the proscenium
we offer our thanks for past patronage itself was also altered during the 1937
The stage curtain is of modern
and extend a hearty welcome to one renovations. Originally rectangular, in
(12) design and harmonises with the general
and all at our new address. The next much the same shape as it is today, it
effect of the interior. Modern
day they opened the remodelled featured lighted panels in a different
furnishings have been employed to
Regent. design to those there now, and the
decorate the lounge. Velour curtains
Ironically, some years later, Hoyts circular backlit portholes now flanking
and tapestries in rust tonings make a
would take over the Plaza, and in 1939 the proscenium were originally five
perfect foil for the walnut occasional
would successfully campaign against vertical flower shaped designs, one atop
tables and lounges that are placed most
Charles Smith's request for permission the other. The central motif above the
invitingly… The lighting in the
to exhibit films in his Theatre Royal. proscenium was replaced with a
auditorium has been altered so that it
Of the Regent refurbishment, The will gradually diminish as the show different, more modern one. The
Border Morning Mail reported: commences. (13) pennant shaped features - four of them
Theatre Transformed. New The re-opening attraction was in all, flanking the top of the
Management Takes Over. Libelled Lady, with Myrna Loy, Jean proscenium, were retained in the new
(16)
Transformed into an ultra modern Harlow and Spencer Tracy. (14) design and are still extant.
amusement house of consummate The Mail reported of the re- Later that year, Hoyts had to
beauty, luxury and comfort, the Regent opening: transfer the Regent licence to Albury
(17)
Theatre will be reopened this evening Amusements. Hoyts wrote to the
From the Plaza to the Regent.
under the management of Albury Board of Fire Commissioners in May
All roads led to the Regent Theatre 1937 to inform them that its lease was
Amusements Pty Ltd. For several weeks (18)
on Saturday evening when this fine terminated on 5 April 1937.
workmen have been engaged in
amusement house was again thrown
carrying out alterations and effecting
open, this time by Mr C H Smith,
improvements.
9 L R Tod Collection: see notes under Albury Hoyts 10 Border Morning Mail, Sat 3 April 1937 11 Ibid. Sat 1 May 1937, p7 12 Ibid. Frid 30 April 1937
13 Ibid. Sat 1 May 1937 14 Ibid. Frid 30 April 30 1937 15 Ibid. Mon 3 May 1937 16 Ian Smith, CATHS Inc. See also comparison with photos, this
collection. 17 State Records NSW, Op Cit. Chief Secretary's Department, File 4372, 17/3575. Licence transfer, 10 July 1937 18 Ibid. Hoyts to Board of
Fire Commissioners, 14 May 1937
24 2009 CINEMARECORD