Page 4 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Letters Royal Treatment at the Regent
Well into the 1960s the Regent
Albury (CR 64) continued a front-of-
house tradition perhaps introduced 25
Australia years earlier.
ABN 37 195 378 179 Lounge patrons were greeted at the
Reg A0020747R top of the stairs by two hostesses (too
Thanks From Albury
well dressed to be called usherettes), in
The aims of CATHS are: to record the Thank you for issue 64. The cover full-length evening gowns; your escorts
history of cinemas and theatres, and to is magnificent - not to mention the ten
promote interest in theatre heritage and pages which record so well our Regent to the auditorium.
architecture, and other related areas. theatre. At interval, the sight and sound of
Patrons: I don’t know of any other such the waterfall in its wonderland setting
Frank Van Straten OAM was an entertainment in itself. Every
Peter Smith OAM detailed research ever undertaken visit to the Regent was a delight, even
before, so this will be a terrific addition
Committee: if each was tinged with apprehension.
President: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 to the archives at the Albury Knowing the economies then in place
Vice President: Ross King 9370 9479 Library/Museum. in Melbourne’s cinemas, the thought
Secretary: Mike Trickett 5278 1986 It was wonderful scoop to have the
Treasurer: Rodney Bendix 9563 2927 photo of the original stage - but I much was, “How long can this continue?”
Editor/Committee: Kevin Adams prefer the replacement! Another measure of the pride the
9465 6942 owners felt for their Regent can be
Committee: Shane Moore Tony Smith should smile at his guessed at by the fact that three sets of
★ grandfather being referred to as “Pinot” house curtains have hung there.
Qld. Convenor: Smith. He was actually Pivot Smith, The style, pattern or colour of the
Steve Maggs 0413 805 320 named after the business he ran as Pivot
★ Jewellers. original curtain was not recorded in
newspaper reports at the time of the
Archivist: Gerry Kennedy 5174 1870 Helen Livsey
Events Co-ordinator: Hon Research Officer opening in 1927. After the change of
Les Auld 9689 2765 Albury and District Historical Society ownership, and at the re-opening in 1937,
Film Buffs Group: Albury’s newspaper described the new
Mike Trickett 5278 1986 stage curtain as ‘well blended shades of
Publications Sales:
James Barrand 0418 520 315 gold and orange.’This curtain was later
Membership Secretary: Peter O’Reilly replaced by the red one with gold tassles
PO Box 476 Bentleigh Vic. 3204 shown on the cover of issue 64.
CinemaRecord Editor: Compare this commitment to ‘only
Kevin Adams the best’ with some Regents in
cinemarecord@hotmail.com
CATHS website: Melbourne, where at least two of them
www.caths.org.au had the original curtains all their life.
Postal address: Ian Smith, Bendigo
PO Box 476, Bentleigh 3204.
★ •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •••••
Membership ••••• NEWSREEL CINEMA, THEATRE & •••••
Annual membership subscription is $45, SHOWBUSINESS NEWS
(overseas subscribers $50) and • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• •• •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• • •• •• ••
members receive four copies of
CinemaRecord, notification of events, VICTORIA Farewell RialtoVision
and copies of the agenda and minutes Kalorama to welcome the Movies Thursday 31st of December 2009
of all meetings. There is no joining fee. In the Dandenong Hills on saw the closure of the RialtoVision
Meetings Melbourne’s outskirts, the historic theatrette, at Melbourne’s Rialto
Meetings are held on the last Sunday of skyscraper Tower. The 360 degree view
February, April, June, August, October & Kalorama Hall is finally buzzing with observation deck had declined in
November. activity again after a long battle to keep popularity since the completion of the
it open. Since closure in 2004, passionate
Archive higher Eureka Tower at nearby
The Archive is located in the Prahran locals campaigned long and hard for it to Southbank.
Mechanics’ Institute, 140 High Street be retained for community use.
Prahran, 9510 3393. The Archive will It finally reopened in April last year Over the past fourteen years or so, a
be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm after extensive renovations inside and visit to the Rialto Tower view included a
on the Saturday before each meeting out and is now set for some even bigger spectacular widescreen film presentation
(see above), and at other times by changes. of some of Victoria’s premier tourist
appointment with the archivist. attractions. In recent years this
Publications The committee is planning to show presentation had been reduced to a
Back issues of CinemaRecord, other regular movies on a big screen inside DVD/digital presentation where the
publications, CDs and videos are the hall and with the closest cinemas in visual impact of the extra wide screen
available at meetings. Items are also Belgrave, Ms Blencowe said it would was lost. When comparing the city views
available by mail. Please contact James be a convenient option. of both the old and newer presentations,
Barrand on 0418 520 315 for details.
it is quite astonishing how Melbourne's
skyline has altered in recent years.
4 2010 CINEMARECORD