Page 38 - CinemaRecord #77C

Significant improvements have been made to the
stage and backstage areas. Part of these has been
made possible by the purchase of a few metres of
land from Australia Post (on the south side of the
building). The stage left space has been extended
over the former rear laneway. The stage right
area has also been extended.

The two original dressing rooms at the rear
of the stage have been removed thereby
increasing the depth of the stage. New
dark blue stage curtains have been hung to
compliment the auditorium refurbishment.

The outside space between the backstage wall, THE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED
the exterior toilets and the separate supper WITH THE REGENT THEATRE: Strand Theatre.
room (facing Grant St) has been enclosed with
a skillion roof and side walls thereby creating a Mr. & Mrs. Thompson were the builders
large assembly and storage area. and owners of the theatre. They were well
known publicans in Yarram.
The furnace room attached to the external stage
wall was demolished and replaced with a roof- Mrs. Margaret Adelaide Thompson was
mounted gas heating system. the "front person” and was one of Yarram's
colourful characters at the time; she possessed
The old external toilet block has been refurbished considerable entrepreneurial skills. The Twomeys subsequently sold both the
and is now under the new back stage roofline. A Strand Hall and Regent Theatre to the Shire
large floored area has been built over the former Better known as Ma Thompson she built of Alberton in 1958 (1) which then in turn sold
roof of the toilet block to provide storage space. the Dukes Hotel (now the Department of
Conservation and Environment office), on the Strand to help fund the Regent Theatre
purchase and the construction of the Supper
A new scenery dock has been installed on the the site of a wine shanty. Room. The former Strand Theatre site is
south side of the building and convenient access now a service station.
to the centre of the stage is available through a In 1914 the Thompson’s built the Strand
large roller door. Hall in Commercial Rd. (1) - this building Over the years various theatre trade
became known as Thompson's Hall. magazines listed lessees including:-
The project has been funded through a variety of
sources including: - Apart from being the first local movie theatre, 1930 - A. Kerr (4)
the hall was used for dances and indoor 1937 - 1942 E. Cochrane (2)
$250,000 State Government of Vic. sports. Movies were still screened there for a 1942 - 1950 Gordon Burns
$125,000 Wellington Shire Council short time after the opening of the Regent. 1952 - 1958 W. Baker – Gilbert
$155,000 Local fund raising.
Upon her death, in the 1953, her estate 1958 - 1962 D.W. Sandilands
The Community has also painted the auditorium was placed in the hands of two Western 1962 - 1965 Yarram Public Halls
and built two small dressing rooms in the right Australians executors by the name of T.A Association (Council auspiced)
hand stage extension (under the fire tunnel exit). and O.J Twomey (of Perth). These people 1965 - Various Agencies of the
The theatre was officially re-opened in May 1999. were believed to be her nephews. former Alberton (and current
Wellington) Shire.

Mr. Rodney King, the former Alberton Shire
Rate Collector, also acted as the casual
cinema manager for many years. He was also
responsible for film hire and the employment
of casual staff. The Tara Festival Committee
was also connected with film screenings at the
theatre. The current Management Committee
now conducts occasional screenings. H

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Rodney King, George Scammell, Ian Turnbull and
the late Cecil Wynne.
PHOTOGRAPHS: View of original stage - courtesy
Mrs. Margery Missen, “Greenmount”, Yarram.
Others from Kevin Adams and Mike Trickett.

REFERENCES:
Public Records Office - Regent Theatre File.
Film Weekly - Various editions.
Melbourne Sun News Pictorial, 27 June 1932.
Everyone’s: May 1931. Kino: No 8. June 1984.

38 2013 CINEM AREC ORD