Page 29 - CinemaRecord #79

After his father died suddenly of a heart
attack in 1950, Keith and Doreen (Keith’s
mother) continued operating the Regent, even
implementing the extensive renovations which
Trevor had planned, lengthening the cinema
and extending a large side entrance which
included a modern Candy Bar.

Embassy Fire 1947. While the Regent stalls still had canvas
seating, the original gallery, colloquially
The Embassy Theatre and surrounding known as the “hen roost”, was upgraded from
businesses were never rebuilt. So soon after wooden chairs to an attractive dress-circle
the end of the Second World War materials with Dunlopillo seating. The seating capacity
were in short supply, and insurance would not was increased to 850 patrons.
cover the costs of construction.
The block on the corner remained vacant until After the 1947 disastrous fire at the Embassy,
about the 1960s when the Anderson family Stan Clapham obtained a lease on the Town
built an arcade of shops. The Embassy façade Hall which enabled him to screen on four
is still intact and now provides the frontage to days per week. In December of that year, he
an office block. purchased the freehold of the Empire Dance
Hall (aka Empire Theatre) and in 1948
In the wake of the final destruction of the converted it to a 710-seat picture-theatre
Embassy by fire in 1947, the town was not left which he called the Civic Theatre.
without entertainment as movies continued at
Trevor Upton’s Regent in Tank Street. Located at 165 Goondoon Street, the Empire
Theatre was built in May 1930 by Dick
Trevor Upton (Senior’s) son, Keith, had Oakley, of the Commercial Hotel. The theatre
commenced duties as an ice-cream boy at was built principally for the purpose of
the Town Hall Pictures when he was only 12 pictures and dancing. The dance floor was of
years old in 1939. spotted gum and was “treated with a process
universally adopted by the management of all
up-to-date dancing palaces”.

The building was 90ft by 40ft with a 12ft by
70ft veranda which could be used as a supper
or refreshment room.
On each side of the building there were two
large fire escapes. It was estimated that in case
of emergency, a full house could be emptied in
less than two minutes.

The operating box for picture showing was Embassy façade in 2013.
9ft by 8ft and was constructed to be fire-proof
as well. Two 1930 models of machine were
installed, with innovations that meant that
there would be no break in the picture thrown
on the screen. The plant was also adaptable for
talking equipment, which was to be installed
at a later date.

Keith Upton in Town Hall Pictures uniform. 1945 Victory March past the Empire Theatre.

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