Page 32 - CinemaRecord #79

The drive-in was sited in a steep valley on the The projection room, cafeteria and amenities
southern end of the town, necessitating that the were located in one central brick building
hill at the rear of the site be extensively blasted which had been sunk about two metres into the
to provide both filling material and the space site to maximize sight lines for patrons.
required.
The original terrazzo-floored cafeteria
The theatre included a substantial, cyclone- building was later extended further towards
proof steel-framed movie screen, extensive the screen and converted to a full self-service
gardens and a children’s playground sited operation and a new manager’s office was
under the screen. Pony rides were available provided for Nola Upton who also served as
for children before the show and during the projectionist for many years.
intermission.
Making speaker posts on the Glen site.. The drive-in was well equipped with two
35/70mm Cinemeccanica projectors and film
delivery was later upgraded to a platter system
for ease of operation.
Upon opening, the theatre featured fully sealed
bitumen roadways and parking on eight ramps.
Popularity saw additional parking added to
accommodate 335 cars on a total of eleven
ramps. Walk-in patrons were catered for at the
front of the cafeteria.

With two hardtop cinemas and their drive-in
theatre, the Uptons obtained good audiences
at all three theatres. During the 1960s the
Regent, and later the Civic, also hosted live
concerts by many famous rock and cabaret
artists. (This business later shifted to the
Glen Drive-In Theatre.
new 700-seat Entertainment Centre/City
Theatre which opened in 1981).

Eventually, with competition from television
and other social attractions, the need for two
cinemas diminished, so to rationalise their
business interests, the Regent Theatre was
closed and then sold to the neighbouring Club
Hotel in 1968. It was demolished in 1969 to
provide a car park for the hotel.

For the next three decades, the Civic Cinema
and Glen Drive-In operated in tandem,
upgraded and lovingly maintained with either
Keith or his wife Nola usually on deck at
either venue.

Glen Drive-In from the road.

Inglorious end – The Regent stripped and used in a car dealership launch.

32 2013 CINEM AREC ORD