Page 33 - CinemaRecord #79

West Park Theatre building.

In 1915, an indoor/outdoor cinema named the
West Park Theatre opened to screen silent
movies. Documents researched show that it
operated for some time in this format, then
closed.
On March 7 1936, it was officially re-opened
by Councillor A. Everett with Western Electric
sound and, at that time, had a seating capacity
of 1400.
The first sound film screened there was West
Point of the Air, starring Wallace Beery.
In 1950, a new lease was granted by the local
Council, and films were switched with the
Regent Theatre on Wednesday nights, and
with the Corio Theatre on Saturday nights.
However, by 1961, film screenings had ceased, Regent Theatre advertising the “Talkies”.
and the building was converted into an indoor
table tennis centre. It was finally demolished in
1979 to make way for a new bowling green for In 1956, the interior of the theatre was
the Geelong West Bowling Club. refurbished for CinemaScope. No record could
be found of which machines were being used
On December 11 1922, Geelong’s new Regent prior to this date, but the new projectors were
Theatre opened with silent films. An excellent Centrex with Western Electric arcs.
article by Mike Trickett about the Regent’s
history appeared in CR#50 in 2006. The theatre closed at the end of 1964, but
reopened for sporadic screenings over the
Talkies arrived at the Regent in 1929, the first 1964/1965 school holiday period, finally closing
film being The Broadway Melody. Newspaper on January 13 1965. One year later, on January
articles in 1939 note that “House Manager, 6 1966, the building reopened as a McEwans
Arthur Greves, retains his position at the Hardware store after much internal renovation.
Geelong Regent”. He was still there when the A link with the Regent was broken on January
theatre closed in 1964, as also was the head 26 1969 when projectionist Charlie Craddock
projectionist, Charlie Craddock, then aged 81 passed away at age 85.
and still running the day shifts. From Regent to Reject Shop.
Photographs taken in 2013 show the original
ceiling domes, paint colours and plaster relief
work above the former stalls (now used as
a first floor storeroom) to still be relatively
intact. Access to the actual circle and up to
where the projection room once stood is no
longer existent, and the bio box has now gone,
revealing decorative windows through the
building facade. Timber beams over the former
stage and screen area still exist.

Regent Theatre. Remains of plaster decor.

CINEM AREC ORD 2013 33