Page 36 - CinemaRecord #81

adly, we often read in CinemaRecord of
36 2014 CINEMAREC ORD
A community based group, Friends of the Regal,
Stheatres and cinemas that once were and was formed after the 2006 closure. Headed by
are no longer. It is very pleasing therefore to be local resident David Horkan, who incredibly
able to report on one cinema that died and has had never been to a screening at the old Regal,
come back to life, brighter and better than ever. the group has more than 1600 members and has
spent the past seven years working towards the
When the Regal Cinema Birmingham re-opening.
Gardens (in suburban Newcastle) NSW closed
on October 31, 2006 after over 60 years of The Friends were joined, most notably, by Jo
operation, it looked as though that might be the Smith, executive director of the Australian Guild
end of the Regal story. The operator Mr Bruce of Screen Composers, and other prominent
Avard, who had almost single-handedly run the PHPEHUV RI WKH $XVWUDOLDQ ¿OP LQGXVWU\ WR OHQG
single screen venue for 38 of those years, was their support to saving the cinema.
forced to close the cinema due to the prohibitive
cost of required safety upgrades to the then 75 Over time the NCC was persuaded to gift the
year old, Newcastle City Council (NCC) owned building and land to the Regal Cinema Building
building. Trust. State Labor M.P. Sonia Hornery arranged
a $141,700 grant to refurbish the cinema and
Most people in Newcastle and surrounding a digital projection suite fell into the Regal’s
areas have a Regal story, always positive: about hands at a very good price.
VHHLQJ ¿OPV WKH\ ZRXOGQ¶W RWKHUZLVH KDYH KDG The assistance and generosity of the NCC and
D FKDQFH WR VHH RI 0U $YDUG¶V SDVVLRQ IRU ¿OPV the hard work of numerous supporters, sponsors
that was passed on to his patrons, of meeting and suppliers has resulted in the Regal being
up with friends at the Regal or of going there returned to the community that loved it so much.
on dates, of the great handmade choc tops and
other treats, all served up in ridiculously tight Whilst the Regal is still a community hall at
foyer spaces. heart, the new owner and custodian the Regal
Cinema Building Trust, has polished it for a new
There is much love for the Regal as it was. era.
But this cinema was to live to screen another The old wooden framed chairs have been
day. stripped of years of chewing gum and worse and
In the ensuing seven plus years, members now have beautiful new red velvet covers and
of the community, a number of industry stained and polished frames.
professionals and representatives from all /LNH D ORW RI ROG ¿OPV WKDW KDYH EHHQ GLJLWDOO\
levels of government and all sides of politics restored, these chairs look better than new.
have supported the cause and played their part
in helping to resurrect the Regal.