Page 37 - CinemaRecord #81

The screen is now covered with new red velvet
GUDSHV WKH WLPEHU ÀRRUV KDYH EHHQ EHDXWLIXOO\
UH¿QLVKHG ³OXVFLRXV´ JROG YHOYHW OLQHV WKH VLGH
walls, the building has been painted inside
and out, there are new exit stairs and a newly In the words of Trust director Jo Smith, “The
constructed stage. Regal will screen the best of foreign-language
¿OPV DQG GRFXPHQWDULHV DORQJVLGH WKH TXDOLW\
The 100 restored chairs have plaques attached, ¿OPV Regal audiences were accustomed to
a testament to the sponsors who paid $150 per seeing under the wonderful direction of Bruce
seat to assist with the funding of the project. Avard”.
Fundraising is on-going.
The affection that many people have for the The newly refurbished 108 seat cinema had
Regal was obvious in the support and help that LWV RI¿FLDO UHRSHQLQJ RQ )ULGD\ )HEUXDU\
has been provided. 2014, then followed with a weekend program
RI TXDOLW\ ¿OPV VWDUWLQJ DSSURSULDWHO\ ZLWK
In addition to the help from volunteers, other Cinema Paradiso and continuing with Academy
cinema operators from near and far provided $ZDUG QRPLQDWHG ¿OPV Philomena, Dallas
advice and assistance, paid tradesmen often Buyers Club and The Great Beauty.
ZHQW EH\RQG WKH VFRSH RI WKH ZRUN VSHFL¿HG
provided materials free of charge or billed the Tickets are still only $7, but time hasn’t
Regal well below what they quoted. completely stood still: at the new Regal you can
book online or perhaps take advantage of offers
The grant money, in the capable hands of Project RI GULQNV EHIRUH D ¿OP RU ³DIWHUQRRQ WHD ZLWK
Manager Christopher Saunders, thus stretched Philomena”. You can also partake of a Classic
further than expected. They were able to Regal Choc Top, to complete the experience,
undertake works such as the chairs and curtains just $3.
that were not part of the original quantity
survey, which was focussed on structural rather The reborn Regal is living proof that miracles
than cosmetic work. can happen.

Something few customers will get to see is
the NEC 2K digital projector and associated Photographs: Christopher Saunders, David Horkan,
equipment, looking very out of time and “Friends of the Regal” members and “Regal Rebuilt”
place in the tiny upstairs projection room. on facebook.
The equipment was generously provided, at a ZĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ͗ Interview with David Horkan, Friends of
ƚŚĞ ZĞŐĂů͕ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϲ͕ ϮϬϭϰ͘
reduced price, by Kennedy Miller Mitchell who Newcastle Herald, Newcastle Star Newspapers.
were looking to sell off the projection suite from
their Happy Feet 2 studio. ͞&ƌŽŶƚ ^ƚĂůůƐ Žƌ ĂĐŬ͟Ͳ <͘ :͘ ŽƌŬ Θ >͘Z͘ dŽĚ ϭϵϵϯ.

The Trust plans to initially operate the
venue, with Friday to Sunday screenings,
as a community cinema, then hand over to
a commercial operator at a time when the
remaining bills are paid.

CINEMAREC ORD 2014 37