Page 31 - CinemaRecord #86

King) spent a number of hours ensuring that all and the existing rear wall of the main foyer. The rewind and storage. Beyond these ante-rooms, air
facilities and staging would be adequate for his original ticket box has been retained, but has been plenum chambers exist at a lower level than the
wife’s performance. (Marjorie Lawrence had converted into a secure area for gaming machine floor of the projection area, but are still accessible
been stricken with polio in 1941 and, by 1944, computers and staff. The original terrazzo foyer from the projection room via small hatchways.
was only able move about on crutches. Her floor has also been retained, complete with the Above each of these chambers, a centrifugal fan
appearance on stage therefore had to be "R" logo common to many Regent Theatres. is provided to exhaust air from the auditorium
meticulously arranged. Dr. King also had to through large, rectangular openings in the rear
ensure that the pathway from the car to the theatre In the auditorium, the dress circle remains wall, on either side of the projection room. (At
entrance was unimpeded.) unaltered, with the exception that all of the the time of our visit, these openings were boarded
original seating has been replaced by seats over to prevent cold draughts during winter
In 1964, the theatre was purchased by Mr. Henry "inherited" from the Regent Theatre in Collins months).
Joseph, and movies continued until 19 November Street. These were transported to Colac by semi-
1979, when the final film, Heaven Can Wait was trailer in the early hours of one Saturday morning. Sadly, the grand old Regent past is no longer a
screened. The stage area has been retained, but screen and cinema. However, the building is regularly hired
sound equipment has gone. out for live performances by local and visiting
The building was later sold to the Colac Branch companies. The Colac Performing Arts Centre
of the Returned Soldiers' League, who adapted In the projection room, there is still evidence of (COPAC) now serves the needs of the local
the building for their own use by replacing the its former use. Three carbon arc lamphouses, arc population with regular screenings of current
raked stalls floor with a new, flat parquetry floor. supply switchboard, two selenium stacks, dual films. ê
Interestingly, during demolition of the stalls floor, channel rectifiers plus other miscellaneous
the original bluestone footings for the old Church unidentifiable objects of an electrical nature have Acknowledgements:
were unearthed, and these remain in situ beneath been left, although the projectors have been
the new floor. removed. Public Records Office, Department of Health.
Reference 7882/P1, Unit 256, Item 1303.
The projection area is comprised of five separate
A dividing wall was constructed within the stalls spaces. In the centre is the projection room Mr. Ian Morgan (Colac RSL)
area across the width of the building beneath the proper. At each end, there are air locks giving Argus Newspaper Archives
edge of the balcony, allowing for the provision access from the auditorium into the projection Sun News-Pictorial Archives
of a meals and gaming area between the new wall Colac Herald Archives
room. These air locks serve as ante-rooms for film

Mystery Solved

Original “Mystery Cinema” photograph Interior of Hoyts Kinema, Albert Park, designed by William Pitt
On page 15 of the last issue of CinemaRecord, we asked if anyone could identify a mystery cinema (above, left). Thanks to the efforts of our
Research Group, the mystery has been solved. The cinema is the Hoyts Kinema Albert Park, designed by William Pitt as a sort of poor-man's
Hoyts De Luxe (later Esquire), opening in 1920. (Pitt designed Hoyts De Luxe, Bourke Street, in 1915).

Look at the wall design on the left of the picture, above left. Now look at the same wall in the stage view picture (above, right). Identical. The
theatre was promoted as featuring the latest method of ventilation, suitable for all seasons. In part, the ventilation was facilitated by a moveable
ceiling panel centrally located above the dress circle. This method avoided the problem of rain entering the building before the roof could be closed,
as often happened with the more conventional external sliding roof arrangement in use at the time. Depending on the weather conditions the ceiling
panel could be easily raised or lowered. In the ceiling panel “open” photo, the roof trusses in the ceiling void can be seen.

Exterior of Hoyts Kinema, Albert Park Interior of Hoyts De Luxe 1920s

CINEMARECORD # 86 31