Page 5 - CR-96

Dear Sir, Civic Theatre - Auckland
To the many people who enjoyed my articles
The last edition of CinemaRecord contained an
about drive-in theatres and who enquired about article on the Civic Theatre, Auckland.
procuring my stories, please rest assured I have
not forgotten you.
New Zealand member, David Lascelles, has
My humorous autobiography with pathos is in provided the following income and expenditure
the pipeline for next year. This deals with my figures for the opening week. They make
family entering the film industry during World interesting reading.
War II and then through my forty years in the
industry. Week Ending 27 December 1929:-
Dear Sirs,
David Scott
All figures are in (NZ) Pounds, Shillings and
John Thiele’s cover story on North Adelaide’s � Pence
Piccadilly (CR94) was of great interest. The
spiral staircase is, simply, superb. The large Dear Sir,
northeast is to include a cinema. Income:
collection of excellent photos, including his own
in colour, was an added attraction. Thank you for CinemaRecord #95, another
good issue. Film - Three Live Ghosts £3219.14.6
Programmes 43. 0.0
However, his claim that, during Hoyts Regent-
Paris redevelopment (1967-69), both theatres An interesting thing I observed in the Rents 16. 0.0
remained closed for the entire transformation is photograph of the Sunset Drive-in, £3278.14.6
inaccurate. The two level Regent, closed on Maribyrnong. The projection room for the field Less Amusement Tax 126. 9.4
30 March 1967, was partially razed to make way in the background seems very small; one would Nett Income: £3152. 5.2
for the original stage of the Regent Arcade and expect it to have some sort of air conditioning.
reopened on 30 May 1968 as a single level Expenditure:
cinema. The Paris (the Plaza was renamed in The final program advertised for the Palace
1962) closed on 25 May 1968 and was Theatre Hobart on page 12 was Surefire Flint Ground Rent £129. 5.0
completely demolished. The new ultra-modern and What's Wrong With the Women, both of Rates 25.14.8
Paris, with its larger capacity (782 compared which were produced in 1922. Film Hire - Three Live Ghosts 400. 0.0
with 584) auditorium built above the next section Radio Pictures 27. 0.0
of the Regent Arcade, opened on 17 April 1969. The picture of the Star Theatre Devonport First National Films 20. 0.0
Therefore, it can be seen that there would only taken in 1936 was showing, at the time, Three Famous Lasky Films 16.10.0
be a handful of days when there were no Smart Girls – Universal 1936. Wages - Theatre 200. 8.4
screenings at all. Apart from that brief interlude, Wages - Stage 534.15.8
and improved sound and vision”. there was always a cinema operating at any given In the display of pictures of posters, the daybill Wages - H & S 125. 0.0
time throughout the lengthy two year plus for The Maltese Falcon indicates a flying falcon Wages - Artists 40. 0.0
project. Initially, it was the first Paris and, – the Maltese Falcon is only a statue. Petty Cash (General) 9.19.11
latterly, the 894 seat Regent. Petty Cash (Office) 4. 3.6
Advertising 270.12.10
The daybill for the Spencer Tracy version of
In early 1983, Wallis operated not only the Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was designed so as not Sundries 47.12.1
Academy Cinema City, Chelsea (now Regal, Stage Presentation 100. 0.0
Kensington Park) and Glenelg Cinema Centre to show the features of Mr. Hyde in its initial Electric & Neon 100. 0.0
as mentioned, but also the Semaphore, in release. The producers and star thought it would Misc (Carbons, Torches, etc.) 30. 0.0
addition to their drive-ins. be a bigger surprise for the audience not to Licenses, Phones, Insurance 20. 0.0
reveal the features of Mr. Hyde and made
In the article “Paris Reborn” (CR77, page 19), it pictures showing only a rear view of a dark Expenses: £2101. 5.0
incorrectly stated that the Sturt Arcade Hotel was figure. When the film was reissued in the
demolished during the Regent-Paris 1950s, they made a split image of both Jekyll Income: £3152. 5.2
redevelopment. That event did not occur until and Hyde. In both the silent version with John Expenses: £2101. 5.0
much later in 1991. The Regent Arcade’s dog-leg Barrymore and the 1931 version with Frederick Profit: £1051. 0.2
shape was finally straightened and the Regent’s March, the image of Mr. Hyde was shown. First Week of Operation
Rundle Mall façade was replicated at the
Grenfell Street end of the Arcade. The hotel’s The poster for Dracula, Prisoner of For comparison purposes, the Reserve Bank of
services were replaced by the Players’ Bar Frankenstein is bogus. Boris Karloff (the New Zealand inflation calculator says that
Tavern located in the Arcade’s new southern Frankenstein image) and the man (image of Lon
basement and the Regent Arcade Bottle Shop. Chaney) do not star in that feature. NZ£1000 in 1929, is the equivalent of
NZ$193,558.52 today.
Yours sincerely, Yours sincerely
Alan Bell William Gray.

CINEMARECORD # 96 5