Palace frontage June 1953 advertising RKO’s “The Lusty Men” plus “The Thief”. At this time the cinema was gradually transitioning from operation by Snider & Dean to joining the Hoyts Suburban Circuit. It was advertised as Hoyts from 24th November 1955 until closure 16th September 1967. Quite a large two level venue, its licensed seating capacity was 1,481.
The Regent entrance lobby and stairs to the circle foyer are right - beside the auditorium. “The Music Man” was one of several musicals Warner Brothers released in 35mm Technirama at this time. It opened 20th December 1962 for an exclusive seven week run at the Regent. The distributor upgraded to 70mm presentation for its later big musicals: “My Fair Lady”, “Camelot” and “Finian’s Rainbow” all played at the Century theater across the road.
The Sydney and Adelaide Regent theaters were both designed for Hoyts by Cedric H. Ballantyne and were constructed almost simultaneously in 1927/8, so the similarities in design are not really a surprise.
The doors at left lead from the right side Stalls aisle, and were used only to help clear the house at the end of sessions. Fresh flower displays were once a common feature of foyer decoration in city theaters. By 1970 the Regent florist order was just for one bunch split between the two niches on either side of the landing shown here. However, as a cost cutting measure, this $10 weekly expenditure was discontinued shortly before this photo was taken.
Beyond the Candy Bar on the left is the relocated Ladies toilet in an area which had been a telephone switchboard. Two large doors open to an exit stairway down to George Street. This was only used at very busy times to help clear the house when a large number of patrons were crowding the stairs and foyer waiting for the next session.
The side boxes were not just ornamental, and could be accessed from the side exit stairway. However, they were far too close to the screen for viewing a film. The stairway carried on to ground level where it exited into a private side laneway used as a parking area for Hoyts executives during the day (Their offices were located above the Plaza and Century theaters across the road).
This is how the proscenium area looked for 20 years until Hoyts vacated 11th February 1976 (The Hoyts Centre next door opened for Xmas later that year). For several years after CinemaScope was installed at the Regent(in December 1953) the area above the curtain track pelmet was not curtained, so that the top of the original proscenium could still be seen.
The top photo here is supposed to be of the Sydney Regent proscenium, but the Daily Telegraph - 26th November 1988 - has used a picture of the somewhat different Brisbane Regent proscenium as its key image. Sadly, that particular Regent proscenium had bitten the dust some ten years earlier.
This is a bit hard to read, but I assume it is an example of many worthy efforts by people trying to generate public support in order to prevent the destruction of the Regent in the 1980s.
Quirky fact: At the time of this photo, Hoyts Theatres – on the left - was owned by Leon Fink of Melbourne, and the soon to be ex-Regent on the right belonged to a completely different Leon Fink - of Sydney.
This photo appears to be taken from Bathurst Street footpath and shows the side wall of the Regent where several emergency exits from the Stalls and Lounge lead into an L-shaped private laneway which fed into Bathurst Street. The rear of the corner bank building is just out of the picture on the left.
After Hoyts opened their seven screen Entertainment Centre 16th December 1976 on the Trocadero site next to the Regent, they began the process of terminating leases and selling their other city venues. They had already vacated the Regent on 11th February 1976. Thereafter it was used by others, mainly for live productions (and some film) - until closure.
When Fox’s “The Robe” had its Grand Gala Premiere at the Sydney Regent 8 p.m. on Wednesday 9th December 1953, it introduced both widescreen CinemaScope and Stereophonic Sound to Australian audiences. The front of house featured extensive Royal imagery, as the season coincided with a visit to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II.
Another view of the queue to see “The Dolly Sisters” 22nd April 1946. The multi-colored vertical ‘Regent’ neon sign in the middle of the building was a front-of-house feature for more than 30 years. Need for repairs under the sign company contract became more common as the years went by – to their chagrin. By the late 1960s Hoyts had no desire to replace it, and the sign company finally negotiated an end to the lease, removing it around 1972.
George Street night view by Sam Hood. Two British productions “Loose Ends” plus a now ’lost’ short feature “Two Many Crooks” - with Lawrence Olivier in an early film role - are the attractions, which ran a fixed one week season at the Regent from 24th January 1931. A vertical ‘Regent’ sign can be seen at the northern end. It was upgraded a few years later to a larger neon located mid-building.
RKO’s romantic fantasy “The Enchanted Cottage” with Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young and Herbert Marshall plus “Easy To Look At” with Gloria Jean opened 14th September 1945 at the Regent and screened for six weeks. Photo recorded as taken for RKO by Sam Hood 16th October.
Fox’s sci-fi “Fantastic Voyage” – the current attraction here - opened 19th January 1967 and ran for three weeks at the Regent. Further down George Street, the Rapallo was showing “Carry on Cowboy” and Michael Caine was at the Paramount in “Alfie”, which ran 49 weeks – not many people know that.
“Planet of the Apes” queue - photographed by John Mulligan on 27th August 1968 - extends round into Bathurst Street. The Heritage listed 1895 Bank of New South Wales building on the corner remains – but further down George Street the Regent, Trocadero, Paramount and Rapallo are long gone.
First in the popular series of “Apes” films opened at the Regent 15th August 1968. This photo was taken by John Mulligan in the school holidays on Tuesday 27th August – probably prior to the 10.50 a.m. morning session. At the time, to reduce advertising sign costs, the left side banner would feature a major coming, and in this case current, attraction.
“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” opened 18th December 1969 and ran for nine weeks. I was Regent Assistant Manager at the time. Manager was Bill Lincoln (a very decent bloke), who had started at the Regent around the time it opened. Our office was located in a former shop front to the left of the foreground ladies head. It was accessed through a door cut in the rear wall of the Stalls. (The original managers’ office had been situated in the lobby, but was replaced in later years by a concession counter.)
DavidColes
commented about
HELPon
Dec 22, 2020 at 9:01 pm
The top line says ‘stop worrying!’ but I am somewhat concerned, as “HELP!” didn’t actually play the Sydney Regent! I think this must be an advertisement for the ADELAIDE Regent, which is also a Hoyts theater and used the same logo design. This Beatles film actually opened in Sydney 16th December 1965 simultaneously at the Town and Palace theaters – not very far from the Regent.
The fifth James Bond adventure “You Only Live Twice” opened at the Regent on 14th December 1967 and ran 11 weeks. All 007 titles, up to and including “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974), had their first Sydney runs at the Regent - except “Thunderball” - which screened at the Embassy cinema Xmas 1965 (due to some film booking quirk).
A long queue stretches along George Street in front of the Regent. They are waiting to see Fox’s fictionalized biographical Technicolor musical “The Dolly Sisters” starring Betty Grable, John Payne and June Haver. It opened Friday 12th April 1946 and ran for three weeks. This photo was apparently taken on Easter Monday 22nd April.
Uniform design changed over the years. The formal look with long skirts and high heels was hardly suited to running up and down Dress Circle stairs in the dark. Around 1972 the company replaced white blouse and pleated fawn skirt - in use for some years - with matching orange jacket and slacks.
Probably a Page. At the Regent when I arrived in 1968 there was a full time Pageboy/Messenger who worked c 10 a.m. until he changed the price signs from Intermediate session to Evening price for the Lounge section at 5.05 p.m. His job involved things like running errands to H.O. and getting lunches for Booking Clerks (who didn’t have a meal break). As a cost cutting measure around 1972 this position was allowed to lapse, and usherettes helped with those duties. Most city theaters also had a casual Pageboy who worked circa 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. selling Movie News magazines and tidying up the foyers – emptying ash trays, etc.
Palace frontage June 1953 advertising RKO’s “The Lusty Men” plus “The Thief”. At this time the cinema was gradually transitioning from operation by Snider & Dean to joining the Hoyts Suburban Circuit. It was advertised as Hoyts from 24th November 1955 until closure 16th September 1967. Quite a large two level venue, its licensed seating capacity was 1,481.
The Regent entrance lobby and stairs to the circle foyer are right - beside the auditorium. “The Music Man” was one of several musicals Warner Brothers released in 35mm Technirama at this time. It opened 20th December 1962 for an exclusive seven week run at the Regent. The distributor upgraded to 70mm presentation for its later big musicals: “My Fair Lady”, “Camelot” and “Finian’s Rainbow” all played at the Century theater across the road.
The Sydney and Adelaide Regent theaters were both designed for Hoyts by Cedric H. Ballantyne and were constructed almost simultaneously in 1927/8, so the similarities in design are not really a surprise.
The doors at left lead from the right side Stalls aisle, and were used only to help clear the house at the end of sessions. Fresh flower displays were once a common feature of foyer decoration in city theaters. By 1970 the Regent florist order was just for one bunch split between the two niches on either side of the landing shown here. However, as a cost cutting measure, this $10 weekly expenditure was discontinued shortly before this photo was taken.
Beyond the Candy Bar on the left is the relocated Ladies toilet in an area which had been a telephone switchboard. Two large doors open to an exit stairway down to George Street. This was only used at very busy times to help clear the house when a large number of patrons were crowding the stairs and foyer waiting for the next session.
The side boxes were not just ornamental, and could be accessed from the side exit stairway. However, they were far too close to the screen for viewing a film. The stairway carried on to ground level where it exited into a private side laneway used as a parking area for Hoyts executives during the day (Their offices were located above the Plaza and Century theaters across the road).
This is how the proscenium area looked for 20 years until Hoyts vacated 11th February 1976 (The Hoyts Centre next door opened for Xmas later that year). For several years after CinemaScope was installed at the Regent(in December 1953) the area above the curtain track pelmet was not curtained, so that the top of the original proscenium could still be seen.
The top photo here is supposed to be of the Sydney Regent proscenium, but the Daily Telegraph - 26th November 1988 - has used a picture of the somewhat different Brisbane Regent proscenium as its key image. Sadly, that particular Regent proscenium had bitten the dust some ten years earlier.
This is a bit hard to read, but I assume it is an example of many worthy efforts by people trying to generate public support in order to prevent the destruction of the Regent in the 1980s.
Quirky fact: At the time of this photo, Hoyts Theatres – on the left - was owned by Leon Fink of Melbourne, and the soon to be ex-Regent on the right belonged to a completely different Leon Fink - of Sydney.
This photo appears to be taken from Bathurst Street footpath and shows the side wall of the Regent where several emergency exits from the Stalls and Lounge lead into an L-shaped private laneway which fed into Bathurst Street. The rear of the corner bank building is just out of the picture on the left.
After Hoyts opened their seven screen Entertainment Centre 16th December 1976 on the Trocadero site next to the Regent, they began the process of terminating leases and selling their other city venues. They had already vacated the Regent on 11th February 1976. Thereafter it was used by others, mainly for live productions (and some film) - until closure.
When Fox’s “The Robe” had its Grand Gala Premiere at the Sydney Regent 8 p.m. on Wednesday 9th December 1953, it introduced both widescreen CinemaScope and Stereophonic Sound to Australian audiences. The front of house featured extensive Royal imagery, as the season coincided with a visit to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II.
Another view of the queue to see “The Dolly Sisters” 22nd April 1946. The multi-colored vertical ‘Regent’ neon sign in the middle of the building was a front-of-house feature for more than 30 years. Need for repairs under the sign company contract became more common as the years went by – to their chagrin. By the late 1960s Hoyts had no desire to replace it, and the sign company finally negotiated an end to the lease, removing it around 1972.
George Street night view by Sam Hood. Two British productions “Loose Ends” plus a now ’lost’ short feature “Two Many Crooks” - with Lawrence Olivier in an early film role - are the attractions, which ran a fixed one week season at the Regent from 24th January 1931. A vertical ‘Regent’ sign can be seen at the northern end. It was upgraded a few years later to a larger neon located mid-building.
RKO’s romantic fantasy “The Enchanted Cottage” with Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young and Herbert Marshall plus “Easy To Look At” with Gloria Jean opened 14th September 1945 at the Regent and screened for six weeks. Photo recorded as taken for RKO by Sam Hood 16th October.
Fox’s sci-fi “Fantastic Voyage” – the current attraction here - opened 19th January 1967 and ran for three weeks at the Regent. Further down George Street, the Rapallo was showing “Carry on Cowboy” and Michael Caine was at the Paramount in “Alfie”, which ran 49 weeks – not many people know that.
“Planet of the Apes” queue - photographed by John Mulligan on 27th August 1968 - extends round into Bathurst Street. The Heritage listed 1895 Bank of New South Wales building on the corner remains – but further down George Street the Regent, Trocadero, Paramount and Rapallo are long gone.
First in the popular series of “Apes” films opened at the Regent 15th August 1968. This photo was taken by John Mulligan in the school holidays on Tuesday 27th August – probably prior to the 10.50 a.m. morning session. At the time, to reduce advertising sign costs, the left side banner would feature a major coming, and in this case current, attraction.
“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” opened 18th December 1969 and ran for nine weeks. I was Regent Assistant Manager at the time. Manager was Bill Lincoln (a very decent bloke), who had started at the Regent around the time it opened. Our office was located in a former shop front to the left of the foreground ladies head. It was accessed through a door cut in the rear wall of the Stalls. (The original managers’ office had been situated in the lobby, but was replaced in later years by a concession counter.)
The top line says ‘stop worrying!’ but I am somewhat concerned, as “HELP!” didn’t actually play the Sydney Regent! I think this must be an advertisement for the ADELAIDE Regent, which is also a Hoyts theater and used the same logo design. This Beatles film actually opened in Sydney 16th December 1965 simultaneously at the Town and Palace theaters – not very far from the Regent.
The fifth James Bond adventure “You Only Live Twice” opened at the Regent on 14th December 1967 and ran 11 weeks. All 007 titles, up to and including “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974), had their first Sydney runs at the Regent - except “Thunderball” - which screened at the Embassy cinema Xmas 1965 (due to some film booking quirk).
A long queue stretches along George Street in front of the Regent. They are waiting to see Fox’s fictionalized biographical Technicolor musical “The Dolly Sisters” starring Betty Grable, John Payne and June Haver. It opened Friday 12th April 1946 and ran for three weeks. This photo was apparently taken on Easter Monday 22nd April.
Uniform design changed over the years. The formal look with long skirts and high heels was hardly suited to running up and down Dress Circle stairs in the dark. Around 1972 the company replaced white blouse and pleated fawn skirt - in use for some years - with matching orange jacket and slacks.
Probably a Page. At the Regent when I arrived in 1968 there was a full time Pageboy/Messenger who worked c 10 a.m. until he changed the price signs from Intermediate session to Evening price for the Lounge section at 5.05 p.m. His job involved things like running errands to H.O. and getting lunches for Booking Clerks (who didn’t have a meal break). As a cost cutting measure around 1972 this position was allowed to lapse, and usherettes helped with those duties. Most city theaters also had a casual Pageboy who worked circa 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. selling Movie News magazines and tidying up the foyers – emptying ash trays, etc.