It would appear that this theatre has the rare distinction of still retaining the original marquee, always such an important part of a theatre’s design and so often destroyed over the years.
Looks in great shape, would love to go there someday.
Loved this theatre when it was a showcase of Cinerama, have very faint memories of “How the West was Won” in 3 strip format which for a very young boy was awesome!! I’m glad at least some of the interior is still there and the exterior is just great, the younger generation have no idea what going “to the pictures” was like in the 50’s and 60’s in those fantastic movie palaces – most of todays movie houses are unbelievably depressing, cheap and nasty!
I agree with the above comment – the Brisbane REGENT was wrecked when the auditorium was destroyed, the finest in Australia and the equal to the best in the U.S.A. apart from just a few very special places, e.g. Capitol/New York, Fox/San Francisco.
Thankfully the Sydney State and Capitol and Melbourne Regent remain basically intact but Brisbane has never respected its past, hence most of it is now gone.
Thanks very much for these photos KenRoe. The building was even finer than I remember, what a scandal that it was demolished for just another boring office block which would not be missed if it disappeared tomorrow!!
It’s unbelievable how much damage was done to so many cities in the 60’s, 70’s and to a slightly lesser extent in the 80’s.
I have only a very vague memory of the interior of this theatre and have never been able to locate any photographs.
If anyone has any I would be very grateful if they would post them on this site.
There must have been some in the MGM archives in Sydney but possibly lost by now.
Clearly an important theatre and well worth restoration, if Loew’s Kings gets the go ahead New York will have preserved two very important movie palaces which will make some amends to the dreadful destruction of the 60’s and 70’s.
It’s times like this that I wish I was a lottery winner (like most other people of course) How I would love to make a substantial donation to save some wonderful theatre from destruction.
It’s a scandal to say the least that the restoration of the Uptown seems always to be in doubt. As good as Loew’s Kings might be (and it’s great that it looks like being restored) it is not in my opinion in quite the same league as the Uptown, one of the top 4 or 5 movie palaces ever built!! The City of Chicago does not seem to understand what a special place this is.
I have in my possession a bronze plaque of Marcus Loew founder of Loew’s Corporation which was situated in the lower foyer of the Brisbane Metro until removed by MGM Australia in the late 60’s as they then decided that as MGM and Loews had long sinced devolved into separate companies the plaque was no longer appropriate.
I wonder if any other members have such a plaque as I imagine they were probably placed in all the Loews Theatres in the 20’s and 30’s.
It would appear that this theatre has the rare distinction of still retaining the original marquee, always such an important part of a theatre’s design and so often destroyed over the years.
Looks in great shape, would love to go there someday.
Loved this theatre when it was a showcase of Cinerama, have very faint memories of “How the West was Won” in 3 strip format which for a very young boy was awesome!! I’m glad at least some of the interior is still there and the exterior is just great, the younger generation have no idea what going “to the pictures” was like in the 50’s and 60’s in those fantastic movie palaces – most of todays movie houses are unbelievably depressing, cheap and nasty!
I agree with the above comment – the Brisbane REGENT was wrecked when the auditorium was destroyed, the finest in Australia and the equal to the best in the U.S.A. apart from just a few very special places, e.g. Capitol/New York, Fox/San Francisco.
Thankfully the Sydney State and Capitol and Melbourne Regent remain basically intact but Brisbane has never respected its past, hence most of it is now gone.
Thanks very much for these photos KenRoe. The building was even finer than I remember, what a scandal that it was demolished for just another boring office block which would not be missed if it disappeared tomorrow!!
It’s unbelievable how much damage was done to so many cities in the 60’s, 70’s and to a slightly lesser extent in the 80’s.
I have only a very vague memory of the interior of this theatre and have never been able to locate any photographs.
If anyone has any I would be very grateful if they would post them on this site.
There must have been some in the MGM archives in Sydney but possibly lost by now.
Clearly an important theatre and well worth restoration, if Loew’s Kings gets the go ahead New York will have preserved two very important movie palaces which will make some amends to the dreadful destruction of the 60’s and 70’s.
It’s times like this that I wish I was a lottery winner (like most other people of course) How I would love to make a substantial donation to save some wonderful theatre from destruction.
It’s a scandal to say the least that the restoration of the Uptown seems always to be in doubt. As good as Loew’s Kings might be (and it’s great that it looks like being restored) it is not in my opinion in quite the same league as the Uptown, one of the top 4 or 5 movie palaces ever built!! The City of Chicago does not seem to understand what a special place this is.
I have in my possession a bronze plaque of Marcus Loew founder of Loew’s Corporation which was situated in the lower foyer of the Brisbane Metro until removed by MGM Australia in the late 60’s as they then decided that as MGM and Loews had long sinced devolved into separate companies the plaque was no longer appropriate.
I wonder if any other members have such a plaque as I imagine they were probably placed in all the Loews Theatres in the 20’s and 30’s.