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Uploaded on: October 14, 2023

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Take a walk back in time to the opening of the Roxy Cinema Nowra - Photo - CROWDS GATHER: The Roxy Cinema was officially opened on August 14, 1935. Photo: Shoalhaven Historical Society.

Notice the flags hanging across the facade of the theatre, along with the large letters ( G R mounted on either side of the Royal Crown) representing George Reigns – 1935 Celebrating the Reign of King George V, Silver Jubilee with The Australian Army parading out the front of the theatre. Part of the opening celebrations.

The Roxy Theatre opened on August 14th 1935 with MGM’s “Naughty Marietta”.

In 1939 the owners, Charles Owen and Ron Sutton leased to theatre to Edwin Potts who also operated the Crown Theatre. In 1944 Potts bought the Roxy Theatre. His wife Monica took the reins after his death under her remarried name and ownership was officially listed as “Monica O'Brien trading as E.C.Potts & Co.”

Mrs O'Brien ran the theatre successfully until 1976 when she sold to Robert Brainwood. He was a veteran consultant in the exhibition business and set about modernising the Roxy Theatre. He twinned the main auditorium and later added three more screens. There have been plans to add even more at the rear of the building. Capacity has been reduced from 772 to 540.

Except for the large marquee the front remains just what it was in 1935 - Notes by by John Gleeson

Contributed by Greg Lynch -