Roxy Theatre

rivest266 on July 15, 2016 at 4:17 pm

August 27th, 1976 grand opening ad as a 3-plex in the photo section.

johnph on June 26, 2014 at 9:44 am

As assistant operator to Cecil De Lorey IN 1967/68 it was a great theatre to work , Cec was a top teacher ,to much more to mention , although the way I gained entry to the place to start work to this day after all mods over the years has not been changed:.My secret.

twalker on November 18, 2011 at 7:47 am

I have lived in Parramatta for 20yrs and used to go to the Roxy regularly even before I lived here. My girlfriend (now wife) was from Carlingford and we used to have a movie deal where we had an Italian meal at one of the shops alongside the forecourt and a movie for $11 each. My wifes family are 5th generation Parramatta people and my mother in law remembers when the Roxy was opened there were large spotlights either side of the door at the top of the stairs that lit up the night and the street was very alive with people.

Mike Rogers on July 1, 2010 at 2:38 am

Beautiful theatre.

Ken Roe on April 2, 2010 at 10:37 pm

A vintage photograph of the Roxy Theatre in the 1930’s:
View link

distopia84 on May 29, 2006 at 6:18 am

hi all.
i a hoping some of you will help with some research im doing on cinema for entertainment in the western suburbs.
If any of you have any memories of going to the cinema (roxy, astra, crest)between the 30’s – 50’s i would really appreciate it.

You can email me on /remove this part
i have a short questionarie if you would like to fill it out.
Any help would be appreciated, as i don’t know many people that can give me any first han history of the cinemas

Suwanti on July 3, 2005 at 6:37 am

I am glad to learn that the building of the theatre have been preserved and reopened as an entertainment centre with restaurants ,bars and a cabaret venue.

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Hong Kong also had a first run theatre named Roxy [in Causeway Bay district]and it was demolished in 1974 and rebuilt as a residential complex.

mrt1924 on April 29, 2005 at 3:03 am

I hope they don’t demolish it but preserve it for the future.

PAULB on January 5, 2004 at 4:10 am

January 2004:The Roxy IS being preserrved and now renovated. My understanding as of right this minute is that the main upstairs cinema will be restored as is and used for premieres and events. the 2 stupid concrete box horrors downstairs will be made into a nightclub and a restaurant. The front and building perimiter is being restored and renovated along with all the best aspects of thsi sensational venue. A big thankyou to whoever is the entrepreneur and you can contact me anytime .au

PiotrSkonieczny on October 24, 2003 at 10:34 am

Working at Roxy for 4 years, I had the pleasure to “get to know” this extraordinary building. I say “get to know” because this is more than just a building. You can almost feel that it has “presence”. That it is watching over you as you watch over “her”. “The Grand Lady” as some patrons refered to it.

A large courtyard between the gates and the front enterance is one of the unique features that distinguish Roxy from other cinemas in Australia. Cuddled by two wing-buildings that reach the gates, this area is an ideal place to hang around before a movie.

The main foyer has changed quite a lot from the original. I, of course did not see the original foyer of Roxy, but many stories from patrons and workers paint an amazing picture. Patrons walking through the main enterance were greeted by a ticket box in the centre of the foyer. The wall behind the ticket box, where now stands the Candy Bar, featured a cascading fountain.
Above the ticket box, a masterfully built wooden ceiling from which hangs a chandelier.

In the far corner are entrances to Cinema 2 and Cinema 3. Two of the smaller theatres. In between these theatres the bio area (projection room) for both. Each theatre holds (from memory) ~250 seats.

On the left and right from the centre of the foyer, stairs now lead to the main theatre, Cinema 1, and the lounge area. Walls around the frame of the entry point of the stairs, are ordained with beautifull mozaic-patterned tiles.

The lounge area itself, is the same size as the foyer, except that a large piece of the centre is cut-out exposing the foyer below.

Cinema 1 holds ~550 seats which climb, in rows, approximatly 20 metres up to the back wall. Behind that wall is the Cinema 1 bio box (projection room).

The scren itself is LARGE (I do not remember the exact measurements). In front of it hangs a beautiful curtain. It too is a BIG in size, while it’s deep red colour is at it’s best when illuminated by a number of spot lights on the walls of the theatre.

The screen and curtain are actually on a stage which measures about the width of the theatre and is about 15 metres deep into what is the first row os seats.

Behind the screen (and the speakers) there is now a storage area. In the early days of the cinema this areas was still part of the theatre while the screen was deeper, right against the back wall of the now storage area.

Actually, a lot has changed. The two bottom cinemas where actually the floor level of the main theatre. While Cinema 1, was a balcony. Together, they formed what used to be the 1900+ seat Grand Theatre.

Details and stories are plentyfull. Some I’ll keep to myself. Others I’ll post some other time. All-in-all, it was a sad day when Roxy closed. I will never forget “her”.

JohnAdey on May 19, 2002 at 1:10 am

The Roxy at Parramatta closed as a cinema on March 27, 2002 after 72 years as a cinema.

The building has been sold to a Sydney developer who was not forthcoming (April 2002) about his plans for the jewel of Parramatta. He said that it will continue to operate as an entertainment venue, but it’s too premature to comment on the exact plans.

The building is in need of ‘tender loving care’ because the previous owner (of only a few years) a Hong Kong businessman did not maintain it.

The Roxy is the second cinema in NSW to be classified by the National Trust of Australia.