Regent Theatre

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Regent Theatre 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 – 1945 Destroyed by fire

Cutting – Argus Melbourne Monday 30 April 1945 – Page 3

Firemen at great risk to themselves fought the fire for two hours 40 minutes with all available water pressure and from all possible vantage points, including the roofs of neighboring buildings.

*Collapse of roof

Within 15 minutes of the arrival of the first firemen the roof covering the auditorium collapsed, sending forth flames which could be seen at St Kilda, Malvern, and other suburbs. Portions of the east and west walls then fell, and added to the inferno. The collapsing west side slightly damaged a number of small shops in Regent pl. and made a large hole in the glass brick roof of the Wentworth basement cafe.

*Shooting flames

By this time flames were shooting over 200 ft above the roofs of adjacent buildings. Sparks and pieces of burnng material showered as far as Flinders st. Sparks started a fire on the roof of a near by hotel, but this was quickly extinguished. The body of the theatre was soon reduced to ruins. With the exception of about a dozen seats on the right hand side of the back stalls, the entire seating for 3,300 was destroyed. Some mirrors and plate glass doors remained intact despite the terrific heat. Only damage in both lower and upper lobbies, offices, and projection room, in which a number of films was stored, was from water - Contributed by Greg Lynch -