Regent Theatre

Such a sad but regrettably all too familiar story. Here in Perth, on the other side of the Australian continent, we have lost all of our ‘picture palaces’, including the mighty Ambassadors and the fabulous Capitol. I only visited Brisbane’s Regent once – in the late 1960s – and I remember it fondly.

Some was saved as per article about the tourist center moving into it http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/restored-regent-theatre-reopened-as-tourist-hub-20141111-11kfsi.html

A new book on the Regent Theatre, Brisbane has just been published. Due out mid-October 2014, it covers everything from the 1927 conception up to the demolition in 2012. More details at:

www.theregentbook.com

or email:

On Wednesday June 29 2011 a public notice appeared in the Brisbane “Courier Mail” newspaper indicating that work on the demolition of the Regent Theatre cinema box (containing the currently closed 4 cinemas) is about to commence. A 37-story office tower will replace the theatre with the Regent’s entrance lobby and Gothic foyer forming its entrance off Queen Street.

At loss is the unique Showcase Cinema and its inner bar and vestibule with its 1929 reused plaster décor. Attempts to have these areas heritage listed failed and it appears that it will be torn down with only a fragment or two saved for an “interpretive display” in the new development. Also being demolished is the magnificent red brick 1929 Regent Façade on Elizabeth Street – part of the streetscape for over 82 years.

This is a sad day for the many thousands of Regent Theatre supporters who rallied behind the Save the Regent campaign group since 2008 to try to keep the cinema complex operating or even renewed as a live theatre. For more on the tragic loss go to www.savetheregent.com

Almost but not quite…

Just for the record – other comments on the net are correct. Titanic actually was the final film to stop rolling, due to its longer running time and its late start of 30mins. [Don’t know how that happened:) ] Audiences for Casablanca and Sex and the City actually had exited the building whilst Titanic completed its final voyage at The Regent.

The above link to the history of the Regent has been updated.
It now includes information on the 1980-2008 Regent Cineplex.

Go to: View link

Visit also: www.savetheregent.com for the latest developments on the Regent’s future.

A new bid has been launched to save Brisbane’s historic Regent Theatre from demolition.

A member of the Save the Regent Group has lodged an application to have the theatre’s Showcase cinema and bar area Heritage listed. The application was advertised for public submissions in the Courier-Mail of June 5, 2009.

Currently only the foyer of the building is protected, and the development application recently approved by the Brisbane City Council would see everything beyond the building’s grand marble stairase demolished to make way for a 40-storey office tower.

Backed by two petitions to Parliament, attracting thousands of signatures, and Facebook groups with combined membership totalling nearly 5000 people, the STR Group has been fighting to protect as much of the orignal 1929 Regent as possible since the development plans were made public last February.

The Heritage-listing application, lodged by STR committee member Brent James, argues that the Showcase Cinema includes plasterwork and other heritage features from the original 1929 Regent, and that the bar area is the original theatre mezzanine relocated downstairs.

“While others have argued that nothing other than the foyer is worth saving, we have always said that the essence of the Regent – Brisbane’s last remaining Hollywood picture palace – is more than that,” STR spokesman Brett Debritz said.

“It is true that the original auditorium had a somewhat unsympathetic makeover about 30 years ago, but much of the 1929 theatre’s fixtures and fittings was relocated into the showcase cinema and it is of immense heritage value to the people of Brisbane. We contend that the mezzanine and the Showcase Cinema should be protected by law, and urge people to support this application.

“We encourage people who care about our city’s heritage to respond to the advertisement in today’s paper and lodge their support for the listing of the Showcase and the old mezzanine.

“Please, follow the instructions in the advertisement to have your say before it’s too late. In the coming days, there will be more details on our website, www.savetheregent.com, and on the Save the Regent Facebook Group.”

Is there any news of what is to happen to the old girl.

AS reported in the preservation alert on this page…time is running out of The Regent…before it becomes part of an office tower. A story in yesterdays paper included part of the report from the developer…mentioned that heritage parts…may be lost…or cracks may appear in main walls of grand lobby due to nature of demolition/construction work for a new 38 story building beyond the marble staircase.

Any photo’s etc can help for the site below

The regent site is now set up

www.savetheregent.com

Nothing would surprise me. Would love to see a theatre operator move in and do something with the current cinemas. Very sadly …over the past couple of years , you’d have to be Columbo to know there was actually movies screening inside. No outside display of attractions above the entrance (used to be the hand placed letters) , likewise inside in the foyer…nothing saying what is on. You would have to go find a green photocopy sheet with session times. Now on several occasions I witnessed….no sheets available….movie goers just walked out..assuming to the Myer Centre. Anyone would think they wanted this place to fail !!

Now while the lobby is heritage protected (please keep in mind this means nothing in Qld…so was David Jones interior…and Shingle Inn…and many others. A hotel operator may be able to make changes.

Also of concern is down downstairs lobby area…which was the original lobby upstairs…with plaster elements moved to the lower level. While the “showcase” cinema pales compared to the original IT DOES contain major elements and features cut down from the original auditorium. This is all that is left. If a hotel goes…what becomes of these last fragments of the Regent ??
Mu understanding , none of these original parts…re-located in 1980 complex would be protected. I would suspect a deal would be done ensuring no other cinema operator could use the complex (same deal as with Albert sale). It always angers and saddens me that Brisbane…apart from The Plaza (antiques) and the Princess at the Gabba….had nothing left at all.

Oz Marky…would love that zip file .au

Brent

OzMarky thanks for your thoughts.

For those of us in Brisbane and those of us who largely grew up with the Regent in its current form, it’s about the best that we have, so let’s not totally lose it. It is far better than the ‘supermarket’ cinemas that are the alternative. There are still many Regent devotees out there.

As for the even sadder Antique store, it now has support columns dotted around inside, one assumes this is to prevent the ceiling collapsing on the antique shoppers.

As for Hoyts…well not in Qld these days…

Rumours once again abound about the demise of the Regent!!!!!!
Allegedly, the plan is to retain the heritage foyers (at this stage) and demolish the cinema complex in favour of a hotel complex. Interesting, when you consider it adjoins the site of the former Alberts/Metro.

Makes you think about the forward planning of the property owners. First the Hoyts/Greater Union Brisbane ‘merger’ places the Regent in the hands of the operators of the Albert cinemas. Which leisure/hospitality company/family runs both cinemas and hotel properties….
Moral of the story, enjoy the Regent now while it is still there.
Candy bar staff regularly recommend patrons go up the road to the Myer Centre :(