Regal Theatre

drb on January 22, 2018 at 6:15 pm

This theatre was used recently as a rehearsal hall before the big concerts of none other than Paul McCartney and his band.

https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/for-whom-the-bell-tells-australianew-zealand-2017

davidcoppock on August 22, 2017 at 3:29 pm

The armchair is in the entrance foyer of the Regal Theatre(ground floor level).

barryinperth on August 22, 2017 at 12:32 pm

I’ve only just realised that no-one has yet mentioned that the Regal was built for the Hewett family, the most famous member of which became Dorothy Hewett, a prominent poet, playwright and novelist. In her memoir titled WILD CARD, she writes:

My family have built the Regal Theatre, an Art Deco picture ‘palace’ with a crying room for mothers and babies, double plush seats with no arm between for lovers, a sweeping staircase from foyer to lounge with a huge gilt-edged mirror at the top. The manager, Mr Appleby, in his grey suit, is bowing in the foyer. Mrs Appleby is eternally smiling in the ticket box, the fireman stands guard at the bottom of the stairs, the identical twin usherettes tear the admission tickets in half, and up in the bio-box the operator and his assistant have one eye on the film and one on the blonde woman with the big tits across the street, undressing without pulling down the blind."

Hewett set her play BON-BONS AND ROSES FOR DOLLY in the Regal.

In one scene, the chorus sings:

Bon-bons and roses for Dolly – she floats down the stairs like a dream, The people all rise and as I close my eyes she’s there in her green crepe de Chine. Her pageboy bob is on her shoulders, she’s there making eyes at the men, Silvery sequins, a-glitter, circle the swish of her hem.

davidcoppock on April 17, 2016 at 9:42 am

There is information and photos about the Regal Theatre and the other cinemas/theatres, picture gardens and drive-ins' that Paddy Baker(1898-11/8/1988) ran in Western Australia in the book “Paddy baker Picture Show Man(Max d. Bell).

davidcoppock on July 22, 2015 at 8:01 am

The Coliseum Theatre and Gardens opened in December 1916,and demolished(mid 1930’s) to make for the Regal theatre. The Regal Theatre also had a picture gardens(Regal Picture Gardens) across the road on the North-west corner of Rokeby Road and Hay Street(seating 750) opened soon after the Regal Theatre opened. The Regal Picture Gardens closed in 1971 and demolished in 1973 and replaced with shops. The Regal Theatre has 1200 seats.

Mike Rogers on June 20, 2010 at 3:12 am

Thanks Ken.Beautiful movie theatre.