Paragon Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paragon Theatre |
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Paragon Theatre, 2011
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| Location | 75 Churchill Street, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Arthur Robson |
| Official name: Paragon Theatre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 April 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601618 |
| Significant period | 1927 (fabric) 1927–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | auditorium, foyer – entrance, proscenium arch, shop/s, projection booth/bio box, dress circle |
| Builders | P Mellefont, Jnr |
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The Paragon Theatre is a historic cinema and theatre located at 75 Churchill Street in Childers, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Robson and built in 1927 by P Mellefont, Jnr. This special building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history and unique design.
A Look Back in Time
The Paragon Theatre was built in 1927 for a group of local movie show owners named Gee, Philpott, and Gee. It was designed by an architect from Brisbane named Arthur Robson. The new theatre replaced an older building on the same spot that used to be a refreshment shop and a place for shows and movies.
Childers: A Growing Town
In 1927, Childers was a busy town known for growing sugar. It started in the late 1880s when a railway line was built to help transport timber. This railway also helped the sugar industry grow in the area. By 1895, Childers became a thriving center for sugar farming and milling. Its population grew from 91 people to 4,000 between 1891 and 1900. In 1903, Childers became the main town for the Isis Shire local government.
Early Days of Entertainment
Around 1906, Mr. William Gee, a confectioner, moved to Childers with his family. They bought a shop where the Paragon Theatre now stands. They opened it as a refreshment room, selling fruit, tea, and catering for events. By 1908, they added a second floor to the building, which became a ballroom. This hall was used for dances and even roller skating.
In 1912, the Gees installed a lighting system. This allowed Gee's Hall to become the first place in the area to show silent movies. The first film shown was The Iron Claw, starring Pearl White. The Gees also took their movie shows to other towns nearby, like Dallarnil and Booyal.
A New Era for the Theatre
By 1923, another movie theatre, the Palace Theatre, opened in Childers. It was run by Harold Philpott. Around the same time, William Gee handed over his share of Gee's Hall to his son Dudley and to Harold Philpott. William Gee later retired and passed away in 1926.
By 1927, movies were so popular that Philpott & Gee decided to build a modern, specially designed cinema in Childers. William Gee's daughter, Margery, also became interested. A new company, Gee, Philpott and Gee, was formed to build the Paragon Theatre. Some materials from the old Gee's Hall were even used in the new building.
Architect Arthur Robson from Brisbane designed the theatre. He was known for designing many cinemas in Queensland. Robson designed the Paragon Theatre as a "tropical theatre." This meant it had special features like timber lattice and fretwork. These features helped with ventilation and were popular in Queensland theatres during the 1920s and 1930s. The theatre was planned to hold 1,200 people, but it actually seated about 600. It had a large stage for plays and music, dressing rooms, and an orchestra pit. The entrance had brick columns and the first cantilevered awning in the area. The building also included two small shops facing the street.
The new theatre officially opened in 1928. It is believed that the first film shown was Warner Brothers' 1927 classic The Jazz Singer. This movie was famous for being one of the first "talkies" with synchronized sound. So, the Paragon Theatre might have opened as a talkie theatre!
Soon after opening, Harold Philpott sold his share to Dudley and Margery Gee. They ran the theatre as Paragon Pictures Company. The Paragon Theatre became the only movie theatre in the Isis Shire. It regularly showed films and cartoons on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Over the years, the theatre changed owners several times. In 1949, Peter and Mary Sourris bought it. They updated the sound system and made some changes to the entrance and seating. By 1960, Granville and Iris Knowles owned it. They added a ticket box and a Cinemascope screen, which meant the stage could no longer be used for concerts. The Ricciardi family bought the theatre in 1962. The last film was shown there in 1998.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 2007, Thomas Griffiths and Merissa Ricciardi (who was the granddaughter of the 1962 owners) bought the theatre. They worked hard to repair and restore the building. Their goal was to reopen it for community events. Merissa Ricciardi and Nigel Craft, a new co-owner, continued the restoration. They even got married in the theatre in December 2012!
The theatre officially reopened in July 2014. In August 2015, the Crafts received a Queensland Heritage Award from the National Trust for their amazing work in preserving the theatre.
The Paragon Theatre is one of the few 1920s cinemas still operating in regional Queensland. Other surviving theatres from that time include the Majestic Theatre at Pomona (built 1921) and the Astor Theatre at Surat (built 1925).
What Does It Look Like?
The Paragon Theatre is a large timber building with a brick front, called a facade. It stands out on Churchill Street in Childers. The back part of the building looks like a big shed. It is covered with unpainted timber and has a sloped roof made of galvanized iron. The side walls have high windows that open to let air in and timber-framed windows lower down.
Outside the Theatre
The front of the building has a decorative wall at the top, called a parapet. It is made of brick columns that divide the surface into three sections. These sections are covered with a rough plaster called stucco. The top edge of the parapet has a rectangular sign block and a decorative railing.
There are three sets of timber windows in the upper part of each section. The glass in these windows has been painted. Each set of windows has a small, sloped awning above it, supported by timber brackets. The upper part of the facade is painted a dark chocolate brown.
A large awning sticks out from the front of the building, held up by iron rods. This awning has a shallow arch in the middle, which marks the entrance. The word "PARAGON" is spelled out in raised letters on the front of the awning.
You enter the theatre by concrete steps leading to four pairs of folding glass and timber doors. Tapered columns stand next to the wall, flanking the entrance doors. These columns support another archway over the doorway. The columns, archway, and trim on the awning are painted bright red. The rest of the lower facade is dark green.
There are two small shop fronts at the corners of the front facade. The entrance area has also been divided to create a smaller space for rent. These three shop areas are currently empty. The original ticket office and a small entrance area are on the eastern side of the entry.
Inside the Theatre
Inside, the theatre still has many of its original features. These include the seating, timber fretwork (decorative patterns), lattice (crisscross wood strips), light fittings, and some railings. The ceiling and most of the side walls are covered with timber lattice. This lattice stops just above the exit doors in the side walls. The bottom edge of the lattice has shallow arches decorated with a double black stripe. At the top of the side walls, there is a wide band of decoration. This is made by painting a pattern within the lattice in black.
The screen is covered with long curtains. It is surrounded by fibro-cement panels that frame the screen, now covering the proscenium (the arch that frames the stage). The orchestra pit, which was a space for musicians below the stage, has also been covered over.
Most of the seating on the ground floor is made of canvas, like deckchairs. There is one row of tip-up seats against the back wall. The balcony upstairs has a sloped, stepped timber floor, with each row of seats on a different level. The front three rows have fixed timber seats with cushions. Then there are two rows of canvas seats, and a final row of "dress circle" seating at the back. The projection box, where the movies are shown from, is at the back of the balcony. It is enclosed with fibro-cement panels.
A small timber house is connected to the back of the building and appears to be empty. There is also a galvanized iron shed and a timber tank stand with a water tank next to this small house.
Why Is It Special?
The Paragon Theatre was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 28, 2000. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
A Glimpse into Queensland's Past
The Paragon Theatre, built in 1927, is one of the oldest movie theatres still operating in Queensland. It shows how popular entertainment grew in Queensland between the two World Wars. The theatre's history also highlights the important role of independent movie exhibitors in country areas of Queensland.
A Rare Find
The Paragon Theatre is a rare example of a 1920s regional theatre that still works as a cinema. It represents a part of Queensland's cultural heritage that is no longer common.
A Great Example of Design
The building is a good example of how regional movie theatres were designed in the 1920s to suit Queensland's climate. It is a very well-preserved 1920s cinema. Its intact interior helps us understand what it was like to watch movies in a country Queensland theatre during that time.
Beautiful to Look At
The Paragon Theatre is located right on the main street of Childers. Its unique front facade adds a lot to the beautiful streetscape of buildings on Churchill Street. This gives it special aesthetic significance.
A Community Hub
From the late 1920s until the 1960s, the theatre was a central place for social life in the Childers and Isis district. It has a strong connection with the local community. It reminds people of popular entertainment and going to the movies before television and video players became common.
